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From: gaynor@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Jim Gaynor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Does ATM improve HP Deskwriter output?
Message-ID: <1991Jan25.131204.15398@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu>
Date: 25 Jan 91 13:12:04 GMT
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In article <10433@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> biswa@hoff.berkeley.edu (Biswa Ranjan Ghosh) writes:
>Considering the low street price of the Deskwriter and the claim of
>300dpi resolution, I have been considering it very seriously recently.
>The other night I looked at some output on my friend's deskwriter and
>was quite disappointed with the output, which was just text in 12-point
>Times. The output looked ragged. Not really bad, but noticeable poorer
>than the Apple Laserwriter at work, which is postscript, but also
>300 dpi.

	Your statement doesn't make it clear if your friend was
running ATM or not.  If he was not running ATM, you may want to check
that the Deskwriter outline font files are installed in the proper
sub-folder in the System Folder.  Otherwise it will simply optimize an
existing bitmap, often with poor results.

	If he -is- running ATM, you may want to be certain that he has
the Postscipt files for the typeface he is printing available to ATM
in the System Folder.  Otherwise, optimization again.

>I know ATM is good for smoothing really large fonts, but does anyone have
>first-hand experience with it, for improving deskwriter output at small
>fonts like 6-14 point? Does it help at all?

	ATM is, in essence, Adobe's font rasterizer taken straight
from the full-fledged Postscipt<tm> interpreter.  It recognizes and
understands Type 1 Postscipt font files, which contain hinting to
optimize printing small point sizes at "low" resolution (300dpi).

	So, yes, ATM with the appropriate font files can make a huge
difference.  But don't fall into the trap that I have seen many users
fall into - beleiving that ATM will work on -all- your fonts, whether
you have files for them or not.  You must have the postscipt file of
the typeface in order for ATM to work with the typeface.  Otherwise,
it's just another bitmap.

	(I can't count the number of user I've had to explain the
difference between Bitmaps and Outlines... <sigh>)

	I've played with the DeskWriter for awhile.  It's a nice
printer, even better if you're using ATM.  But remember, it doesn't do
Postscipt graphics - only QuickDraw.

-- 
 Jim Gaynor - Systems Analyst 1        + "This is Serious.  He is Lost.
 The Ohio State University ACS-FM-OCES |  We must begin the Search at once."
 gaynor@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.ed      |          -Rabbit, from
 gaynor@agvax2.ag.ohio-state.edu       +          "The House at Pooh Corner"