Printer Command Language: Page description language

As of 2011, most modern printers understand PCL. Its complexity is between pure ASCII text, such as in ESC-P, and for example Postscript. There are different versions of the language. Common versions:

• PCL3, PCL3+: Can use raster description of fonts, grayscale, 300 dpi output maximum
• PCL3c,PCL3c+: Supports color, in addition to PCL3/PCL3+
• PCL3GUI: Allows compression of raster images, is not compatible with other PCL standards
• PCL4: Macros, bigger bitmaps, introduction of graphics
• PCL5: Supports graphics in HPGL/2, fonts can be resized
• PCL5e: Supports bidirectional communication with the printer, supports the windows fonts
• PCL5c: Color version of PCL5e, supports different color palettes, and the option to select different colors
• PCL XL later renamed to PCL6 enhanced: Allows compression to increase throughput. This is a stack-based object oriented programming language similar to Postscript
• PCL 6 standard: Either PCL5e or PCL5c, for backwards compatibility
• Jet Ready: Lowcost version of PCL XL. Only supports JFIF images. Allows to build printers without raster image processor, and without a lot of memory. The Rasterization is done in the computer, the printer only "prints images".

Except where stated, PCL versions are downwards compatible. A printer that supports PCL6 can also be programmed using PCL3, for example.

PCL is a very efficient way of coding. For this reason, certain manufacturers build high-volume printers that support different versions of PCL. Such printers can do more than 1000 pages per minute.

This short article about technology can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.