DEC LN03+ sixel bitmap image
File type: Bitmap image file
A .six file contains a bitmap image encoded in the DEC ANSI/Sixel printer language for DEC LN03 and LN03+ printers.
It is a printer and terminal control stream rather than a conventional standalone bitmap image.
File type category:
Bitmap image file
Date updated: October 12, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) developed the ANSI/Sixel language for devices such as the LN03 and LN03+ printers. ANSI stands for American National Standards Institute. The language combines ANSI escape sequences with sixel data to transmit bitmap graphics.
In addition to image data, DEC ANSI/Sixel sequences can control text positioning and font selection. ANSI escape sequences are also used by many computer terminals and personal computers for positioning text and controlling terminal output.
The format was intended for DEC printer and terminal environments and is now obsolete. Modern software and hardware rarely support it directly.
Open a .six file with a terminal emulator or image utility that explicitly supports DEC Sixel graphics. It can also be sent to a compatible DEC LN03 or LN03+ printer, although such hardware is obsolete.
Most current image viewers do not recognize this format, so support may require software running in a DEC-compatible or Sixel-capable environment.
A .six file can be converted to a common image format such as PNG only with software that can decode Sixel graphics and export raster images.
Because the format is obsolete and support is uncommon, there may be no suitable converter in a current desktop installation. If no Sixel-capable decoder is available, the file cannot be converted reliably by ordinary image-conversion software.
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