Convert PBM to X AVS

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 X file extension, also known as Application Visualization System X Image, is used for storing high-quality, true-color images with transparency. Developed by Stardent Computer for UNIX systems, it supports 32 bits per pixel, allowing for over 16,7 million colors with an alpha channel for transparency. This format is particularly valuable in scientific visualization and complex data representation. Despite newer formats, its uncompressed nature ensures image integrity without compression-related degradation.