pbmto4425

Display a PBM image on an AT&T 4425 terminal using the terminal's mosaic graphics character set

$ pbmto4425 [path/to/image.pbm]

pbmto4425 [pbmfile]
Reads from standard input if pbmfile is not specified. Writes to standard output.

pbmto4425 is a specialized utility within the Netpbm suite of graphics tools. Its primary function is to convert a Portable BitMap (PBM) image into a byte stream suitable for printing on an IBM 4425 dot-matrix printer. The IBM 4425 is an older printer model, and this command generates the specific escape sequences and data commands that the printer understands to render the monochrome image. It reads the PBM data, typically from standard input or a specified file, and outputs the printer-specific control codes to standard output. This tool was crucial for generating simple monochrome graphics on legacy dot-matrix printers that lacked advanced graphical capabilities.

The output of pbmto4425 is highly specific to the IBM 4425 dot-matrix printer and is not a general image format. The IBM 4425 printer is an obsolete piece of hardware, making this command primarily useful for historical or very specific legacy system contexts. It only processes PBM (Portable BitMap) images, which are strictly monochrome (black and white).

The command typically reads the PBM image from standard input (stdin). If an optional pbmfile argument is provided, it reads from that file instead. The processed printer commands and data are then written to standard output (stdout), which can be redirected to a printer device or a file.

This command is designed exclusively for the IBM 4425 printer. Using its output on other printer models will likely result in garbled text or no output, as the escape sequences are unique to the 4425.

pbmto4425 is part of the extensive Netpbm project, which originated from Jef Poskanzer's Pbmplus utilities in the late 1980s. Its existence reflects the common need during that era to print simple bitmap graphics on readily available dot-matrix printers, before the widespread adoption of laser printers and more advanced graphical standards.

pbm(5), netpbm(1), pbmtoepson(1), pbmtoibmproprinter(1)