bw-a [-a] [-s squaresize] [-w file_width] [-n file_height] [file.bw] > file.abm
BW-A(1)
NAME
bw-a - convert a BRL-CAD BW image to an ASCII bitmap
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SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
bw-a reads a BRL-CAD BW(5) grayscale image and writes an ASCII bitmap to
the standard output, emitting one character per pixel. Pixels with a value
below 127 produce a # and brighter pixels produce a -, with a newline
inserted after every file_width characters so that each scanline of the
image becomes a line of text.
If file.bw is not specified, the image is read from the standard input. By default the input width is assumed to be 512 pixels; this can be overridden with the -w option (or determined automatically with -a). The image is treated as being in inverse (bottom-to-top) order, so it is typically flipped before conversion.
The output is suitable for feeding to the X11 atobm(1) utility to create an X bitmap.
OPTIONS
- -a
-
Autosize the input. When a named file is given, the width is determined from the file size rather than the default or supplied dimensions.
- -s squaresize
-
Accepted for compatibility, but has no effect on the output; only the input width (see -w) is used when emitting scanlines.
- -w file_width
-
Set the width of the input to file_width pixels (default 512). A newline is emitted after every file_width characters.
- -n file_height
-
Accepted for compatibility, but has no effect on the output; the number of scanlines is determined solely by the amount of input read.
- -h, -?
-
Print a usage message and exit.
EXAMPLES
$ pix-fb -w1280 -n960 -i -Fimage.pixi image.pix
$ pix-bw image.pixi | halftone -R -S -w1280 -n960 | \
bw-a -w1280 -n960 | atobm -name image >image.bm
Flips a 1280x960 color image, converts it to grayscale, halftones it to a one-bit-per-pixel representation, turns that into an ASCII bitmap with bw-a, and finally pipes the result through atobm(1) to produce a usable X bitmap.
SEE ALSO
brlcad(1), bw-pix(1), bw-png(1), halftone(1), pix-bw(1), bw(5)
AUTHOR
BRL-CAD Team
COPYRIGHT
This software is Copyright (c) 1989-2026 by the United States Government as represented by U.S. Army Research Laboratory.
BUG REPORTS
Reports of bugs or problems should be submitted via electronic mail to devs@brlcad.org