Converting Kodak CD files (PCD) to Tiff, NEF or jpeg files

[SportingLife]

I have a limited numer of old photographs created from negatives at a photo lab. While I'm able to open them in and old version of Photoshop 7.1, they appear pixelated and I am not able to view them in my Creative Cloud or any newer apps. I understand that there are a number of applications available online that can perform the conversion,but the relativley small number of photos I have make it absurd to purchase those apps for a short, one-time use. Any suggestions in terms of apps or process would be gretly appreciated.. I'm running Windows 10 but also have a Windows 7 PC.

[davescm]

You could try IrfanView which is freeware and has a plug in for PhotoCD

Dave

[SportingLife]

Thanks Dave! I have gone to the website to download the apropriate plug-in. That said, would I be dowloading a plug-in for a current Photoshop app that I have in Creative Cloud or one for the older Photoshop 7.1 that I can install.? As a novice, I was a bit bewildered about which of the available options to choose. 

[davescm]

The plug in is for IrfanView

So you would need to download IrfanView and its PhotoCD plug in then use IrfanView to convert your images to a modern format

Dave

[Rob_Cullen · Accepted solution]

Windows OS?

Freeware Irfanview has a plugin ("PHOTO-CD") for PCD files. (never used, so cannot comment on effectiveness!)

https://www.irfanview.com/main_what_is_engl.htm

https://www.irfanview.com/plugins.htm

Edit:  And pipped at the post by Dave 🙂

[SportingLife]

Yes, it is a Windows system. I have 2 PC's one running Windows 7 and the other Windows 10. I'm able to utlize either as will be needed to accomplish this worriesome task. Thankfully, the quantity of photos is not large.

[Jeff Arola]

Unfortunately, adobe dropped photoCD support after photoshop cs3, although on the windows side, the cs3 plugin would work in the perpetual license version of photoshop cs6, but not in any photoshop cc versions.

The very best software for modern operating systems (windows and mac) is pcdMagic and although it's not free they do have trial versions.

https://www.mcguffogco.com/pcdmagicwindows

Other options are IrfanView (windows) or GraphicConverter (mac)

https://www.irfanview.com/

https://www.lemkesoft.de/en/products/graphicconverter/

In photoshop 7 when you open a pcd img there is a Pixel Size setting, so try a larger size.

(example pcd img is from the original Kodak PhotoCD Photo Sampler cd)

[SportingLife]

Thank you so much. I am aware of the software you suggested, but I found the purchase price a bit much for the 40 or so images I need to convert. The free trials for it are watermarked, which make the converted images useless without an actual pruchase of the software.

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

You should be able to get perfectly acceptable pcd images from photoshop 7. Did you try setting the Pixel Size larger in the pcd open dialog as shown above?

[SportingLife]

Interesting...no I did not attempt the approach you suggested, but will certainly try it. Thanks!

[Warren Heaton]

You could ask the software publisher about a discount.  

Or, you could reach out to a service bureau that handles photo processing in your area and see if they'll give you a quote to convert 40 images.  A place that offers slide scanning, photo retouching, and film transfers can probably do it.

[Jeff Arola]

All you ever wanted to know about Kodak PhotoshoCD file format.

http://tedfelix.com/PhotoCD/index.html

[SportingLife]

Thanks so much Jeff, and also to all of you who have provided solutions. I have downloaded and install the Irfanview software. Between that package and the instructions about my old Photoshop 7,1, the problem seems to be solved using either options. Thanks so much to you all!