---
name: "pnm2ppa"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "pnm2ppa"
version: "1.04-4"
release: "Debian 3.0 (Woody)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pnm2ppa/8"
---

# pnm2ppa(8)

PPM to PPA converter

## NAME

pnm2ppa - PPM to PPA converter

## SYNOPSIS

**pnm2ppa** \[options\]

## DESCRIPTION

Using pnm2ppa it's possible to run HP-GDI printers on Linux. These printers are normally "Windows-only" and use the PPA protocol which is proprietary.  pnm2ppa supports color and is supposed to work faster than pbm2ppa.  pnm2ppa supports the following printers: HP Deskjet 7XX Series, HP Deskjet 820 Series and HP Deskjet 1000 Series.

## OPTIONS

- **-b \<margin\>**

  bottom margin in 1"/600 (default: 150 = 0.25")

- **--bi**

  forces bidirectional print head sweeps

- **-B \<n\>**

  density of black ink (n = 0,1,2,3 or 4)

- **--bw**

  forces black/white output

- **-d**

  dumps the configuration to stdout

- **--eco**

  Econofast mode (uses less ink)

- **-f \<cfgfile\>**

  read printer settings from configuration file \<cfgfile\>

- **-F \<gammaFile\>**

  read color correction table from file \<gammaFile\>

- **--fd**

  use fast dithering mode

- **-g**

  print color calibration page. See CALIBRATION.txt

- **-h, --help displays this help text.**

  - **-i \<infile\>**

  input from file \<infile\>, "-i -" means stdin

- **-l \<margin\>**

  left margin in 1"/600   (default: 150 = 0.25")

- **--noGamma**

  suppresses any color correction

- **-o \<outfile\>**

  output to file \<outfile\>, "-o -" means stdout

- **-p**

  disable black ink cartridge

- **-r \<margin\>**

  right margin in 1"/600  (default: 150 = 0.25")

- **-s \<paper\>**

  default papersize (a4, legal, letter = us (default))

- **-t \<margin\>**

  top margin in 1"/600  (default: 150 = 0.25")

- **--uni**

  forces unidirectional print head sweeps

- **-v \<model\>**

  set the printer model (710, 712, 720, 722, 820, or 1000)

- **--verbose**

  outputs syslog output to stderr as well

- **--version**

  Display the version of pnm2ppa to the syslog

- **-x \<offset\>**

  vertical offset adjustment in 1"/600

- **-y \<offset\>**

  horizontal offset adjustment in 1"/600

- The **-v** option resets the margins and offset adjustments to the default values for that printer model. \<infile\> and \<outfile\> default to stdin and stdout. '-' is a synonym for stdin and stdout.

  ## CONFIGURATION FILES

The order in which parameters are specified is important: The file /etc/pnm2ppa.conf, if it exists, is processed as a configuration file before any command-line parameters are processed.  If an alternate configuration file is specified on the command line with the '-f' parameter, its contents are processed at that point.  If a parameter is specified more than once, only its last value is used.  Configuration files specified with the '-f' parameter have the following format:

-

  \# Comment

-

  \<key1\> \<value1\>

-

  \<key2\> \<value2\>

-

  \[etc.\]

- Valid keys include:

  -

  version, xoffset, yoffset, topmargin, leftmargin, rightmargin, bottommargin, blackness, papersize

- or any non-null truncated version of these words. Valid values are the same as with the corresponding command-line parameters.

  - Other keys that can be set in the configuration file include:

  -

  silent, verbose, unimode, blackshear, colorshear, RedGammaIdx, BlueGammaIdx, GreenGammaIdx, GammaR, GammaG, GammaB, ColOffsX, ColOffsY, black\_ink, color\_ink, cyan\_ink, magenta\_ink, yellow\_ink

- See documentation in the sample configuration file for their usage.

  ## FILES

*/etc/ppa/gamma.ppm* gamma correction file

- */etc/ppa/pnm2ppa.conf.hp1000*, */etc/ppa/pnm2ppa.conf.hp820*, */etc/ppa/pnm2ppa.conf.hp720*

  - Configuration files for the HP1000, HP820, and HP720 Series respectively.

  ## SEE ALSO

[*calibrate\_ppa*(8)](/calibrate_ppa/8.md), [*magicfilter*(8)](/magicfilter/8.md), *apsfilter(8)*