Click above to get retro games delivered to your door ever month! AN INTRODUCTION TO HP-GL/2 GRAPHICS WHAT IS HP-GL/2? HP-GL/2 is a vector graphics language that essentially turns your printer into a plotter. Vector graphics uses less memory than raster graphics, when being stored, as well as having a more efficient Input/Output transfer of large images when printing, (it will print faster). When printing in HP-GL/2, the printer will define points "a" and "b" then draw a line between them, in raster the printer defines every point between point "a" and point "b". HP-GL/2 HISTORY HP-GL/2 was added to the PCL language in PCL Level 5, for LaserJet III family printers and is supported in LaserJet 4 family printers with PCL Level 5 Enhanced. To print in HP-GL/2 you are required to leave the PCL environment and enter the HP-GL/2 environment. Switching into and out of HP-GL/2 requires only a few commands, and cannot be done through the front menu panel. Some software applications may easily switch between the two modes as needed without affecting performance. LEARNING HP-GL/2 The best way to learn HP-GL/2 is to read the "Introduction to HP-GL/2 Graphics" in the PCL 5 Printer Language Technical Reference Manual for an overview of HP-GL/2. Then find the specific commands you need in subsequent chapters. Reading through the examples, then trying to print them using a text editor or programming language is the best way to learn HP-GL/2. Copyright Hewlett-Packard Co. 1993 The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the use of this material.