---
title: "Pebble Draw Command File Format"
canonical_url: https://developer.repebble.com/guides/app-resources/pdc-format/
last_updated: 2025-02-25
sdk_version: 4.33.1
---
# Pebble Draw Command File Format

Source: https://developer.repebble.com/guides/app-resources/pdc-format/

Pebble [`Draw Commands`](https://developer.repebble.com/docs/c/Graphics/Draw_Commands.md "Draw Commands") (PDCs) are vector image files that consist of a binary resource containing the instructions for each stroke, fill, etc. that makes up the image. The byte format of all these components are described in tabular form below.

> **Important** : All fields are in the little-endian format!

An example implementation with some [usage limitations](https://developer.repebble.com/tutorials/advanced/vector-animations.md#creating-compatible-files) can be seen in [`svg2pdc.py`](https://github.com/pebble-examples/cards-example/blob/master/tools/svg2pdc.py).

## Component Types

A PDC binary file consists of the following key components, in ascending order of abstraction:

- [Draw Command](#pebble-draw-command) - an instruction for a single line or path to be drawn.

- [Draw Command List](#pebble-draw-command-list) - a set of Draw Commands that make up a shape.

- [Draw Command Frame](#pebble-draw-command-frame) - a Draw Command List with configurable duration making up one animation frame. Many of these are used in a Draw Command Sequence.

- [Draw Command Image](#pebble-draw-command-image) - A single vector image.

- [Draw Command Sequence](#pebble-draw-command-sequence) - A set of Draw Command Frames that make up an animated sequence of vector images.

## Versions

| PDC Format Version | Implemented |
| --- | --- |
| 1 | Firmware 3.0 |

## File Format Components

### Point

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| X | 0 | 2 | X axis coordinate. Has one of two formats depending on the Draw Command type (see below):  
  
Path/Circle type: signed integer.   
Precise path type: 13.3 fixed point. |
| Y | 2 | 2 | Y axis coordinate. Has one of two formats depending on the Draw Command type (see below):  
  
Path/Circle type: signed integer.   
Precise path type: 13.3 fixed point. |

### View Box

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Width | 0 | 2 | Width of the view box (signed integer). |
| Height | 2 | 2 | Height of the view box (signed integer). |

### Pebble Draw Command

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Type | 0 | 1 | Draw command type. Possible values are:   
  
`0` - Invalid   
`1` - Path  
`2` - Circle  
`3` - Precise path |
| Flags | 1 | 1 | Bit 0: Hidden (Draw Command should not be drawn).   
 Bits 1-7: Reserved. |
| Stroke color | 2 | 1 | Pebble color (integer). |
| Stroke width | 3 | 1 | Stroke width (unsigned integer). |
| Fill color | 4 | 1 | Pebble color (integer). |
| Path open/radius | 5 | 2 | Path/Precise path type: Bit 0 indicates whether or not the path is drawn open (`1`) or closed (`0`).  
Circle type: radius of the circle. |
| Number of points | 7 | 2 | Number of points (n) in the point array. See below. |
| Point array | 9 | n x 4 | The number of points (n) points. |

### Pebble Draw Command List

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Number of commands | 0 | 2 | Number of Draw Commands in this Draw Command List. (`0` is invalid). |
| Draw Command array | 2 | n x size of Draw Command | List of Draw Commands in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command). |

### Pebble Draw Command Frame

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Duration | 0 | 2 | Duration of the frame in milliseconds. If `0`, the frame will not be shown at all (unless it is the last frame in a sequence). |
| Command list | 2 | Size of Draw Command List | Pebble Draw Command List in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command-list). |

### Pebble Draw Command Image

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Version | 8 | 1 | File version. |
| Reserved | 9 | 1 | Reserved field. Must be `0`. |
| [View box](#view-box) | 10 | 4 | Bounding box of the image. All Draw Commands are drawn relative to the top left corner of the view box. |
| Command list | 14 | Size of Draw Command List | Pebble Draw Command List in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command-list). |

### Pebble Draw Command Sequence

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Version | 8 | 1 | File version. |
| Reserved | 9 | 1 | Reserved field. Must be `0`. |
| [View box](#view-box) | 10 | 4 | Bounding box of the sequence. All Draw Commands are drawn relative to the top left corner of the view box. |
| Play count | 14 | 2 | Number of times to repeat the sequence. A value of `0` will result in no playback at all, whereas a value of `0xFFFF` will repeat indefinitely. |
| Frame count | 16 | 2 | Number of frames in the sequence. `0` is invalid. |
| Frame list | 18 | n x size of Draw Command Frame | Array of Draw Command Frames in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command-frame). |

## File Formats

### Pebble Draw Command Image File

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Magic word | 0 | 4 | ASCII characters spelling "PDCI". |
| Image size | 4 | 4 | Size of the Pebble Draw Command Image (in bytes). |
| Image | 8 | Size of Pebble Draw Command Image. | The Draw Command Image in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command-image). |

### Pebble Draw Command Sequence File

| Field | Offset (bytes) | Size (bytes) | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Magic word | 0 | 4 | ASCII characters spelling "PDCS". |
| Sequence size | 4 | 4 | Size of the Pebble Draw Command Sequence (in bytes). |
| Sequence | 8 | Size of Draw Command Sequence | The Draw Command Sequence in the format [specified above](#pebble-draw-command-sequence). |