ppmtomitsu

Convert a PPM image to a MITSU file

$ ppmtomitsu [path/to/file.ppm] > [path/to/file.mitsu]

$ ppmtomitsu [[-e|-enlarge]] [1|2|3] [[-s|-sharpness]] [1|2|3|4] [[-c|-copy]] [n] [path/to/file.ppm] > [path/to/file.mitsu]

$ ppmtomitsu [[-m|-media]] [A|A4|AS|A4S] [path/to/file.ppm] > [path/to/file.mitsu]

ppmtomitsu [-color] [-mono] [-rgb] [ppmfile]

-color
    Generates 256-color output compatible with Mitsui printers. This is often the default or most common output mode for color printing.

-mono
    Produces 1-bit monochrome (black and white) output. Useful for simpler graphics or when color printing isn't needed or supported.

-rgb
    Generates full 24-bit RGB color output. This option provides the highest color fidelity, assuming the Mitsui printer supports it.

ppmfile
    The path to the input Portable Pixmap (PPM) image file. If omitted, ppmtomitsu reads image data from standard input (stdin).

ppmtomitsu is a specialized command-line utility from the Netpbm suite, designed for image format conversion. Its core purpose is to transform a Portable Pixmap (PPM) image file into a specific, proprietary data format that can be directly understood and printed by Mitsui color printers.

These printers, often specialized or legacy hardware, typically do not accept standard image formats and require a unique, often compressed or device-specific, data stream. ppmtomitsu bridges this gap, translating the generic PPM raster data into the precise byte sequence required by Mitsui devices. It reads a PPM image from standard input by default, or from a specified filename argument, and subsequently writes the Mitsui-compatible output to standard output. This functionality makes ppmtomitsu particularly valuable in workflows that involve automated image processing and direct printing to these niche hardware systems.

Proprietary Format: The output format is specific to Mitsui printers and not a general-purpose image format. It is unlikely to be readable by standard image viewers.
Legacy Hardware: Mitsui color printers are typically older, specialized hardware. This command is primarily relevant for environments still utilizing such devices.
Color Depth Limitations: The actual color depth and quality of the output will depend on the capabilities of the specific Mitsui printer model being targeted, even with the -rgb option.

The command writes its converted output to standard output (stdout). Users typically redirect this output to a file or pipe it directly to a printer driver or network connection for printing.

ppmtomitsu is a component of the comprehensive Netpbm toolkit, which is a widely used and venerable collection of graphics manipulation tools for Unix-like operating systems.

The Netpbm project originated from Jef Poskanzer's PBMPlus package, first released in the late 1980s. Over the decades, Netpbm has been maintained and expanded by various developers, evolving into a robust suite for converting, modifying, and creating image files in various formats.

ppmtomitsu specifically addresses a niche need by providing compatibility with Mitsui color printers, reflecting the Netpbm suite's goal of universal image format interoperability.

ppm(5), netpbm(1), anytopnm(1), pnm(5)