# phpman > man > ppmtosixel(1)

> **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*

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



## NAME
       ppmtosixel - convert a portable pixmap into DEC sixel format

## SYNOPSIS
       **ppmtosixel** [**-raw**] [**-margin**] [_ppmfile_]

## DESCRIPTION
       Reads  a  portable  pixmap as input.  Produces sixel commands (SIX) as output.  The output is
       formatted for color printing, e.g. for a DEC LJ250 color inkjet printer.

       If RGB values from the PPM file do not have maxval=100,  the  RGB  values  are  rescaled.   A
       printer  control header and a color assignment table begin the SIX file.  Image data is writ‐
       ten in a compressed format by default.  A printer control footer ends the image file.

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

### -margin
              If  **-margin**  is not specified, the image will be start at the left margin (of the win‐
              dow, paper, or whatever).  If **-margin** is specified, a 1.5 inch left margin will offset
              the image.

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

## BUGS
       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(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ppm/5/markdown)

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



                                            26 April 1991                              [ppmtosixel(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ppmtosixel/1/markdown)