DXF to PGM converter

.dxf

DXF was first introduced for AutoCAD. It was 1982 when it was created. This format is usually applicable for interchanging graphics inputs between SAPR programs. It has access to vector graphics in binary or ASCII. Another one known as DWG format, plays the same role but is not open software. On the other hand, as DXF is free software, it is a good option over DWG.

The DXF files are arranged so that it’s manageable to open the file as a regular text editor file, which is significantly beneficial. DXF files are built under a standard format that has several parts. One of the parts is the header, which carries detailed information about the file, classes, boxes, entities, and thumbnail picture. The data associated with the DXT file is called tagged data, which determines how the data would be interpreted.

Autodesk

.pgm

PGM file format was developed alongside the open-source Netpbm package of graphics program. Developed by Jef Poskanzer in 1988, PGM was a format for storing grayscale images and supporting bitmap. The PGM file format is forward compatible with recent graphics editing software like Corel PaintShop Pro X4, ACDSee Photo Manager 14, and ACD Systems Canvas 15. Being a plain text format, PGM can be edited using any available text editor, and thus survives the quintessential changes that image files undergo when transmitted via email. PGM files come in two types, only differentiated by magic numbers – P2 and P5, which helps graphics editor software identify the data encryption standard.

Portable Gray Map Images can be stored away with each pixel taking up memory space of either 8 or 16 bits. There are two major sections in the plain text string of a PGM file – the header and image data. The header starts with the magic number, followed by characters indicating image width, image height, maximum grayscale shade value – never exceeding 65.536, all sandwiched by whitespaces. Though used mainly on the UNIX-based operating system, being open-source has earned the PGM file compatibility with macOS and Windows.

Jef Poskanzer