Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!ecf!me!sun
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
From: sun@me.utoronto.ca (Andy Sun Anu-guest)
Subject: Re: How do I determine a printer's imaging area?
Message-ID: <91Feb8.190219est.18883@me.utoronto.ca>
Organization: U of Toronto, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
References: <1991Feb8.174934.5816@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
Distribution: na
Date: 9 Feb 91 00:02:38 GMT

fsset@bach.lerc.nasa.gov (Scott E. Townsend) writes:


>I have a question, somewhat similar to one which I've seen recently in this
>group.  I want to know the imaging area of whatever printer my code gets
>executed on.  The reason is that I have a viewgraph package running on a
>Silicon Graphics Iris in which I want the ability to save drawings in
>Postscript format.  Through some trial and error I have code which takes
>a full Iris screen and prints it on a 'full' 8.5"x11" page on Apple & Sparc
>printers.  Attempting this on a QMS color printer caused problems due to
>the QMS printer's smaller imaging area.

How about a brute-force method: blasting a 8.5"x11" black/grey rectangle by
sending the following code:

%!
0 setgray
newpath 0 0 moveto 0 792 lineto 612 792 lineto 612 0 lineto closepath fill
showpage

to the laser printer and then measure off the white margins using a ruler?

BTW, I think most printer manuals provide specifications on imageable areas.
Check your printer manual on this.

Andy

_______________________________________________________________________________
Andy Sun                            | Internet: sun@me.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, Canada       | UUCP    : ...!utai!me!sun
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering     | BITNET  : sun@me.utoronto.BITNET