HP PCL/PJL reference (PCL 5 Printer Language) - Technical Reference Manual Part II

EN 17-1

An Introduction to

HP-GL/2 Vector

Graphics

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 advanta-

geous to use vector graphics instead of raster graphics. The

advantages include faster I/O transfer of large images and

smaller disk storage requirements.

Note 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.