Transforming PCL image data

The output of the PCL to AFP transform is AFP image data for any type of PCL input, whether it is text or images. The image created by the PCL to AFP transform minimizes white space within an image block by defining the image block size to be exactly the right size to contain all of the black pels of the image. A PCL image might not print if any part of the image lies outside of the valid printable area. In addition, be aware that using form definitions that specify a non-zero logical page origin might move a valid PCL image out of the printable area; thus, the image does not print.

The PCL to AFP transform lets you specify the length and the width of PCL images. Before you use the -l and -w flags of the PCL to AFP transform, it is helpful to understand how PCL images are placed on the page.

The next figure shows an example of a PCL image. This image is 8.5 inches high and 11 inches wide, measured from the lower-left corner of the image.

If you want to print the entire image, specify a length of 11i and a width of 8.5i. When the image is printed, the upper-left corner of the image is placed at the point on the page called the logical page origin, which is specified in the form definition. The logical page origin is the point on the form where the page of data is positioned, and it is specified as an offset from the top-left corner of the sheet. Therefore, if the form definition has a logical page origin of 0.165 inches from both the left and top sides of the sheet, the top-left corner of the image is placed 0.165 inches down and to the left of the upper left corner of the sheet.

A PCL image

A PCL image of a rose and rose bud next to a printed image of a rose and rose bud.

All this gets more complicated if you do not specify the entire image. For example, if you want to crop the image so that you only use the lower left corner, you would specify a width of 7i and a length of 7i with the PCL to AFP transform. The upper left corner of the resulting image is then placed at the logical page origin (as shown in the next figure).

A cropped PCL image

A cropped PCL image of the rose and rose bud next to the printed image of the cropped rose.

In this example, specify a PCL image that is 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches high. Again, the upper-left corner of the transformed image is placed at the logical page origin. Unless you specify a form definition with the print job that has a zero logical page origin (for example, F100S, F100D, or F100T), the page will not print because part of the image is outside the valid printable area (as shown in the next figure).

A PCL image offset from the top-left corner

A PCL image offset from the top-left corner that cannot be printed because it is outside the physical page. This is illustrated with measurements and arrows.

As you can see from the previous figure, specifying the correct form definition is extremely important, particularly when you are printing a full-page image.

The default length and width values work with the default form definitions that are available for each type of printer.

However, if you want to specify exact placement of your PCL output on the page using a zero vertical and horizontal offset from the top-left corner of the page, specify one of these form definitions:

  • F100S
  • F100D
  • F100T

If you specify a 0 horizontal and vertical offset in the form definition, the image produced by the PCL to AFP transform might be printed in the unprintable area of the printer. To avoid printing in the unprintable area, you can specify the -x (X offset) and -y (Y offset) flags on the PCL to AFP transform. These flags add white space to the top and left side of the image produced by the transform, ensuring that no data will print in the unprintable area.

Parent topic: Transform PCL data to AFP