Using Fonts; Introduction; Font Types; Bitmap Fonts - Brother PCL Technical Reference Manual

2006/05/31
5.

USING FONTS

5.1.

Introduction

A font is a collection of characters that have common characteristics, such as size, style and typeface, and which
ranges over a given set of symbols. For example, 12 point Tennessee Bold in the Roman-8 symbol set is a
typical HL Series font. Different sorts of fonts are used to create various typographic effects. Traditionally, large
point size sans serif typeface fonts, like Helsinki and Utah are used for document headlines while smaller fonts
with serif typefaces, like Tennessee and Portugal are used for body text. In LaserJet mode you can have access
to a large range of fonts that are already built in to the printer's ROM, plus the facility for downloading more
fonts from a personal computer or plugging in font cards/cartridges or the storage device. When you select a
font for printing you will specify a number of characteristics which identify the font you require. The laser
printer does its best to print using the font you specified, but if amongst all its available fonts it does not have
the exact one that you specified, it will compromise and give you what it regards as the closest available font.
Sometimes the results will not be what you expected and you should exercise care in selecting fonts for printing.
In most instances the selection of a font will be handled automatically from your word processing software or
other applications package. In these cases you need only ensure that the correct font is available (that is, as a
standard font in the ROM, on cartridge/card or downloaded) and the application will do the rest. You do not
need to concern yourself with sending any escape sequences.
As well as using software commands you can also select fonts using the printer's control panel. Consult the
printer User Guide for details.

5.1.1. Font types

There are two types of fonts supported by the HL Series printers in LaserJet mode - bitmap fonts and scalable
fonts.

5.1.2. Bitmap fonts

The characters which make up a bitmap font are raster bit images of the relevant symbols. When text is printed
using the font it is nearly always monospaced and when you select the font you specify it by its typeface, pitch
(the number of characters printed per inch), height (point size) and symbol set.

5.1.3. Scalable fonts

The printer has many scalable fonts available as standard. The following table shows scalable fonts available
for models HL-1050/1070/1250/1270N/1450/1470N/P2500/1660e/2060/2400C/2400Ce/
3400CN/1650/1670N/2460/7050/1850/1870N/5040/5050/5070N/5140/5150D/5170DN/2600CN/3450CN/6050/
6050D/6050DN/8050N/2700CN/2070N. (For the other models' resident fonts, please see the printer User's
Guide.)
Intellifont Compatible Fonts:
Alaska
Antique Oakland
PcBrussels
Oklahoma
Cleveland Condensed
Connecticut
Brougham
Guatemala
LetterGothic
Maryland
PcTennessee
PcBrussels
Utah
Utah Condensed
Medium, Extra Bold
Medium, Oblique, Bold
Light, Light italic, Demi, Demi italic
Medium, Oblique, Bold, BoldOblique
Medium, Oblique, Bold, Bold oblique
Antique, Italic, Bold, Bold italic
Medium, Oblique, Bold
Roman, Italic, Bold, Bold italic
Light, Demi, LightItalic, DemiItalic
Medium, Oblique, Bold, BoldOblique
Medium, Oblique, Bold, Bold oblique
CHAPTER 2 "PCL" - 38
HL-1050/1070/1250/1270N/1450/1470N/P2500/1660e/
2060/2400C/2400Ce/3400CN/1650/1670N/3260N/
2460/7050/1850/1870N/5040/5050/5070N/5140/
5150D/5170DN/2600CN/3450CN/6050/6050D/
6050DN/8050N/2700CN/2070N/5240/5250DN/5270
DN/5280DW