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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

3283.0. "Laser Printer Update" by LEDS::ACCIARDI () Thu Jan 04 1990 00:11

    
    My shiny new HP LaserJet IIP arrived today.  I quickly inserted the
    toner cartridge, plugged her in, loaded up the LaserJet driver from
    Preferences, and was printing gorgeous output in a matter of minutes.
    
    So far, no problems, but if you plan on doing any graphics printing,
    you'll need A LOT more memory than the measly 512K provided.  This much
    memory will barely print a 6.4" by 4.0" monochrome hi-res bitmap at 100
    DPI resolution.  At 300 DPI, forget it.
    
    The Commodore LaserJet printer driver looks pretty solid, but with
    more usage I may find a hiccup or two.  ProWrite works just fine,
    printing documents with all the page breaks and margins in the correct
    locations, even through multiple copies.  My wife (who it's for anyway)
    is ecstatic.
    
    Postscript is not an option on this machine, although HP offers an
    impressive selection of font cartridges (don't know the prices).  I
    guess I'll have to check out PixelScript (software PS emulation).
    
    The basic fontset included is Courier, in 10 pt and 12 pt flavors, with
    all the basic transformations, such as bold and italic.  Landscape
    printing is supported and controlled by the Amiga Preferences settings.
    You can also download fonts to the printer, although I'm not up to
    speed yet on this.
    
    All this laser printer stuff is pretty new to me, but so far I'm pretty
    impressed with it.
    
    I got the unit from Printers Plus, a printer-only shop in Virginia. 
    The price, including a toner cartridge, was $995.
    
    Anyone know how to calculate the printer's memory requirements for
    printing a monochrome hi-res image at 300 DPI?  Lets say I
    want to scale a 640 x 400 image up to 8.5" x 11.0"
      
    8.05" x 300 Dots/in = 2550 horizontal dots
    11.0" x 300 Dots/in = 3300 verticle dots
    
    2550 H dots x 3300 V dots = 8.415 mega-dots/8  = 1 + MBytes
    
    How does the number of bit-planes in a grey-scale image affect the
    memory needed for a graphics dump?
    
    All comments, conjecture, and wild speculation welcome...
    
    Ed.
    
    
    
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3283.1FROCKY::BALZERChristian Balzer DTN:785-1029Thu Jan 04 1990 08:4615
    Ed,
    
    unless the party last night has done more damage to my brain cells
    than I estimated, greyscale will not influence the memory requirements,
    since the levels of grey are achieved by the pattern of "normal"
    printer dots (rastering).
    
    As far as high quality output is concerned, Professional Page 1.3 and 
    ProDraw look just great w/o PostScript.
    And there's still PixelScript (or however they call it these days)
    which does a great job, albeit sloooow.
    
    Regards,
    
    <CB>
3283.2LEDS::ACCIARDIThu Jan 04 1990 10:1221
    
    <Blush> I came to that realization shortly after I entered the querry;
    obviously the laser either prints a dot or not; grey-scaling is set by
    the dither density.
    
    However, there is some sinister eating of memory in this printer, as
    repeated screen dumps produced progressively smaller images!
    
    I may yet break down and read the manulas that come with it.
    
    SIDE NOTE: The documentation package includes a 1" thick 'Software
    Application Notes' book that outlines how to get Lotus, Wordperfect, et
    al running with the laserjet on the IBM PC.  Each installation procedure 
    looks like a major undertaking for a computer novice.
    
    On the Amiga, I just selected the laserJet printer driver and installed
    it once for all eternity.
    
    Ed
    
    
3283.3more optionsCAFEIN::KANOUSEKen Kanouse NJD SWSFri Jan 12 1990 16:338
    I also got this printer before Christmas and it prints great.  I
    got the optional sheet feeder ($195 list).
    Pacific Data Products makes a 1M and 2M memory boards for it a lot
    cheaper than HP.  I bought a 2M for $389 from a store in NYC.  I
    also got they're 25 in 1 font cart.  It goes for about $250 and
    gives you another 172 fonts.  They also have a plug in postscript
    cart. for under $500.
    Ken
3283.4Are there options for an envelope feeder on the IIp?MSVAX::BARRETTWho is Steve Dahl?Tue Jan 16 1990 16:100
3283.5yes and no...LEDS::ACCIARDITue Jan 16 1990 18:2117
    
    According to the manual, many commercial grade envelopes will work with
    the standard multi-purpose tray provided with the printer.  The
    envelopes must be fairly flat and the paper output must be sent into
    the 'face up' orientation.
    
    The recommended envelope sizes are:
    
    Minimum - 3.5" x 7"
    Maximum - 7.2" x 10.5"
    
    My envelopes did not work, but they are fairly old and manky.
    
    It doesn't look like they offer a special envelope tray, so it would be
    best to buy fresh, high quality envelopes.
    
    Ed.
3283.6envelopes - yesCAFEIN::KANOUSEKen Kanouse NJD SWSWed Jan 17 1990 08:365
    In reference to the envelope tray - hp sells on for about $80 but
    you also need the optional paper tray which lists for $195.  It
    supports 4 different envelope sizes.  I have one but haven't used
    it yet.  You can also get legal and A4 size paper trays which slide
    in the bottom adapter one at a time.