EN Introduction  15-1
15
Raster Graphics 
Introduction 
A raster image is an image composed of dots. Pictures in 
newspapers or on television screens (also, a page printed by 
this printer) are examples of raster images. The PCL language 
includes commands for printing raster graphic images. These 
commands enable the LaserJet printer to receive binary data 
and print it as a raster image.
The binary data used to create a raster image is divided into dot 
rows: a row describes a one-dot-high strip of the image. Each dot 
position within a row is represented by a binary data bit. If a bit in 
a row is set to one, a dot is printed; if the bit is set to zero, no dot 
is printed for that position. A dot row of raster image data is 
transferred to the printer as a string of bytes containing a 
dot-per-bit representation of the row.
Figure 15-1 Binary Raster Data
Since it takes a considerable amount of data to create even a 
small raster image, several methods are provided to reduce the 
amount of data needed to define an image. (Note, that the above 
illustration creates a rectangle 0.013 by 0.027 inches; a binary 
ā1ā = 1 dot = 1/300 inch.) These reduction techniques include