How to use the command pnmtops (with examples)

The pnmtops command is used to convert a PNM (Portable aNy Map) image to a PostScript file (.ps). This command is a part of the Netpbm package, which provides a collection of tools for manipulating and converting various image formats.

Use case 1: Convert a PNM image to a PS file

Code:

pnmtops path/to/file.pnm > path/to/file.ps

Motivation: Converting a PNM image to a PS file is useful when you want to transform the image into a more widely supported format for printing or further editing.

Explanation:

• pnmtops: This is the command itself.
• path/to/file.pnm: This is the path to the input PNM image file that you want to convert.
• >: This is a redirection operator that allows you to store the output of the command in a file.
• path/to/file.ps: This is the path where you want to save the converted PS file.

Example output: The PNM image will be converted to a PS file and saved at the specified location.

Use case 2: Specify the dimensions of the output image in inches

Code:

pnmtops -imagewidth <imagewidth> -imageheight <imageheight> path/to/file.pnm > path/to/file.ps

Motivation: Specifying the dimensions of the output image is helpful when you need to resize the image for specific printing requirements or to fit a particular layout.

Explanation:

• -imagewidth: This option allows you to specify the width of the output image in inches.
• <imagewidth>: This is the desired width of the output image.
• -imageheight: This option allows you to specify the height of the output image in inches.
• <imageheight>: This is the desired height of the output image.
• path/to/file.pnm: This is the path to the input PNM image file that you want to convert.
• >: This is a redirection operator that allows you to store the output of the command in a file.
• path/to/file.ps: This is the path where you want to save the converted PS file.

Example output: The PNM image will be converted to a PS file with the specified dimensions and saved at the specified location.

Use case 3: Specify the dimensions of the page the output image resides on in inches

Code:

pnmtops -width <width> -height <height> path/to/file.pnm > path/to/file.ps

Motivation: By specifying the dimensions of the page, you can ensure that the output image is correctly positioned and sized within the page layout.

Explanation:

• -width: This option allows you to specify the width of the page in inches.
• <width>: This is the desired width of the page.
• -height: This option allows you to specify the height of the page in inches.
• <height>: This is the desired height of the page.
• path/to/file.pnm: This is the path to the input PNM image file that you want to convert.
• >: This is a redirection operator that allows you to store the output of the command in a file.
• path/to/file.ps: This is the path where you want to save the converted PS file.

Example output: The PNM image will be converted to a PS file and saved at the specified location, with the image correctly positioned and sized within the specified page dimensions.

Conclusion:

The pnmtops command is a versatile tool for converting PNM images to PostScript files. With the ability to specify dimensions for both the output image and the page, this command provides flexibility in adjusting image sizes and layouts according to specific requirements. Whether for printing, further editing, or integrating images into a larger document, pnmtops is a valuable command for image manipulation.