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

7-2 Fonts EN
A font must be selected for printing by the user. One font is selected
at a time. It is selected by identifying the specific characteristics of the
font. Font selection commands identify font characteristics to the
printer (refer to Summary of Font Selection by Characteristic for
detailed font selection information).
PCL 5 printers feature scalable fonts. With the addition of this feature,
the printer has two font formats available: bitmap and scalable. A
bitmap font is available in its one, defined size only. A scalable font,
on the other hand, can be selected (scaled) for a range of sizes (refer
to “Bitmap Fonts and Scalable Typefaces” later in this chapter for
additional information).
Font Sources
A number of fonts (and typefaces, as described later) are supplied
with the printer. These fonts reside in permanent ROM (read only
memory), and are referred to as internal fonts. Additional fonts can
be added easily by inserting font cartridges or SIMM modules into the
printer, or downloading them from the host computer.
A cartridge font plugs into a font cartridge slot on the printer.
SIMM font modules plug into a printed circuit board inside the printer.
These ROM-based fonts are always available (as long as the
cartridge or SIMM module is installed). A variety of font products
may be purchased from Hewlett-Packard or other vendors. Refer to
your Hewlett-Packard Accessories and Supplies Brochure for a list of
HP’s font products.
Soft fonts are supplied as files on flexible disk transferred
(downloaded) into the printer’s user (RAM) memory. Once a soft
font has been downloaded into the printer’s RAM, it may be selected
for printing.