What is PCD?

Kodak Photo CD (PCD) is a high-resolution image format for storing scanned photos on CD, supporting multiple resolutions from thumbnail to 3072x2048.

What is IIQ?

Phase One IIQ is a professional medium-format raw format used by Phase One digital backs, delivering exceptional image quality for commercial photography.

When Should You Use PCD vs IIQ?

PCD vs IIQ: Key Differences

• •The core technical difference: PCD relies on lossy compression whereas IIQ uses lossless compression.
• •Moving from PCD (lossless) to IIQ (lossless) means the output file will be larger — but every bit of the original is preserved.
• •How transparency is handled: IIQ supports transparency, so alpha information is preserved during conversion.
• •Storage footprint: 4-6MB per image at base resolution for PCD vs 50-150MB per image from medium-format backs for IIQ.
• •Use case fit: PCD targets photo cd scanning, legacy photo archiving and IIQ targets professional studio photography, digital back capture — your choice depends on which workflow stage you are serving.

Advantages of PCD

• ✓PCD applies lossy compression specifically calibrated for Photo CD scanning, legacy photo archiving.
• ✓PCD enjoys broad native support across operating systems, browsers, and creative tools alike.
• ✓PCD delivers impressive compression ratios, shrinking files dramatically while keeping visual quality high.
• ✓You will find PCD support built into virtually every tool that handles Photo CD scanning, legacy photo archiving — no plugins or converters needed.

Advantages of IIQ

• ✓IIQ applies lossless compression specifically calibrated for Professional studio photography, digital back capture.
• ✓IIQ enjoys broad native support across operating systems, browsers, and creative tools alike.
• ✓IIQ guarantees every bit of the original data survives — no approximations, no shortcuts.
• ✓You will find IIQ support built into virtually every tool that handles Professional studio photography, digital back capture — no plugins or converters needed.

Common Use Cases for PCD to IIQ Conversion

• Digital art portfolios
• Brochure and flyer design
• Newsletter graphics
• Video thumbnail creation
• Certificate and badge design
• Websites and online content

Industry Applications

Best Practices for PCD to IIQ Conversion

• →When converting PCD to IIQ, check whether IIQ supports transparency — if not, your transparent areas will be filled with a solid color
• →Use IIQ for maximum quality archival and PCD for smaller file sizes when quality is less critical
• →Optimize images for web to reduce page load times — tools like our converter let you adjust quality settings before conversion
• →Maintain original aspect ratio to avoid distortion during conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

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Troubleshooting PCD to IIQ Conversion

• !IIQ shows visible compression artifacts → lower the compression level or switch to a lossless variant
• !The converted IIQ image looks washed out → the source PCD likely uses a wider color space than IIQ supports
• !IIQ file is much larger than expected → check if the conversion preserved an unnecessarily high resolution
• !Text in the converted IIQ looks fuzzy → text-heavy images benefit from higher quality settings or a different output format

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