HP PCL/PJL reference (PCL 5 Printer Language) - Technical Reference Manual Part I
EN Introduction 8-1
8
PCL Font Selection 
Introduction 
Several characteristics identify a font (as described in Chapter 7, 
Fonts). Font characteristic selection commands, described in 
this chapter, are used to specify the desired font characteristics 
for printing. Commands are included for the following 
characteristics: symbol set, spacing, pitch, height, style, stroke 
weight, and typeface family. 
The printer maintains a font select table in its operating code 
that contains the characteristic values of the current font. 
Whenever the printer receives a font select command (escape 
sequence) specifying a new characteristic value, the printer 
records that characteristic in the table. After the table is updated 
(receives new characteristic values), and text is ready to be 
printed, the printer performs a font select. The printer searches 
the available fonts and scalable typefaces to select one that 
matches (or most closely matches) the characteristics as listed in 
the font select table.
Note A font must be in the printer to be selected for printing!










