Specifications

Fonts and Bar Codes
Scalable Versus Bitmapped Fonts
354
45541L-004 Rev. A ZPL II Programming Guide 9/15/06
Scalable Versus Bitmapped Fonts
For scalable fonts, setting the height and width equally produces characters that appear the
most balanced. Balanced characters are pleasing to the eye because actual height and width are
approximately equal to each other. This is achieved through the use of a smooth-scaling
algorithm in the printer.
For bitmapped fonts, this balancing is built into the font. In actuality, the height of a bitmap
font is slightly larger than the width. Bitmap fonts are always at the maximum size of the
character’s cell.
Scalable Fonts
All dot parameters used in the commands to create scalable fonts are translated into a point
size because scalable fonts are measured in point sizes, not dots. To determine how many dots
to enter to obtain a particular point size, use the following formula. The actual point size will
be an approximate value.
• For printers using a 6 dot/mm printhead the “dots per inch of printer” value is 152.4
• For printers using a 8 dot/mm printhead the “dots per inch of printer” value is 203.2
• For printers using a 12 dot/mm printhead the “dots per inch of printer” value is 304.8
• For printers using a 24 dot/mm printhead the “dots per inch of printer” value is 609.6
The actual height and width of the character in dots will vary, depending on the font style and
the particular character. Therefore, some characters will be smaller and some will be larger
than the actual dot size requested. The baselines for all scalable fonts are calculated against the
dot size of the cell. The baseline is 3/4 down from the top of the cell. For example, if the size
of the cell is 80 dots, the baseline will be 60 dots (3/4) down from the top of the cell.
For more information concerning fonts and related commands, see ~DB on page 123 and ~DS
on page 131.
Bitmapped Fonts
Internal bitmapped fonts can be magnified from 1 to 10 times their normal (default) size. The
magnification factor is in whole numbers. Therefore, if the normal size of a bitmapped font is
9 dots high and 5 dots wide, a magnification factor of 3 would produce a character of 27 dots
high and 15 dots wide. Height and width can be magnified independently.
Magnification Factor
The font commands contain parameters for entering the height and width of printed characters.
The values are always entered in dots. When entering these values for bitmapped fonts, use the
following formula:
Base Height x Magnification Factor = Height Parameter Value
Dots =
(Point size) x (Dots per inch of Printer)
72