PCD to JPG Converter
Old photo discs and scanned collections sometimes hold Kodak Photo CD files with the .pcd extension, which current photo software no longer opens. This tool reads the Base resolution image from each PCD in your browser and saves a JPG. Be aware that this is the small version stored in the file, not the full-size scan.
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How to convert PCD to JPG
- Add your PCD files by dropping them, clicking the drop zone or pasting.
- The output format is already set to JPG. Adjust quality or size if you need to.
- Press Convert and compare the original and new size for each file.
- Download each file or all of them as a ZIP.
When to convert, and when not to
- You are digitising an old photo CD and need quick, viewable copies of the pictures.
- A .pcd file will not open in any program on your computer.
- You want thumbnails or small previews for a catalogue of scanned slides.
- Do not use this when you need the highest resolution scan. This tool does not read the larger sizes stored in the file.
What changes
- A Photo CD file keeps the same picture at several sizes. This tool reads the Base resolution one, which is 768 by 512 pixels.
- The larger sizes are compressed in a way this tool does not decode, so they are not available.
- Colour is converted from the file's luma and chroma encoding into ordinary RGB for the JPG.
- Because the source picture is small, enlarging it with the resize option makes it bigger but not sharper.
- No scanner or film details from the file are carried into the JPG.
What is inside a Photo CD file
Photo CD was designed for storing scanned film. Instead of saving one image, a PCD file contains the same scene at several resolutions, from a small preview up to very large sizes. Programs could then pick the size they needed without rescanning.
The smallest of those sizes that is useful for viewing is the Base image. It is stored in a straightforward way, and that is the one this converter reads. The bigger ones use more complex compression, which is why the result here is always the smaller picture.
How colour is restored
Photo CD does not store plain red, green and blue values. It keeps brightness separately from colour information, and it keeps the colour at a lower resolution than the brightness, because the eye is less sensitive to colour detail. The converter combines the two and turns them into the RGB pixels that screens and JPG expect.
Because the process follows a fixed recipe, the result should look natural for typical scans. Small differences from what dedicated Photo CD software shows are possible, so compare a few results with your memory of the originals.
Setting expectations about size
A Base image is small by modern standards. It is fine for a thumbnail, a web preview or checking which slide is which. It is not suited to large prints or heavy cropping.
If you need full-resolution versions, look for the original Photo CD software or a dedicated conversion tool that reads every resolution level, and keep the PCD files safe. You can still use this page to build a quick contact sheet of the whole disc.
Organising the results
Disc folders usually hold dozens of numbered PCD files. Add them in one go and each result keeps its number in the file name, so a set of JPGs lines up with the original disc. Open one JPG at full size first. If it looks right, the same settings will suit the others, and the ZIP download hands you everything in a single file.
Privacy: your files stay on your device
- The tool decodes, resizes and encodes your pictures with your browser. The files are never sent to a server.
- To check it yourself: open the browser developer tools (F12), open the Network tab, convert a file, and look for any request that carries your image. You will see none.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my converted image so small?
This tool reads the Base resolution picture from the PCD, which is 768 by 512 pixels. Larger sizes in the file are not supported.
Can I get the full-size scan from a PCD file?
Not with this tool. It does not decode the compressed higher resolutions.
Why do the colours differ from the old software?
Photo CD stores colour in an unusual way, and different programs may apply slightly different conversions. Check a sample before running a large batch.
Can I convert a whole disc at once?
Yes. Add the files, press Convert, and download the JPGs one by one or as a ZIP.
Do my scans leave my computer?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.