Intermec PX4i Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Developer's Guide (old) - Page 74

Using Direct Graphics Mode, What Is Run-Length Encoding?

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Chapter 4 - Advanced Printer Programming For help, see the "Emulation or Advanced Mode on Power-Up" command in the IPL Command Reference Manual. Using Direct Graphics Mode You can significantly reduce the amount of time necessary to download and image a graphic by using Direct Graphics mode. Direct Graphics mode allows the printer to receive a compressed bitmap graphic and image it directly into the image bands without storing it in the printer. Before you download the graphic, you must compress it into run-length encoded (RLE) data. The data compression greatly reduces the amount of data to download and the rasterized graphic requires minimal processing to image it into the image bands. You no longer need to store the graphic in Program mode and then set up a format in Print mode. When you download a direct graphic to the printer, the printer stores the graphic in the image bands until you: • clear the label data. • set up another format. • enter Program mode or Test and Service mode. When printing a label with direct graphics, you must have enough dynamic RAM installed in your printer to contain the entire label. Because Intermec printers normally reuse image bands, you can print long labels with standard RAM; however, when you download direct graphics, the printer retains no information regarding the existence of the graphic in its image bands. Therefore, the printer cannot reuse those image bands when you download a direct graphic. With standard memory, you should be able to print almost any label up to 15.2 cm (6 in) long. You may need to install more memory for longer labels. What Is Run-Length Encoding? Run-length encoding (RLE) is a method of compressing bitmap graphics. RLE compresses graphics that have repeated runs of white or black dots in a column, reducing the amount of time required to download the graphics to a printer. RLE sends a series of commands that define each bitmap column of a graphic and takes advantage of a series of repeated dots within a column by encoding them as transition commands. Instead of sending the entire column of bitmap data, it sends commands telling the printer how many series of black and white dots to image. If columns are identical, a command can instruct the printer to repeat the last column. RLE is ideal for bar code graphics or designs with simple patterns. In cases where patterns do not exist, you can send uncompressed bitmap data to the printer. You can mix raw bitmap data and RLE commands to ensure the most efficient way to download a graphic. The RLE file may contain five types of data, each of which is one byte long: 64 Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Developer's Guide

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Chapter 4 — Advanced Printer Programming
64
Intermec Printer Language (IPL) Developer’s Guide
For help, see the “Emulation or Advanced Mode on Power-Up” command in the
IPL
Command Reference Manual
.
Using Direct Graphics Mode
You can significantly reduce the amount of time necessary to download and image a
graphic by using Direct Graphics mode. Direct Graphics mode allows the printer to
receive a compressed bitmap graphic and image it directly into the image bands
without storing it in the printer.
Before you download the graphic, you must compress it into run-length encoded
(RLE) data. The data compression greatly reduces the amount of data to download
and the rasterized graphic requires minimal processing to image it into the image
bands. You no longer need to store the graphic in Program mode and then set up a
format in Print mode.
When you download a direct graphic to the printer, the printer stores the graphic in
the image bands until you:
•
clear the label data.
•
set up another format.
•
enter Program mode or Test and Service mode.
When printing a label with direct graphics, you must have enough dynamic RAM
installed in your printer to contain the entire label. Because Intermec printers
normally reuse image bands, you can print long labels with standard RAM; however,
when you download direct graphics, the printer retains no information regarding
the existence of the graphic in its image bands. Therefore, the printer cannot reuse
those image bands when you download a direct graphic.
With standard memory, you should be able to print almost any label up to 15.2 cm
(6 in) long. You may need to install more memory for longer labels.
What Is Run-Length Encoding?
Run-length encoding (RLE) is a method of compressing bitmap graphics. RLE
compresses graphics that have repeated runs of white or black dots in a column,
reducing the amount of time required to download the graphics to a printer.
RLE sends a series of commands that define each bitmap column of a graphic and
takes advantage of a series of repeated dots within a column by encoding them as
transition commands. Instead of sending the entire column of bitmap data, it sends
commands telling the printer how many series of black and white dots to image.
If columns are identical, a command can instruct the printer to repeat the last
column. RLE is ideal for bar code graphics or designs with simple patterns.
In cases where patterns do not exist, you can send uncompressed bitmap data to the
printer. You can mix raw bitmap data and RLE commands to ensure the most
efficient way to download a graphic.
The RLE file may contain five types of data, each of which is one byte long: