Know anything about HP-RTL?

[Ronald Thomas]

HP-RTL is a raster language that's read by many new HP ink-jet plotters, 
(the HP650C can read it).  A program named IMAGE ALCHEMY has a module to
convert TO (but not from) HP-RTL.  

Here is some advice I received about HP-RTL not too long ago:
###########################################################

>Ronald Thomas  (ront at meeker.cfnr.colostate.edu)  writes:
>
>> The 650C can plot its own raster language, (HP Raster Transfer Language)
>> and finding a software package that converts to it (from sunrast, gif, ps,
>> however you save images now) might be cheaper than the
>> $1125.00 upgrade the plotter requires to plot postscript.
>
>    
>    From a document provided via Hewlett-Packard's "HP First"
>    fax retrieval system (800-333-1917):
>
>
>    Document #5535:
>    File Conversions for the HP DesignJet Plotter
>    (apparently last updated August 1992)
>
>    "The HP DesignJet plotter directly supports three kinds of files
>    common in many CAD and graphics applications:
>    * HP Raster Transfer Language (HP RTL)
>    * HP-GL/2
>    * HP 7586B emulation (HP-GL)
>
>    "If your application does not support one of the HP DesignJet internal file
>    types, you can still plot by using a third-party utility to translate your
>    file into a compatible format."
>
>    The document then has a table that "lists many common plot file formats
>    and the third-party utilities that can convert these files to HP RTL
>    for plotting on your HP DesignJet plotter."
>
>    IMAGE ALCHEMY and FREEDOM OF PRESS are two of the packages listed.  They are
>    the ones listed that run on Sun platforms.  The others that are listed are
>    exclusively for DOS.
>
>    IMAGE ALCHEMY, according to the HP chart, can convert these file types
>    to HP RTL:
>
>       CALS-CCITT G4 Type 1
>       GIF
>       SGI Raster Files
>       Sun Raster Files
>       Targa
>       TIFF Packbits
>
>    FREEDOM OF PRESS, according to the HP chart, can convert these file types
>    to HP RTL:
>
>       PostScript
>
>
>    The HP document then lists platforms that are supported by the listed conversion
>    software packages.
>
>    IMAGE ALCHEMY:
>       
>       Sun 3
>       Sun 4
>       Sun SPARCstation
>       RS/6000
>
>    FREEDOM OF PRESS:
>
>       Sun SPARCstation
>
>    Again from the HP document:
>    "For more information, contact the individual manufacturer of the third-party
>    utility you are interested in."
>
>    Image Alchemy
>    Handmade Software
>    15951 Los Gatos Boulevard
>    Los Gatos, CA  95032
>    408-358-1292
>
>    Freedom of Press
>    Professional Series
>    Custom Applications, Inc.
>    900 Technology Park Drive
>    Building 8
>    Billerica, MA  01821
>    508-667-8585
>    800-873-4367
>
>
>+++++++++++++++++++++++
>Scott Wade   wade at vinny.cecer.army.mil
>unofficial comments - my words, not my employers'  !
>no recommendations or guarantees implied - just passing along info !
>all info here is from Hewlett Packard

Hope this re-posting helps!

Ronald Thomas                                ront at meeker.cfnr.colostate.edu
 Natural Resource Spec. (GIS)         ^^^    Phone: 303-586-1285
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