# ppmtosixel - convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format - man(1) - [phpMan]

> **TLDR:** Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format.
>
- Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format:
  `ppmtosixel {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}`
- Produce an uncompressed SIXEL file that is much slower to print:
  `ppmtosixel {{-r|-raw}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}`
- Add a left margin of 1.5 inches:
  `ppmtosixel {{-m|-margin}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}`
- Encode control codes in a more portable (although less space-efficient) way:
  `ppmtosixel -7bit {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}`

*Source: tldr-pages*

---

_Ppmtosixel_ _User_ [_Manual_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/Manual/1/markdown)              General Commands Manual             _Ppmtosixel_ _User_ [_Manual_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/Manual/1/markdown)

## NAME
       ppmtosixel - convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format


## SYNOPSIS
### ppmtosixel

       [**-raw**]

       [**-margin**]

       [**-7bit**]

       [_ppmfile_]


## DESCRIPTION
       This program is part of [**Netpbm**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/Netpbm/1/markdown).

       **ppmtosixel  **reads a PPM image as input and produces sixel commands (SIX) as output.  The out‐
       put is formatted for color printing (e.g. for a DEC LJ250 color inkjet printer) or for  color
       display on DEC VT terminals and terminal emulators (VT240 and beyond).

       If  RGB  values  from the PPM file do not have maxval=100, **ppmtosixel **rescales them to maxval
       100.  A printer control header and a color assignment table begin the SIX file.   Image  data
       is in a compressed format by default.  A printer control footer ends the image file.


## OPTIONS
       In  addition  to  the options common to all programs based on libnetpbm (most notably **-quiet**,
       see [ Common Options](index.html#commonoptions) ), **ppmtosixel **recognizes the following command line options:



### -raw   
              **-raw **is not specified, output will default to compressed format in which identical ad‐
              jacent  pixels  are replaced by "repeat pixel" commands.  A raw file is often an order
              of magnitude larger than a compressed file and prints much slower.


### -margin
              If you don't specify **-margin**, the image will start at the left margin (of the  window,
              paper,  or  whatever).   If you do specify **-margin**, a 1.5 inch left margin will offset
              the image.


### -7bit   -7bit
              "C1"  character.   If  you do specify **-7bit**, each control code will be expressed using
              two, 7-bit "C0" characters.  (See [C0 and C1 control codes](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C0_and_C1_control_codes>)  for more information.)   In
              other  words,  **-7bit  **produces  more  portable  sixel  files, and its absence produces
              smaller sixel files.

              This option was new in Netpbm 11.04 (September 2023).




## PRINTING
       Generally, sixel files must reach the printer unfiltered.  Use the lpr -x option or **cat file‐**
       **name > /dev/tty0?**.


## LIMITATIONS
       Upon rescaling, truncation of the least significant bits of RGB values  may  result  in  poor
       color  conversion.   If  the original PPM maxval was greater than 100, rescaling also reduces
       the image depth.  While the actual RGB values from the ppm file are more  or  less  retained,
       the  color  palette of the LJ250 may not match the colors on your screen.  This seems to be a
       printer limitation.


## SEE ALSO
       [**ppm**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ppm/1/markdown)


## AUTHOR
       Copyright (C) 1991 by Rick Vinci.

## DOCUMENT SOURCE
       This manual page was generated by the Netpbm tool 'makeman' from  HTML  source.   The  master
       documentation is at

              **<http://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/ppmtosixel.html>**

netpbm documentation                        1 August 2023                  _Ppmtosixel_ _User_ [_Manual_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/Manual/1/markdown)