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Readme for Plotter Users
Introduction
This document contains additional information about plotting not included in the ArchiCAD and PlotMaker Reference Guides. In addition, it answers some frequently asked questions.
The information presented here is based on our own experience and is far from being complete. In time, it will include even more data about other plotter models.
The document is divided into the following sections:
PlotMaker supports bitmap plotting on some plotter models that support the Hewlett Packard Raster Transfer Language (HP RTL). This feature is not yet implemented in ArchiCAD.
On Windows
Bitmap plotting is memory and time consuming, and the resulting plot file can be very large. Most of the plotting time is spent with memory allocation which performs dithering and bitmap copying. During this time, even the Hourglass cursor will not spin around.
If PlotMaker runs out of memory, reduce the number of pixels in the picture. The size of the bitmap does not depend on the real size of the picture (which you can set by stretching the corners of the picture), it depends only on the number of pixels (which you cannot change in PlotMaker). You can manipulate the bitmap by using a painting software.
Some monochrome plotters cannot create grayscale shades from the color information. In this case, you can either let PlotMaker dither them into patterns of black and white by choosing Black & White in the Plot dialog, or you can change the pixel depth of the picture to 1 in Adobe Photoshop or a similar program.
On Macintosh
Bitmap plotting is memory and time consuming, and the resulting plot file can be very large. Most of the plotting time is spent in QuickDraw which performs dithering and bitmap copying. During this time, even the Beachball cursor will not spin around.
Bitmap plotting uses much more memory than the actual size of the picture. In the picture, the bitmap is in compressed form, but, while dithering, both the source and the destination bitmap are processed in memory in uncompressed form. If PlotMaker runs out of memory, it will inform you about the estimated amount of required memory. If you cannot increase the memory reserved for PlotMaker, reduce the number of pixels in the picture. The size of the bitmap does not depend on the real size of the picture (which you can set by stretching the corners of the picture), it depends only on the number of pixels (which you cannot change in PlotMaker). You can manipulate the bitmap by using a painting software.
Some monochrome plotters cannot create grayscale shades from the color information. In this case, you can either let PlotMaker dither them into patterns of black and white by choosing Black and White in the Plot dialog, or you can change the pixel depth of the picture to 1 in Adobe Photoshop or a similar program.
2. Direct Network Plotting Issues
A recent feature of ArchiCAD (from version 5.0) and PlotMaker (from version 1.6) is the ability of supporting direct network plotting by selecting the Network connection in the Plot Setup dialog. This feature is very similar to PlotFlow's network plotting abilities.
On Windows
To setup a network plotter, connect it to one of the computers in the network (e.g. through the COM1 port). Assign a printer driver to the plotter. This driver can either be the plotter manufacturer's own printer driver shipped with the plotter, or any of the printer drivers you find on your Windows installation CD.
ArchiCAD will use the selected printer driver to communicate with the plotter. (Plotter type characteristics are stored in Graphisoft's plotter drivers.) Specify the connection port for the selected printer driver (COM1 in the example above) and share this new peripheral device for the network. If all the settings are correct, Windows will handle your plotter as a simple network printer.
(See more detailed information on the above connection in PlotFlow's Help.)
On Macintosh
The plotting method is based on the PAP Client interface of OpenTransport, the new Apple communication standard. Because of some bugs in previous versions of OpenTransport, this feature is available only from version 1.1.1 of OpenTransport, otherwise the AppleTalk menu item is disabled. OpenTransport 1.1.1 is included with System 7.6.
However, you can still use the 'AppleTalk Printer Tool' commmunication tool from Microspot without OpenTransport.
At the end of this document, you can find a list containing several plotter models and the name of the driver we recommend using for them. In the ArchiCAD Reference Guide, you can find some guidelines about choosing a driver for your plotter if it is not included in the list. Here is some additional information which you may find useful if your plotter has HP-GL emulation.
The HP-GL language is the most widely used plotter language, originally developed for pen plotters. HP-GL/2 is a new generation of HP-GL with several enhancements, including compacted vector formats and additional commands for raster plotters. HP-GL/2 has become an industry standard; most of the plotter manufacturers implement this language in their plotter models. However, some features of HP-GL2 are not implemented for certain models. HP-RTL (HP Raster Transfer Language) is an extension of HP-GL/2, which makes it possible to plot bitmaps on raster devices. This Dual Context Extension is not implemented in some models either. If your plotter is HP-GL/2 compatible, and you want to drive it in HP-GL/2, you may choose one of the following three drivers:
- Hewlett-Packard HP DesignJet 650C
- Encad NovaJET II
- Generic drivers: HP-GL/2 for Pen Plotters
These drivers use different levels of the HP-GL/2 language. If your plotter has problems with the complex driver, you will have to use a simpler one.
The HP DesignJet 650C driver uses most of the available HP-GL/2 and HP-RTL commands. Use this driver if your plotter supports the dual context extension and can switch randomly between HP RTL and HP-GL/2.
The Encad NovaJET II driver is similar to the HP DesignJet driver but without the HP-RTL implementation. If you use this driver, pictures will not be plotted.
The Generic drivers: HP-GL/2 for Pen Plotters uses only a subset of the HP-GL/2 commands (the polygon fill and pen setting instructions are not used). If you use this driver, the pens have to be set on the plotter control panel and in the Plot Setup/Pens and Media dialog box. Pictures will not be plotted and the fills will be decomposed in lines.
Note that the HP-GL/2 emulation of some raster plotters emulate a pen plotter. For these plotters use the Generic drivers: HP-GL/2 for Pen Plotters driver.
One commonly observed problem is that the lower left corner of the drawing is shifted into the middle of the paper. This is because there are two types of HPGL plotters. In case of large format plotters (A0, A1 or E, D), the origin is in the center, and in case of desktop plotters the origin is in the lower left corner. In such cases, use another driver or select another HPGL emulation on the plotter. Our HP drivers with center-origin are: DraftPro, DraftPro DXL, DraftPro EXL, DraftMaster I, 7580B. On HPGL2 plotters, the origin is always in the lower left corner.
IMPORTANT: If you use a driver made for a different plotter than your own, the margins may be different on the plotter and in the driver. To avoid clipping your layout, use a somehwat smaller layout size and place the layout in the middle of the page.
4. Recommended Drivers and Cables
In the following section, you can find a list of recommended drivers, cables and settings for some plotters. Only those settings are included which are essential to work correctly with ArchiCAD and PlotMaker. Other settings depend on your own specific needs.
If your model is not in the lists below, try another driver of the same manufacturer or see the plotter type which is emulated by your plotter. Refer to the ArchiCAD or PlotMaker Reference Guide Plot Setup/Selecting a Plotter section. Try XOn/XOff handshake first. You may get some ideas from the
Notes for solving some problems with different settings.
The structure of the Plotter Lists is:
Model Name
Driver name (manufacture and model)
Driver file name in PlotWare folder
Plotter language
Cables *
(To access the Notes or the Cables Appendix simply click on the appropriate icons in the specific plotter list)
*
Plotter Lists (in alphabetical order):
- Benson
- CalComp
- ENCAD
- Graphtec
- Hewlett-Packard
- Houston
- Mimaki - Mutoh
- OCÉ
- Roland - Seiko - Selex - Summagraphics - Versatec - Xerox
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Page last updated: Thursday, September 16, 2004
