17 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.

EN

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