How to view a .PLT file online
From an unreadable file to a sharp preview in seconds.
Open your .PLT
Drag a .PLT file onto the box, or choose it from your device.
View the artwork
Your .PLT file is rendered to a sharp preview, whatever it was created with.
Zoom, inspect, export
Choose the resolution, zoom into details, check the bounding box and creator, then save as PNG or PDF.
What is a .PLT file?
A PLT file is most often an HP-GL/2 plotter file, a plain-text list of pen-movement commands created when CAD software like AutoCAD "plots to file." Open it with a free HPGL viewer (Free PLT Viewer, ViewCompanion) or Inkscape. If AutoCAD used a PostScript or PCL driver instead, the .plt is not HP-GL, so check the first line before picking a viewer.
Programs that open .PLT files
| Full name | HP-GL/2 Plotter File (HPGL) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Hewlett-Packard (HP-GL / HP-GL/2 language) |
| First released | HP-GL late 1970s; HP-GL/2 1990s |
| Category | Vector |
| MIME type | application/vnd.hp-hpgl |
Related viewers
Other free viewers that work the same way.
Can I open an .AI file without Illustrator?
Yes. Illustrator files saved with "Create PDF Compatible File" (the default since CS) contain a full PDF, which we render with pdf.js. Older PostScript-based AI files are rendered with Ghostscript. Layers and editable paths aren't shown; you get an accurate picture of the artwork.
Why does my EMF or WMF look slightly different?
Windows metafiles are drawn by our own renderer, which handles shapes, lines, fills, text and bitmaps, but not every rarely used GDI feature (clipping regions, raster operations, EMF+ effects). The file details list anything that was skipped.
Is my .PLT file uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs as WebAssembly and JavaScript. The first EPS or PS file downloads its renderer (about 16 MB) once; after that it's cached.
Can I convert EPS to PNG or PDF?
Yes. Pick a resolution (up to 600 dpi) and press PNG, or press PDF to get a vector PDF made by Ghostscript.
Does it play Flash (.SWF) files?
Yes, with Ruffle, an open-source Flash emulator. Most animations and many games work; complex ActionScript 3 content may not.
Was this tool helpful?
Your rating helps us decide which tools to improve next.