# Friendly Output: Columns and Colors

printf lines output up in columns, with a width for every blank it fills, and tput adds bold and color, but only when \[\[ -t 1 \]\] says the output is going to a terminal, so files and pipes get plain text.

![Cheat sheet for the lesson Friendly Output: Columns and Colors: printf lines output up in columns, with a width for every blank it fills, and tput adds bold and color, but only when \[\[ -t 1 \]\] says the output is going to a terminal, so files and pipes get plain text.](https://fsdtrainingmedia.blob.core.windows.net/public/images/2026/11/991eb05bcd9041a2a7fa81fae0f78ace.webp)

- Category: Bash
- Level: Journeyman
- Tags: ansi-escape-code, linux, printf, standard-streams, tput, unix
- Updated: November 10, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/cheat-sheets/bash-friendly-output-cheat-sheet