pi3topbm

Convert an Atari Degas PI3 image to PBM image

$ pi3topbm [path/to/atari_image.pi3] > [path/to/output_image.pbm]

pi3topbm [pictfile]

The pi3topbm command is a specialized utility included within the comprehensive Netpbm suite of graphics tools. Its primary function is to convert image files from the Macintosh PICT version 3 format into the Portable Bitmap (PBM) format, a fundamental component of the Netpbm image standards. The command operates by reading the input PICT file, which can be provided via standard input or as a specified filename argument, and subsequently writes the resulting PBM image data to standard output. This tool is specifically designed to handle PICT version 3 files that encapsulate bitmap or pixmap data. It's important to note that pi3topbm does not support PICT files that rely on Quickdraw opcodes for rendering or those that contain vector graphics. Furthermore, in cases where a PICT file might contain multiple distinct images, pi3topbm is designed to process and convert only the very first image found within the input file.

pi3topbm has the following limitations:
- Only Macintosh PICT version 3 files containing bitmap or pixmap data are supported. PICT files with Quickdraw opcodes or vector graphics are not converted.
- If the input PICT file contains multiple images, pi3topbm will only process and convert the very first image found within the file.

pi3topbm is part of the Netpbm project, a long-standing suite of graphics utilities. Netpbm originated from Jef Poskanzer's Pbmplus toolkit in the late 1980s. Over the years, it has evolved to support a wide range of image formats and operations, including specialized converters like pi3topbm for handling specific historical or platform-dependent image formats such as Macintosh PICT. Its development reflects the need for interoperability and conversion capabilities across various image standards.

pbm(5), picttoppm(1), anytopnm(1), pnm(5), netpbm(1)