.SIXEL File Extension
- Category: Bitmap image Files
What are .SIXEL files and how to open them?
Can't open .SIXEL file? Are you wondering what it contains? On our site we will explain to you what this file is, what it is used for and what software opens the .SIXEL file.What is a .SIXEL file extension?
.SIXEL file extension has been classified as Bitmap image Files.
.SIXEL is DEC LN03+ Sixel bitmap image file
The SIXEL file extension is associated with the DEC LN03 or LN03+ printer, that is used DEC ANSI/Sixel printer language.
DEC ANSI/Sixel uses ANSI (American National Standards Institute) escape codes for the positioning of text, selection of fonts etc. (many personal computers and computer terminals also use ANSI escape sequences for positioning text on the screen). As ANSI escape codes are primarily designed for the manipulation of text, an additional mechanism is required for graphics. Bitmap graphics are supported, but are encoded in a special format called Sixels designed to simplify communication via serial ports.
DEC ANSI/Sixel was initially used on dot matrix printers, but Digital's first desktop office laser printer, the DEC LN03, also used DEC ANSI/Sixel. As the LN03 is supported by a wide range of applications on DEC minicomputers, printer manufacturers who supply laser printers for use with DEC minicomputers often provide an emulation of the LN03 printer.
The LN03 was suitable for use with word-processing and data-processing applications, and when expanded with extra memory (called the LN03+) was suitable for simple graphics. More sophisticated applications on DEC minicomputers normally use PostScript.