HP 5961-0509 manual HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics

HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics

There are different approaches (commands) and techniques that can be used to create an HP-GL/2 image. To assist in determining the most efficient approach to creating an image, several points are identified below:

zWhen using line caps and joins:

•Most efficient - Round join with butt cap

•Least efficient - Round join with triangular cap

zWhen using text, if you want the character to be printed at the same location as it would in PCL, use label origin position 21 (see “Label Origin” command, in Chapter 23).

zDefault pen widths (5 dots wide or less) produce the highest speed.

zHewlett-Packard recommends using polygon mode when the number of points in a polygon is 1000 or less.

zThe Polyline Encoded command can reduce data by 60% to 70%.

zWhen drawing shapes, use a command that was designed to draw that shape. For example, to draw a rectangle, use the ER command to produce it, instead of stroking the shape line by line.

zWhen drawing arcs or circles, use the Bezier commands to eliminate the need to compute the chord angle, thus resulting in better quality and efficiency.

zTo Scale text, use the HP-GL/2 font selection commands, such as SD or AD, that use Intellifont or TrueType to scale the text. Scaling text in HP-GL/2, using the SR or SI commands, is much less efficient.

zFont transformations in HP-GL/2, such as mirroring, scaling, slanting, rotating, and outlining are very processing intensive. An ‘‘ERROR 21’’ (print overrun) may occur. The error can be controlled by using the HP LaserJet “Page Protection” feature.

EN HP-GL/2 Vector Graphics 24-9