Minitel Videotex Toolbox - Mar 2026
A piece of software designed to convert most image formats to the Minitel Videotex format
DESCRIPTION
A small tool that converts normal images into a special format that a Minitel terminal can display.
In plain terms: You give it an image -> it transforms it into a weird Minitel-compatible file (VDX format).
Minitel is very old technology with:
Low resolution
Limited colors
A unique way of drawing graphics (character-based)
So modern images can’t be displayed directly, they must be converted into this special format first.
WHY ?
Two main reasons:
Learning / curiosity
I wanted to understand how the old French Minitel videotex system works.
Display my own images on Minitel
I wanted to display my own images on a Minitel using an Arduino or a computer plugged into the serial port.
There is a paid solution for this but I prefer writing my own software
HOW TO USE ?
LIVE DEMO
You load an image
The tool converts it into a VDX file, which is a format Minitel understands
Then you send it over serial to the minitel using an adequate device.
Behind the scenes, it:
Reduces and adapts the image to Minitel’s very limited graphics
Encodes it into Videotex data (VDX)