---
name: "ppmtolss16"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "syslinux"
version: "6.04.pre3.r3.g05ac953c-5"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ppmtolss16"
---

# ppmtolss16(1)

Convert a PPM to an LSS16 image

## NAME

ppmtolss16 — Convert a PPM to an LSS16 image

## SYNOPSIS

**ppmtolss16** \[        	  *#rrggbb*=*i* 	        *...\]  \[\< input.ppm\]  \[\> output.rle\]*

## DESCRIPTION

*This manual page documents briefly the* **ppmtolss16** command.

The **ppmtolss16** program converts a "raw" PPM file with max 16 colors to a simple RLE-based format:

**simple RLE-based format**

| | |
| --- | --- |
| unint32 0x1413f3d | magic (littleendian) |
| unint16 xsize | littleendian |
| unint15 ysize | littleendian |
| 16 x unint8 r,g,b | color map |

Color map is in 6-bit format (each byte is 0..63)

Then, a sequence of nybbles:

N   ... if N is != previous pixel, one pixel of color N, otherwise run sequence follows ...

M   ... if M \> 0 then run length is M+1, otherwise run sequence is encoded in two nybbles, littleendian, +17

The nybble sequences are on a per-row basis, runs may not extend across rows and odd-nybble rows are zero-padded.

At the start of a row, the "previous pixel" is assumed to be zero.

## OPTIONS

A summary of options is included below.

- *#rrggbb*=*i*

  Specify that the color #rrggbb (hex) should be assigned index i (decimal).

## BUG

This program cannot handle comments in the header, nor "plain" ppm format.

## SEE ALSO

[**ppmtolss16**(1)](/ppmtolss16/1.md)

## AUTHOR

This manual page was compiled by dann frazier \<dannf@debian.org\> for the **Debian GNU/Linux** system (but may be used by others).  Most of the content was written by H. Peter Anvin.