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From: rcd@nbires.UUCP (Dick Dunn)
Newsgroups: net.text
Subject: Re: Difference (among engines) -> fonts too thin
Message-ID: <429@opus.nbires.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 21-Jun-86 19:21:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: opus.429
Posted: Sat Jun 21 19:21:13 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 23-Jun-86 03:44:27 EDT
References: <756@imag.UUCP>
Organization: NBI,Inc, Boulder CO
Lines: 28

In reference to problems with fonts looking different on different types of
printers:
> 
> I have heard that it is normal. A font printed in a Canon-type printer
> is really bolder than the same on a Xerox-type.

We have observed comparable differences on a Canon engine vs a Ricoh
engine.  I'm told that these two printers differ in one being "write
black", the other "write white," and that this makes the difference in the
appearance of fonts.  I know some of the very basics, such as that the
"resolution" (spacing of pixels) is different from "spot size", and that
the way the toner fuses affects some things, but I'd really appreciate
someone who understands the technology posting a little explanation.

> So, I am looking for people who have the same problem and the "method" for
> solving it. Is there a special distribution of 300 pixel/inch fonts for
> Xerox-type printers, or programs to enbold standard TeX 300 pixel/inch fonts ?
> And what about Troff fonts ?

Seems that the solution lies in going back to however the bitmaps for the
fonts are generated and regenerating them with modified algorithms.  In
what we were doing, the lighter printer tended to allow lines to break up
where a stroke was one pixel wide for a distance of more than two pixels or
so.  When strokes break like this, it's more than just a little annoying or
a little "too light"--it actually gets distracting and hard to read.
-- 
Dick Dunn	{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd		(303)444-5710 x3086
   ...Simpler is better.