Convert PBM to RAD

The PBM (Portable Bitmap) file extension, part of the Netpbm project, originated in the late 1980s to facilitate efficient and portable graphics file interchange. Primarily, PBM files are used to store monochrome bitmaps in a simple ASCII text format, ensuring easy compatibility across different systems and platforms. This format supports only black-and-white imagery, making it particularly useful in scenarios where simplicity and minimalism are prioritized, such as in Unix environments for bitmap manipulation and transfer. Its historical significance lies in promoting a standardized approach to bitmap graphics in early computer technology.

The RAD file extension, associated with the Radiance software suite, stands for Radiance Scene Description. It is used to describe materials and geometry for lighting simulations and rendering programs. Developed by Greg Ward at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Radiance employs ray tracing and an octree data structure for accurate lighting calculations. RAD files are ASCII text files that must be compiled into an octree before rendering.