PLT file format
| Extension | .plt |
| Category | images |
| Programs | Embroidermodder |
| Main program | AutoCAD |
| Description | The PLT file format was initially developed for creating positional images with Hewlett-Packard plotters, first appearing with the HP-8972 plotter in 1977. Part of the Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL), it served as a printer control language. Standard PLT files consist of a string of two-character data points that direct the plotter's head's initial position. A wide variety of graphic applications can use the PLT format, allowing alterations to image size without affecting the source code or image quality. PLT files use a text file structure similar to ASCII. |
| Technical details | In recent years, the creation of PLT files has significantly increased thanks to advanced visualization software, like Tecplot. Unlike the early HP plotters, Tecplot analyzes a series of data sets or multiple frames, which serve as input. The PLT format documents the results of this computational analysis. Typical PLT files contain sophisticated 2D and 3D visualizations of animated simulation results, an approach that may not be practical or cost-effective in all real-world scenarios. The final PLT output can be either a static image or an animated visualization. |