pbmtolj

Convert a PBM file to an HP LaserJet file

$ pbmtolj [path/to/input.pbm] > [path/to/output.lj]

$ pbmtolj -[packbits|delta|compress] [path/to/input.pbm] > [path/to/output.lj]

$ pbmtolj [[-r|-resolution]] [75|100|150|300|600] [path/to/input.pbm] > [path/to/output.lj]

pbmtolj [-resolution {75|100|150|300}] [-landscape] [-portrait] [-no-auto-center] [-magnification {float_value}] [-scale {float_value}] [-page {legal|letter|a4|a3}] [-xpos {n}] [-ypos {n}] [-noxfer] [-no-compression] [pbmfile]

pbmfile
    The input PBM file to convert. If omitted, pbmtolj reads from standard input.

-resolution {75|100|150|300}
    Specifies the printer's output resolution in DPI (Dots Per Inch). The image is scaled to fit. Default is 300 DPI.

-landscape
    Prints the image in landscape orientation (long edge horizontal). Cannot be used with -portrait.

-portrait
    Prints the image in portrait orientation (short edge horizontal). This is the default. Cannot be used with -landscape.

-no-auto-center
    Disables automatic centering of the image on the page. The image will be positioned at the top-left corner.

-magnification {float_value}
    Scales the image by the specified magnification factor (e.g., 2.0 for double size, 0.5 for half size). Mutually exclusive with -scale.

-scale {float_value}
    Scales the image such that each PBM pixel occupies N printer dots (e.g., -scale 2 means each PBM pixel uses a 2x2 block of printer dots). Mutually exclusive with -magnification.

-page {legal|letter|a4|a3}
    Specifies the paper size for printing. Common options include legal, letter, a4, and a3. Default is letter.

-xpos {n}
    Sets the horizontal (X) position offset for the image on the page, specified in PCL units (1/720 inch). Overrides automatic X-centering.

-ypos {n}
    Sets the vertical (Y) position offset for the image on the page, specified in PCL units (1/720 inch). Overrides automatic Y-centering.

-noxfer
    Disables the use of transfer codes in the generated PCL. This option is typically used for compatibility with older or specific HP LaserJet models.

-no-compression
    Disables RLE (Run-Length Encoding) compression for the image data within the PCL output. This usually results in larger output files but might be necessary for certain older printers.

The pbmtolj command is a utility within the Netpbm toolkit designed to convert images from the PBM (Portable BitMap) format into PCL (Printer Command Language), which is the native language for HP LaserJet printers. It reads a black-and-white PBM image, either from standard input or a specified file, and outputs the corresponding PCL data to standard output. This makes it ideal for piping the output directly to a printer via commands like lpr.

By default, pbmtolj attempts to center the image on the page and uses a resolution of 300 DPI. Users can customize various aspects of the output, including resolution, page orientation (portrait or landscape), paper size, and scaling/magnification, providing flexibility for different printing needs. It specifically handles monochrome (black and white) images, making it suitable for line art, scanned documents, and other two-tone graphics.

Monochrome Only: pbmtolj exclusively processes PBM (Portable BitMap) files, meaning it only handles black and white images. It cannot convert grayscale (PGM) or color (PPM) images.
HP LaserJet Specific: The generated output is in PCL (Printer Command Language), specifically for HP LaserJet printers. It may not be compatible with other printer types (e.g., PostScript printers) or with all versions of PCL.
Resolution Matching: For optimal print quality, the resolution specified with -resolution should match the native resolution capabilities of your HP LaserJet printer.
Mutually Exclusive Options: The -magnification and -scale options cannot be used simultaneously in a single command execution.

pbmtolj is designed to work seamlessly in command pipelines. By default, it reads the PBM image data from standard input (stdin) and outputs the generated PCL data to standard output (stdout). This allows for flexible usage, such as chaining it with other Netpbm tools or directly piping its output to printer commands like lpr (e.g., anytoppm | ppmtopbm | pbmtolj | lpr).

PCL is a proprietary printer control language developed by Hewlett-Packard. It's widely adopted for controlling HP LaserJet printers and defines how text, graphics, and other elements are rendered on a page. pbmtolj effectively translates the pixel information of a PBM image into the necessary PCL commands for printing.

pbmtolj is a component of the comprehensive Netpbm image processing toolkit. Netpbm itself evolved from pbmplus, a package originally developed by Jef Poskanzer in the late 1980s. Over the years, the toolkit has been maintained and expanded by various contributors, solidifying its role as a fundamental suite for converting and manipulating a wide array of graphic formats in Unix-like environments. pbmtolj specifically addresses the need for converting simple bitmap images into a format suitable for widely used HP LaserJet printers.

pbm(5), netpbm(1), lpr(1), lp(1), pnmtops(1), pbmtoepsi(1)