SIX File – What is .six file and how to open it?
SIX File Extension
Sixel Image – file format by Digital Equipment Corporation
SIX (Sixel Image) is a file extension developed by Digital Equipment Corporation for a monochrome image format that uses a six-bit encoding scheme. It is primarily used in printing and computer graphics.
Definition of a SIX File
A SIX file, short for Sixel Image, is a raster image format developed by Digital Equipment Corporation. It is primarily used in the transmission of images over teletype lines, allowing for the display of graphics on text-based terminals. SIX files utilize a special encoding scheme that represents images using six-bit codes, hence their name. This encoding allows for efficient transmission over narrowband channels and preserves the original image’s resolution and detail.
Structure and Characteristics
SIX files consist of a series of encoded lines, each representing a single scanline of the image. The encoding scheme assigns each six-bit code to a specific pixel value, creating a binary representation of the image. The file format also supports various control codes that allow for the manipulation of image parameters such as size, position, and color. SIX files are typically monochromatic, with each pixel being assigned a value of either black or white. However, some variants of the format support a limited number of colors.
What is a SIX File?
A SIX file is a raster image file format developed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). It is primarily used to store and display graphical images within the VT100 family of text terminals. The format is comprised of two parts: a header, which contains information about the image, and the image data itself. The data is encoded using a series of six-bit characters, hence the name “SIX”. This six-bit encoding allows for the efficient transmission of images over slow communication channels.
How to Open a SIX File
To open and view a SIX file, you can use a software program that supports the format. Several different programs are available for both Windows and Mac operating systems. These programs typically allow you to view the image, save it to a different format, or convert it to another file type. Additionally, some web browsers also support viewing SIX files directly within the browser. Here are some popular programs that can open SIX files:
- Windows: Microsoft Paint, XnView, IrfanView, GIMP
- Mac: Preview, ImageMagick, GIMP
- Web Browser: Chrome, Firefox
Origins and Development of SIX Files
The SIX (Sixel Image) file format was conceived by the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) in the 1980s as a method for efficiently transmitting bitmap images over a limited-bandwidth network. It was designed to encode images in a compact manner, making it suitable for use with teleprinters and other devices with constrained storage and transmission capabilities. The format gained popularity within the DEC ecosystem of minicomputers and terminals.
Key Features of SIX Files
SIX files are characterized by their unique encoding scheme, which represents images as a series of ASCII characters. This encoding approach allows for transmission over text-based communication channels, ensuring compatibility even with devices lacking dedicated graphics capabilities. SIX images are typically monochromatic, with a resolution of 120 x 120 pixels or lower. The compact nature of the format makes it efficient for storage and transmission over limited-bandwidth networks or slow serial connections. Additionally, the simplicity of the encoding algorithm enables fast decoding and display of images, contributing to its popularity in the early days of computer graphics.