sputoppm

Convert an SPU file to a PPM image

$ sputoppm [path/to/input.spu] > [path/to/output.ppm]

sputoppm [options] [sputfile]

-o
    Specifies the output PPM file. If not provided, output is sent to standard output.

-invert
    Inverts the colors of the resulting PPM image during conversion.

-gamma
    Applies gamma correction to the image. value is a floating-point number, typically between 0.1 and 10.0.

-verbose
    Displays detailed conversion progress and debugging information.

-help
    Shows a brief help message and exits.

-version
    Prints the version information and exits.

sputfile
    The path to the input SPUT image file. If omitted, sputoppm reads from standard input.

sputoppm is a specialized command-line utility designed to convert image files from the obscure "SPUT" format into the widely supported Netpbm Portable Pixmap (PPM) format. The SPUT format is assumed to be a legacy or proprietary image encoding, often encountered in niche applications or historical data sets.

This tool aims to bridge the compatibility gap, allowing users to process, view, and manipulate SPUT images using standard image processing tools that support the PPM format. It reads SPUT data from standard input or a specified file and outputs the resulting PPM image to standard output or a designated file. The conversion process attempts to correctly interpret SPUT pixel data, color spaces, and dimensions to render an accurate representation in PPM. Users can apply basic transformations like color inversion and gamma correction during conversion.

This command is hypothetical and designed to illustrate a potential image conversion utility. It does not exist as a standard Linux utility in common distributions. The 'SPUT' format is fictional.

Its functionality, if it were real, would heavily depend on the specific encoding and complexity of the 'SPUT' format, potentially requiring advanced libraries or specific knowledge of the format's internals. Performance might vary significantly based on image size and CPU capabilities. Color space fidelity and accurate reproduction of all 'SPUT' specific features (e.g., alpha channels, metadata) might not be fully supported without explicit format specifications.

• To convert input.sput to output.ppm:
  sputoppm input.sput -o output.ppm
• To convert input.sput to output.ppm and invert colors, piping to stdout:
  sputoppm -invert input.sput > output.ppm
• To process SPUT data from a pipe, applying gamma correction and saving:
  cat sput_data | sputoppm -gamma 2.2 -o corrected.ppm

Returns 0 on success.
Returns a non-zero value on failure, such as an invalid input file, malformed SPUT data, or issues writing to the output file.

As a hypothetical command, sputoppm has no real-world development history. However, if it were a real utility, its history would likely parallel other specialized image format converters. It would probably originate from a specific need to handle proprietary or legacy image data, possibly within a particular research institution, industry, or for archiving old media.

Initial versions might have been simple C programs, evolving over time to include more robust error handling, broader color space support, and perhaps integrating into larger image processing suites or open-source projects like Netpbm. Its usage would be primarily limited to environments where the 'SPUT' format files are encountered, serving as a critical bridge for data migration or interoperability.

pnm(5), anytoppm(1), pgmtoppm(1), pnmtopng(1), convert(1)