ASCIITOPGM

NAME

      asciitopgm - convert ASCII graphics into a portable graymap

SYNOPSIS

      asciitopgm [-d divisor] height width [asciifile]

DESCRIPTION

      Reads ASCII data as input.  Produces a portable graymap with pixel
      values which are an approximation of the "brightness" of the ASCII
      characters, assuming black-on-white printing.  In other words, a
      capital M is very dark, a period is ver light, and a space is white.
      Input lines which are fewer than width characters are automatically
      padded with spaces.
      The divisor argument is a floating-point number by which the output
      pixels are divided; the default value is 1.0.  This can be used to
      adjust the brightness of the graymap: for example, if the image is too
      dim, reduce the divisor.
      In keeping with (I believe) Fortran line-printer conventions, input
      lines beginning with a + (plus) character are assumed to "overstrike"
      the previous line, allowing a larger range of gray values.
      This tool contradicts the message in the pbmtoascii manual: "Note that
      there is no asciitopbm tool - this transformation is one-way."

BUGS

      The table of ASCII-to-grey values is subject to interpretation, and,
      of course, depends on the typeface intended for the input.

SEE ALSO

      pbmtoascii(1), pgm(5)

AUTHOR

      Wilson H. Bent. Jr. (whb@usc.edu)