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From: sreekanth@rgb.dec.com (Jon Sreekanth)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Printing graphics on 24 pin printer
Message-ID: <9501@shlump.nac.dec.com>
Date: 22 Mar 90 18:32:34 GMT
Sender: newsdaemon@shlump.nac.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 66


A while ago, I posted a question on dot matrix printer quality for 
printing images. This is a summary of e-mail responses. Briefly, they
are good for occasional graphics, but not as good as a laser printer

Summary of responses : 

malloy@nprdc.navy.mil "Sean Malloy" writes : 

My NEC CP6 printer has a high-resolution graphics mode that prints at
360x360 dpi. I also have an HP DeskJet+ ink-jet printer, printing at
300x300 dpi. One of the software packages I have is GoScript, which
allows me to send PostScript to either printer. 

For graphics output, it's generally a close call, won by the DeskJet
due to being faster. The dot density isn't noticeably different, and
they share a limitation that a laser printer doesn't have: both
physically move a print head across the page. This causes banding in
the output, because of registration limitations from print pass to
print pass. Laser printers generate an image in one smooth pass of the
paper, while ink-delivery printers advance the paper in jerks, and the
position of the print head after returning to its rest position can
vary by a small amount. Some dot-matrix (ink-jet, draft-quality, or
letter-quality) have extremely accurate registration, but you will
still see more banding than you will with a laser printer -- simply
because it's easier to wobble a mirror accurately and pull paper
through at a constant speed than drag a print head back and forth
while jerking the paper through the printer in short steps.

kahn@rufus.math.nwu.edu "Dan Kahn" writes

I'm driving an NEC P6 (a previous generation 24 pin printer) with a 4.77
MHz clone. One product I use is Chiwriter, a scientific word processor
of modest ambition: it mixes native printer fonts with graphically drawn
symbols. The current density is 360 dpi (wide) by 180 dpi (tall). They
are a clear improvement over the earlier 180 by 180 version of the
program, so the difference IS noticeable. I think the dot placement is
not as precise as with a laser printer. 

dd2x+@andrew.cmu.edu "David Eugene Dwiggins" writes

When using my 24-pin with PageMaker, it does not approach a laser in quality.
(I am using a Tandy DMP-300 at 360x180).  They are unsuitable for prints
that require laser quality.  However, they are more than adequate for 
occasional graphics prints.

ken@cs.rochester.edu writes

Don't expect 260 dpi resolution to look as good as 260 dpi laser
printer because the size of the pins are larger and there is generally
some overlap between the dots. Besides the ribbon also imposes a limit
on the resolution. Perhaps as good as 200 dpi laser printer.

miller@b-mrda.boeing.com "Mark Miller" writes 

        I have a Panasonic KX-P1124 that I am very happy with. It turned out
to be the most bang for the buck, from what I could see. As far as the
graphics, there is a visible difference between the 24 pin printer and
a 300 dpi laser. I have not compared it against a 200 dpi laser. 


/ Jon Sreekanth

US Mail : J Sreekanth, 2 Ashford Court #3, Allston, MA 02134
          Digital Equipment Corp., 77 Reed Road, HLO2-1/J12, Hudson, MA 01749
Voice Phone : 617-783-9401 eves, 508-568-7195 work