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HP LaserJet 4100 HP PCL/PJL reference (PCL 5 Printer Language) - Technical Ref - Page 3

An Introduction to HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics

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17 An Introduction to HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics Note The PCL 5 printer provides the ability to print vector graphics using the HP-GL/2 graphics language. HP-GL/2 graphics may be created within application software, or imported from existing applications. For various types of images (many technical drawings and business graphics, for example), it is advantageous to use vector graphics instead of raster graphics. The advantages include faster I/O transfer of large images and smaller disk storage requirements. As a guideline, use raster graphics for small, complex images, or those images that cannot be accomplished with HP-GL/2 (such as scanned photographs). Use HP-GL/2 for images that would involve a large amount of I/O data transfer if printed using raster graphics, or for drawings that are already in HP-GL/2 format. If the image is easier to describe using vectors instead of raster lines, the image usually prints faster using HP-GL/2. Printing with HP-GL/2 requires leaving the PCL printer language mode and entering HP-GL/2 mode. Switching between modes involves only a few commands, and software applications easily switch between the two modes as needed. EN 17-1

Section	Page
An Introduction to HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics	3
Learning HP-GL/2	4
HP-GL/2 Commands and Syntax	5
Understanding HP-GL/2 Syntax	8
Notations Used to Express Syntax	10
Omitting Optional Parameters	11
Parameter Formats	12
Using HP-GL/2 With Programming Languages	15
Example:BASIC	15
Example:C Programming Language	16
The HP-GL/2 Coordinate System	17
HP-GL/2 & PCL Orientation Interactions	19
The Vector Graphics Limits	21
HP-GL/2 Units of Measure	22
Plotter Units	22
User-units	22
Pen Status and Location	23
Pen Status	23
Pen Location	25
Scaling	26
Absolute and Relative Pen Movement	27
The Picture Frame	29
Defining the Image Area(PCL Picture Frame)	30
Automatically Adjusting Image Size to Fit the PCL Picture Frame	31
Creating a Page Size-Independent Plot	31
Typical HP-GL/2 PlotCommand Sequence	33
Horizontal Picture Frame Size	36
Example:	37
Vertical Picture Frame Size (Decipoints)	37
Example:To specify a vertical picture frame size of 6.5 inches, send:	37
Set Picture Frame Anchor Point	38
Example:	38
HP-GL/2 Plot Horizontal Size	39
Example:	39
HP-GL/2 Plot Vertical Size	40
Example:	40
Enter HP-GL/2 Mode	41
Example:	41
Enter PCL Mode	42
Example:	42
Default Settings	43
The Configuration and Status Group	47
Establishing Default Conditions	49
The Scaling Points P1 and P2	50
Using the Scale Command	50
Using Scaling Effectively	54
Enlarging or Reducing a Picture	54
Drawing Equal-Size Pictures on a Page	56
Creating Mirror-Images	58
Adapting the HP-GL/2 Coordinate System to Match the PCL System	61
Windowing: Setting Up Soft-Clip Limits	64
CO, Comment	65
DF, Default Values	65
IN, Initialize	67
IP, Input P1 and P2	69
IR, Input Relative P1 and P2	72
IW, Input Window	75
PG, Advance Full Page	79
RO, Rotate Coordinate System	80
Angle of Rotation	80
RP, Replot	85
SC, Scale	86
For Scaling Types 0 and 1:	87
For Scaling Type 2:	90
The Vector Group	93
Drawing Lines	94
Drawing Circles	96
Drawing Arcs	97
Angle of Rotation	99
Drawing Bezier Curves	100
AA, Arc Absolute	101
AR, Arc Relative	105
AT, Absolute Arc Three Point	108
BR, Bezier Relative	111
BZ, Bezier Absolute	114
CI, Circle	117
PA, Plot Absolute	122
PD, Pen Down	123
PE, Polyline Encoded	126
Encoding PE Flag Values and X,Y Coordinates	129
Example: Using the PE Command	133
PR, Plot Relative	136
U, Pen Up	138
RT, Relative Arc Three Point	140
The Polygon Group	145
Using the Polygon Buffer	146
Drawing Rectangles	147
Drawing Wedges	150
Drawing Polygons	154
Drawing Subpolygons	155
Filling Polygons	156
Drawing Circles in Polygon Mode	158
`Approximating Polygon Buffer Use	158
Counting the Points in a Polygon	159
Counting the Points in a Circle or Arc	160
EA, Edge Rectangle Absolute	161
EP, Edge Polygon	165
ER, Edge Rectangle Relative	167
EW, Edge Wedge	171
FP, Fill Polygon	175
PM, Polygon Mode Command	178
(PM0) or (PM)	178
(PM1)	180
(PM2)	181
RA, Fill Rectangle Absolute	183
RR, Fill Rectangle Relative	186
WG, Fill Wedge	189
The Line and Fill Attributes Group	197
Using Line Attributes and Types	198
Using Fill Types	200
Selecting a “Pen” and Changing Line Width	201
AC, Anchor Corner	202
FT, Fill Type	205
LA, Line Attributes	211
Line Ends	213
Line Joins	213
Miter Limit	215
LT, Line Type	218
PW, Pen Width	225
RF, Raster Fill Definition	228
SM, Symbol Mode	231
SP, Select Pen	234
SV, Screened Vectors	235
TR, Transparency Mode	238
UL, User-Defined Line Type	240
WU, Pen Width Unit Selection	242
The Character Group	245
Printing Labels	247
Moving to the Carriage Return Point	249
Control Codes	250
Default Label Conditions	251
Enhancing Labels	252
Character Size and Slant	252
Character Spaces and Text Lines	252
Label Orientation and Placement	253
Terminating Labels	255
Working with the Character Cell	256
Using Fonts	259
Printing with Fixed-Spaced and Proportional Fonts	259
Designating and Selecting Fonts	261
Standard and Alternate Fonts	261
AD, Alternate Font Definition	262
CF, Character Fill Mode	264
CP, Character Plot	268
DI, Absolute Direction	273
DR, Relative Direction	281
Example:Using the DR Command	285
DT, Define Label Terminator	288
DV, Define Variable Text Path	290
Example:Using theDV Command	293
ES, Extra Space	295
FI, Select Primary Font	298
Example:Using the FI Command	298
FN, Select Secondary Font	300
Example:Using the FN Command	301
LB, Label	303
LO, Label Origin	306
SA, Select Alternate Font	310
SB, Scalable or Bitmap Fonts	311
SD, Standard Font Definition	312
Kind 1: Symbol Set	313
Kind 2: Font Spacing	314
Kind 3: Pitch	314
Kind 4: Height	315
Kind 5: Posture	315
Kind 6: Stroke Weight	315
Kind 7: Typeface	316
Example:Using the SD Command	317
SI, Absolute Character Size	318
Example:Using the SI Command	319
SL, Character Slant	322
Example:Using the SL Command	323
SR, Relative Character Size	325
Example:Using the SR Command	327
SS, Select Standard Font	329
TD, Transparent Data	330
Programming Hints	333
PCL Command Parsing	334
Job Control	335
Printer Reset	335
PCL Page Control 1	336
Paper Source	336
Page Size	336
Text Area/Margins	336
HMI	336
PCL Cursor Positioning	337
Fonts	337
PCL Raster Graphics	339
Macros	340
HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics	341
Performance	342
PCL Commands	342
Print Data	342
Print Overrun	342
Page Protection	342
I/O	343
Troubleshooting Commands	344
End-of-Line Wrap	344
Example	344
Display Functions Mode	344
Example	345
Auto Continue Mode	346
Common Errors	347
20 ERROR	347
21 ERROR	347
22 ERROR	347
40 ERROR	347
Customer Support	349
Help From Your Organization	349
Help From Your Dealer	349
Help from HP	349
Glossary	353