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ppmtosixel — Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format. More information: <https://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/ppmto

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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sixelcommanddecconvertcliimageppmtosixelppm

Problem

How to use the ppmtosixel command: Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format. More information: <https://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/ppmtosixel.html>.

Solution

ppmtosixel — Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format. More information: <https://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/ppmtosixel.html>.

Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format:

ppmtosixel {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Produce an uncompressed SIXEL file that is much slower to print:

ppmtosixel {{[-r|-raw]}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Add a left margin of 1.5 inches:

ppmtosixel {{[-m|-margin]}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Encode control codes in a more portable (although less space-efficient) way:

ppmtosixel -7bit {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Code Snippets

Convert a PPM image to DEC sixel format

ppmtosixel {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Produce an uncompressed SIXEL file that is much slower to print

ppmtosixel {{[-r|-raw]}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Add a left margin of 1.5 inches

ppmtosixel {{[-m|-margin]}} {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Encode control codes in a more portable (although less space-efficient) way

ppmtosixel -7bit {{path/to/file.ppm}} > {{path/to/file.sixel}}

Context

tldr-pages: common/ppmtosixel

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