Convert VIPS to SIX

The VIPS (Virtual Image Processing System) file format, developed by the libvips library, is designed for high-performance image processing with low memory usage. It supports arbitrary metadata and is optimized for command-line operations. Although not widely supported by other programs, it serves as an efficient intermediate format for tasks like image inversion and gamma correction. The format includes a 64-byte header with basic fields such as image width and a set of band-interleaved scanlines for the image data.

The SIX file extension, short for "six pixels", is a bitmap graphics format developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) for their terminals and printers. Introduced initially to send bitmap graphics to DEC dot matrix printers like the LA50, SIX later facilitated the transfer of soft fonts to terminals such as the VT220. This format encodes images using a series of six-pixel-high patterns, making it efficient for transmitting graphics over 7-bit serial links. Rediscovered around 2010, SIX remains in use with modern terminal emulators for tasks like video playback.