pbmtogo

Convert a PBM image to a compressed GraphOn graphic

$ pbmtogo [path/to/image.pbm] > [path/to/output.go]

pbmtogo [ -output=filename ] [ pbmfile ]

-output=filename
    Writes the converted Atari ST Go file to the specified filename instead of standard output.

-color
    This option generates a Go file with 16 colors. However, when converting standard PBM (monochrome) input, this option is effectively ignored as PBM provides no color information. It might be relevant only for 'strange' PBM images or other Netpbm tools.

pbmtogo is a specialized command-line utility from the Netpbm suite, designed to transform monochrome PBM (Portable Bitmap) image files into the proprietary "Go" file format used by Atari ST computers. PBM is a very basic image format, representing images as a grid of black and white pixels.
The resulting "Go" file is a specific graphics format primarily for the Atari ST's GEM environment. This command is mainly used for retro computing purposes, enabling the creation of Atari ST-compatible graphics from more common PBM sources. It reads the PBM image from standard input if no file is specified, and writes the "Go" file to standard output by default.

pbmtogo is highly specialized and targets a legacy platform (Atari ST).
The input is strictly PBM, meaning it handles only monochrome images. While a -color option exists, it's generally ineffective for standard PBM input.
The "Go" file format is obscure and not widely supported by modern image viewers or tools.
This command is primarily useful for niche applications involving Atari ST graphics development or preservation.

The "Go" file format is an Atari ST-specific graphics format, often associated with the GEM desktop environment. It supports both monochrome and 16-color images, but pbmtogo primarily handles the monochrome conversion given its PBM input.

pbmtogo is part of the extensive Netpbm package, which originated as the Pbmplus package by Jef Poskanzer in the late 1980s. Netpbm is a collection of utilities designed for converting and manipulating graphics files in the Portable Anymap (PBM, PGM, PPM) formats. pbmtogo specifically addresses the need to convert images for the Atari ST, a popular personal computer platform of the 1980s and early 1990s. Its continued inclusion in Netpbm reflects the suite's comprehensive coverage of various historical and contemporary image formats.

pbm(5), netpbm(1), pbmtowbmp(1), pnmtodd(1)