Xref: utzoo comp.lang.postscript:814 comp.fonts:265
Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!linus!mbunix!ted
From: ted@mitre-bedford.ARPA (Edward J. Ede)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript,comp.fonts
Subject: Re: PostScript compatible printers
Message-ID: <37830@linus.UUCP>
Date: 3 Aug 88 17:59:22 GMT
References: <5122@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Sender: news@linus.UUCP
Reply-To: ted@mbunix (Ede)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Mass.
Lines: 70

In article <5122@gryphon.CTS.COM> richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton) writes:
>In article <1766@imagen.UUCP> geof@imagen.UUCP (Geoffrey Cooper) writes:
>>In article <5090@gryphon.CTS.COM>, richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton) writes:
>> Adobe fonts are not part of PostScript.
>
>This I don't.
>
>Adobe fonts may use secret stuff, but you cant really say they
>arnt PostScipt ????

The PostScript page description language is in the public domain.
However, Adobe's fonts are loaded by the eexec operator, try to find a
description of that in the public domain.

>
>> Look at News.
>
>They coldnt figure it out either, huh ?

Great comeback...

>>The answer is that we'll sell you fonts that are compatible with
>>Adobe's that do work.  Our font library is not yet as extensive as
>>theirs, but it is growing and should satisfy many users.  If it doesn't
>>satisfy you, sorry, enjoy your Adobe fonts and buy Adobe PostScript. 
>>Your QMS salesperson will be happy to oblige... :-)
>
>Thats what I like about standards. So many to choose from. So what is your
>font library ? Bitmaps ? Or are they outlines ? If the former, how
>much space does one face take up on a disk, assuming you want a full
>range of sizes from 6 to 800 (yes I use all those sizes)

I posted an article about Imagen printers about 7-10 days ago.  Imagen
has licensing agreements with ITC and LINO similar to Adobe's.  The
fonts have the same name.  In speaking with the Imagen folk, they
don't necessarily agree with the look of Adobe's fonts, but they
intentionally don't change the look to remain compatible.  The fonts
are outlines, and I have a ton of room left for more on my 20 meg hard
disk in my printer controller :-)

Outline fonts are fine and dandy, but Imagen used bitmap fonts for
their imPRESS PDL.  Hand tweaked bit mapped fonts can always be made
to look better than outline fonts.  Sure, they take more space than
outlines and you can't rotate then 37.851 degrees counterclockwise,
but look at the majority text that is set these days.  I'm not pushing
imPRESS or bitmap fonts, I'm just saying that outline fonts are not
god's gift to typesetting.

>I already use QMS printer, so my real intrest is how different companies
>and handling font technology.
>
>So far it looks like adobe wins hands down and everyone else is scrambling.
>
Well,

You find a printer that speaks real PostScript and

- employs the latest technology Cannon engines
- prints 20 pages per minute
- has multiple paper drawers
- can do duplexing
- can talk over ethernet from VMS and Unix print queues
- can tell the host the number of pages printed in a job

and I'll take serious note.  Good luck.

Ted Ede -- ted@mitre-bedford.arpa -- The MITRE Corporation -- Burlington Road  
|        -- Bedford MA, 01730 -- Mail Stop B015 -- (617) 271-2524 --        |
|                   - this line intentionally left blank -                  |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+