How to use the command 'brushtopbm' (with examples)

The brushtopbm command is a utility from the Netpbm library, designed to convert Xerox doodle brush files into the Portable Bitmap (PBM) format. This tool provides a means to transform a proprietary or less common image file format (brush) often used in specific applications into a more universally accepted format (PBM), which can be further manipulated or viewed using various graphics tools.

Use case 1: Generate a PBM file as output for a Xerox doodle brush file as input

Code:

brushtopbm path/to/file.brush

Motivation:

Imagine you’re working with an archive of old graphics files created using a Xerox Doodle brush format. However, modern image editors and viewers no longer support this obsolete format, rendering the files inaccessible. The brushtopbm tool becomes essential in this scenario, allowing you to convert these outdated brush files into PBM images. PBM is a simple monochrome bitmap format that is widely recognized by various image processing software, making it much easier to handle and convert to other formats if needed.

Explanation:

• brushtopbm: This is the command invoking the conversion tool. It indicates that the process to transform brush files to PBM format will be carried out.

• path/to/file.brush: This is the path to your input file, the Xerox doodle brush file that you intend to convert. You need to provide either the relative or absolute path to this file. The command reads the specified brush file and processes it to generate a PBM file.

Example Output:

Upon running the command, a new PBM file (let’s say, file.pbm) will be generated in the current working directory. This file is a monochrome representation of your original brush image, rendered in the PBM format.

Use case 2: Display version

Code:

brushtopbm -version

Motivation:

Keeping track of the version of the software you’re using is crucial, especially in a development or production environment. Ensuring compatibility between different tools, libraries, and systems often hinges on knowing exactly which version of a software you are working with. If there are bugs or compatibility issues, developers and users can look back at specific versions and trace when and where a problem started or if it has been resolved in updates. Displaying the tool’s version is a quick and easy way to gather this information without any hassle.

Explanation:

• brushtopbm: This is the command to initiate the brushtopbm utility.

• -version: This is a flag indicating that you want to print out the version of the brushtopbm tool currently installed. It does not perform any conversions. Instead, it prints the version details directly to the terminal, which can be useful for documentation or troubleshooting.

Example Output:

Running the command might display something akin to:

brushtopbm version 10.73.32-Sep 2023

This output gives the specific version of the brushtopbm tool, helping users to verify their software version.

Conclusion:

The brushtopbm command is an invaluable tool for converting Xerox doodle brush files to the more universally recognized PBM format. Whether you are dealing with legacy graphic files requiring conversion or simply need to know the version of the tool you are working with, brushtopbm serves its purpose effectively. As demonstrated, its simplicity in usage and clarity in execution make it a handy command for anyone dealing with specific types of graphic file transformations.