The PLT (Plotter) format is the best option when you plan to print maps, detailed building plans, banners, large posters or other types of line and curve drawings in full-color. Initially launched by Hewlett Packard for its own plotter printers, the PLT extension has now become an actual standard for almost all brands of cutting plotters.

PLT files can be created using AutoCAD and a few other types of computer-aided design software, or through conversion. They contain vector images which maintain their quality when scaled to different sizes and use the HPGL language. The main advantage of PLTs over PDFs, for example, is that they are designed particularly for plotter printers, which means you can send the large-scale graphics file directly to print.

From screen to print, however, minor errors can sometimes occur. One of the most frequent ones is represented by duplicated lines. Converting image formats to PLT can be done in no more than a few clicks with reaConverter’s latest edition. Plus, this powerful software also allows you to optimize the output file by correcting aspects such as duplicated lines, it makes printing process dramatically more efficient.

Install reaConverter

How to optimize PLT?

Load the file you intend to convert to PLT. reaConverter also supports batch conversion, so feel free to drop into its main window all files that need conversion.

You can also add entire folders, or files selected according to their extension and size, by clicking Advanced file select.

PLT saving settings

Go to the Menu button and click Saving settings – Format saving settings

In the newly opened window, go to the PLT tab and tick on the box near Remove duplicated lines.

This window can also be reached via a handy shortcut placed on the PLT button, from the Convert to section, in the lower part of the screen. In case you don’t see that button there, click Plus and get a full view of all output formats supported by reaConverter. Select PLT and once the button appears at the bottom of the main window, place the pointer on its upper left corner and click the Settings icon there.

Save your result

In the Saving options tab, opt for saving the output PLTs in a local folder of your choice or directly online. reaConverter offers here a lot of time-saving options, such as selecting directly the source folder or a subfolder as output destinations, and using a cloud storage service.

Finally, make sure you checked PLT as the extension for the output files, in the Convert to section, and simply click Start!

Command-line Interface

Converting files to PLT with the possibility of removing duplicate lines is also available with command line using cons_rcp.exe this code line:
-plt_remove_dup = 1 if you want to remove duplicated lines and = 0 otherwise

Video Tutorial

Advanced users can optimize PLT files with command line tool or DLL in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

PLT is an image format associated with plotters — a type of printing devices that use vector graphics as input files, as opposed to regular printers, which can only print raster images. Plotters can be of different kinds, including pen plotters — printing devices using a pen to draw lines and curves on paper, and cutting plotters — using knives to cut shapes into paper or other types of materials.

Files with the PLT extension usually store maps, posters, detailed designs of machines and other types of monochrome or full-colored graphics. PLTs can be created using computer-aided design software, such as AutoCAD and Adobe Illustrator. Or they can be obtained via conversion from other image formats. The main advantage of PLT over other graphics extensions is that the image can be sent directly to the plotting device.

reaConverter’s latest release helps users manage batch conversion to PLT while also supporting output file optimization features, such as setting pen width. The latter can be done using plotter units (1 mm = 40 plotter units), using the software’s GUI interface or via command-line. Setting pen width offers better control over how the output file will look like and helps users make sure the image design will stay the same from screen to print.

Install reaConverter

How does it work?

Load one or more files that need to be converted to PLT.

Drag-and-drop them from an opened folder, add entire folders or use the Advanced file select option and automatically pick a group of files according to their extension or file size.

How to set pen width?

Click the Menu button and then go to Saving settings → Format saving settings

Here check the PLT tab and tick the box near Set pen width to

Insert the desired number of plotting units, while keeping in mind that 1 mm equals 40 plotter units. In this window you can also opt for other ways to optimize the output PLT images, including the removal of duplicated lines or rotation of the PLT image.

If you want to edit images before conversion

Optionally, check the Edit images tab, where you can find a real-time Preview box, offering you a glimpse of how the output image will look like.

In this section you can choose one of the many editing actions available, such as cropping, changing canvas size or adding watermarks.

Convert to PLT

In the Saving options tab, choose the folder where the output PLTs will be stored. It can be the same as the source folder, a subfolder or another folder of your choice.

Finally, don’t forget to click the PLT button in the Convert to section, from the lower part of the window. In case it isn’t there, find it by clicking the + Plus button.

Once it appears on the main window, you can place the pointer over it and click the Settings icon from its upper left corner, thus finding a shortcut to the window described above on this list (Format saving settings → PLT).

Finally, press Start and your newly converted PLTs will soon be ready!

Command-line Interface

Converting files to PLT with the possibility of setting customized pen width is not just supported by reaConverter’s GUI interface, but can also be processed via command line using cons_rcp.exe this code line:
-plt_pw = pen width in plotter units (1 mm = 40 plotter units)

Video Tutorial

You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.