PLT File Compatibility. PDF Performance

From R2K, W2K, I generate PLT files for sharing and posterity to an old HP350c driver. Why do those I share with consistently have problems plotting my files on their HP650c and HP500, especially with color? Professional printing services never have problems with the same files. I mean, doesn't HPGL stand for Hewlett Packard Graphics Language? Shouldn't a newer HP product be able to understand the language of its own predecessors? I know, I know, plot using their drivers, right. So I am to plot a set of dwgs for each plotter model I expect to share with? Craziness! Does anyone wanting to plot my files have to purchase extra software to interpret HPGL for their HPGL plotter? Is the answer to give up and go to PDF? Have had some success with PDFs, but find them to be much slower to process, larger in size than zipped PLTs, and sometimes fickle when giving results. Much of my work is complex and slow to plot as it is. ANY input and conversation is welcome. PLT or PDF?

 

Have you tried dwfs?

 

We are working extensively on several DWF solutions for our customers and
it's a great format but DWF is also a document format. So you have to rely
on the DWFViewer or something else to translate it for your printer. If
you are just going directly to a specific plotter than nothing will beat the
native language of the printer (hpgl or hpgl/2). But when you take into
account the ability to view and plot (or print) to any printer or plotter
the setup tweaking with DWF and PDF usually makes up for it.

--
Rodney McManamy
President
CADzation
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518 South Route 31 Suite 200
McHenry, IL 60050
www.cadzation.com
Providing Industrial Strength
PDF & DWF Solutions to the
Global CAD Marketplace.