NAME

       pnmtorle - convert a Netpbm image file into an RLE image file.

SYNOPSIS

       pnmtorle [ -h ] [ -v ] [ -a ] [ -o outfile ] [ pnmfile ]

DESCRIPTION

       This program converts Netpbm image files into Utah RLE(5) image files.  You can include an
       alpha mask.  If the input is a  multiple  image  file,  the  output  consists  of  several
       concatenated RLE images.

       The RLE file will contain either a three channel color image (24 bits) or a single channel
       grayscale image (8 bits) depending upon the  pnm  file  depth.   If  a  converted  ppm  is
       displayed  on  an 8 bit display, the image must be dithered.  In order to produce a better
       looking image (on 8 bit displays), it is recommended that the image be  quantizing  (to  8
       bit  mapped  color)  prior  to its display.  This may be done by piping the output of this
       program into the Utah mcut(1) or rlequant(1) utilities.   An  example  of  this  is  shown
       later.

OPTIONS

       -v     This option will cause pnmtorle to operate in verbose mode.  The header information
              is written to "stderr".  Actually, there is not much header information stored in a
              Netpbm file, so this information is minimal.

       -h     This  option allows the header of the Netpbm image to be dumped to "stderr" without
              converting the file.  It is equivalent to using the -v option except that  no  file
              conversion takes place.

       -a     This  option  causes pnmtorle to include an alpha channel in the output image.  The
              alpha channel is based on the image:  Wherever a pixel is black, the  corresponding
              alpha value is transparent.  Everywhere else, the alpha value is fully opaque.

       -o outfile
              If specified, the output will be written to this file.  If outfile is "-", or if it
              is not specified, the output will be written to the standard output stream.

       pnmfile
              The name of the Netpbm image data file to be converted.  If not specified, standard
              input is assumed.

EXAMPLES

       pnmtorle -v file.ppm -o file.rle
              While  running  in verbose mode, convert file.ppm to RLE format and store resulting
              data in file.rle.

       pnmtorle -h file.pgm
              Dump the header information of the Netpbm file called file.pgm.

SEE ALSO

       rletopnm(1), urt(1), RLE(5).

AUTHOR

       Wes Barris
       Army High Performance Computing Research Center (AHPCRC)
       Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.