Hewlett-Packard Printer Control Language vector image
File type: Vector graphic file
The .hppcl file extension identifies a vector image created in Hewlett-Packard Printer Control Language (HP PCL).
The file contains printer-control and vector-graphics commands rather than a conventional, editable drawing.
File type category:
Vector graphic file
Date updated: October 4, 2026
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
Hewlett-Packard developed HP PCL as a page-description and printer-control language for its printers. HP PCL 3 was developed in 1984 for the company's first LaserJet printer, and later versions added functionality for newer LaserJet models.
Hewlett-Packard released HP PCL 5 in 1990 for the LaserJet III. It added support for scalable fonts and HP GL/2, the control language used by HP CAD plotters for vector graphics. HP PCL 5 together with HP GL/2 supports monospaced and proportional fonts, rotated, scalable, filled, shadowed and mirrored fonts, downloaded fonts, and downloaded forms and overlays.
An .hppcl file stores vector-image data expressed as HP PCL commands. The format is obsolete.
An .hppcl file is intended to be interpreted by compatible Hewlett-Packard printer or plotter hardware, rather than opened as an ordinary image. If the file came from an older printing workflow, sending it to the corresponding compatible device may render the image.
A text editor can show the file's commands when the file is stored as text, but it will not display the vector image. Modern systems may require specialized HP PCL software or hardware to interpret the file.
Conversion depends on software or hardware that can interpret the particular HP PCL and HP GL/2 commands in the file.
If a compatible printer or interpreter is available, the file may be rendered and exported to another image or document format if supported.
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