HP PCL/PJL reference (PCL 5 Color) - Technical Reference Manual

B-2 Using Color Modes (Color LaserJet, 5, 5M, DeskJet) EN
Introduction
The PCL printer language has four color modes:
• Black-and-White
•Simple Color
• PCL Imaging
• HP-GL/2 Imaging
PCL allows you to use any mode or combination of modes to
accomplish your printing objectives most efficiently.
All four of the color modes create a palette. The palette for each mode
is discussed in the section describing that mode, and also in
Appendix C (“Using Palettes”).
Black-and-White Mode (Default)
Black-and-White Mode is the default color mode. PCL devices power
up in this mode and revert back to it whenever the printer receives an
?E reset. Black-and-White mode is also selectable using the Simple
Color command (
?*r1U). This mode creates an unmodifiable, default
2-pen palette, with white at index 0 and black at index 1 (compatible
with existing monochrome PCL 5 printers).
Simple Color Mode
Simple Color Mode, entered by the Simple Color command (?*r#U),
creates a fixed-size, fixed-color, unmodifiable palette. Depending on
the value field,
?*r#U can create a 2-pen Black-and-White palette,
an 8-pen RGB palette, or an 8-pen CMY palette. When using the
Simple Color mode, the pixel encoding mode is always indexed
planar.
PCL Imaging Mode
PCL Imaging Mode, enabled by the Configure Image Data command
(
?*v#W), allows a maximum of 24 bits per pixel for color
specification. Therefore, more colors (produced by halftoning) may be
specified than are obtainable in Simple Color Mode. In the PCL
Imaging Mode, pixel encoding mode, bits per pixel, bits per primary,
white/black references, and the color palette are all programmable.