The Scaling Points P1 and P2

When you scale a drawing, you define your own units of measure- ment, which the printer then converts to plotter units. Scaling relies on the relationship between two points: P1 and P2. These two points are called the scaling points because they take on the user-unit values that you specify with the Scale (SC) command. You can change the locations of P1 and P2 using either the Input P1 and P2 (IP), or Input Relative P1 and P2 (IR) command.

P1 and P2 always represent an absolute location in relation to the PCL Picture Frame, defined in plotter-units. They designate opposite corners of a rectangular printing area within the picture frame. You can change the size of the rectangular printing area and move it anywhere within the picture frame, or even outside the picture frame, depending on the plotter-unit coordinates you specify using the IP or IR commands.

Using the Scale Command

Scaling allows you to establish units of measure with which you are familiar, or which are more logical to your drawing. The Scale command (SC) determines the number of user-units along the X- and Y-axes between P1 and P2. The actual size of the units depends on the locations of P1 and P2 and the range of user-units set up by the SC command.

There are three types of scaling:

zAnisotropic

zIsotropic

zPoint-factor

Anisotropic scaling indicates that the size of the units along the X-axis may be different than the size of the units on the Y-axis. Isotropic scaling, then, indicates that the units are the same size on both axes. Point-factor scaling sets up a ratio of plotter units to user-units.

The Scale command does not change the locations of P1 and P2, only their coordinate values. Also, scaling is not limited to the rectangular area defined by P1 and P2, but extends across the entire printing area within the PCL Picture Frame.

19-4The Configuration and Status Group

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HP 5961-0509 manual Scaling Points P1 and P2, Using the Scale Command, 19-4The Configuration and Status Group