#LazerXpress & Post 1.6
19 messages in this thread
Bill,
Have you been using Postscript with your LazerXpress printer? I've been
outputing some real nice stuff on it. I've been using ProPage or Pagestream
to create the postscript file, then outputing the file to Post 1.6 and
generating IFF pics of each page to syquest disk. Then using PageControl
(PC) to load the full-page IFF pic and printing to the GCC laserprinter. I
believe it is actually faster than printing on an Apple Laserwriter II NT!
Post will sequentially generate each pic's number and all you have to
remember to do is set the X Y coordinates to x2448 y3204. If you haven't
tried this approach yet you should. Plus to speed things up I leave off the
display to screen toggle and of course the Printer toggle. That takes
longer than generating the IFF and printing with PC.
Now if I could just use ARexx to automate some of the creation steps I'd be
real happy! Once the Pic is generated it can be output faster than
resending to a Postscript printer (as you very well know).
I don't know what I'll do if this system should ever fail! (Virtual Page –
software – hardware) It's a shame that no one else has tried to duplicate
this technique! I know if I had the skill I would start a project to
implement Virtual Page for ALL Amigas using any hard disk controller, and
maybe most (or all?) laser printers. It really is a wonderful way to work
with graphics! And its much faster than anything else for Amiga, MAC, or
IBM. IMHO .
Now if Post had an ARexx port, Page Control too, or another way to
integrate the steps up to sending to the printer, we'd have one heck of a
fast postscript printer system.
Of course I still can't write ARexx to save me time.
[sigh]
Chris
Chris, sounds like an interesting process. It all makes sense except for
the PageControl. Could you please decribe it.
Thanx,
Paul
–pt–not seattle– 😉
Paul.
Page Control is a utility program that will load a graphic into a page of
contiguous memory know as a virtual page. A standard 8-1/2 x 11" page is
comprised of 2448 pixels by 3204 pixels. This constitutes aprox. 970,000
bytes of ram. PC will allow you to flip through several Vpages cut and
paste from one to another or the same page, invert the image, print
multiple copies or save to an IFF file. It works with the
VirtualPage.library and outputs (to my knowledge) only on a GCC PLP I laser
printer connected to a (now defunct) CLtd SCSI/host controller card that
has the LazerXpress (CLtd name for printer) printer PAL installed. The
printer wastes no time starting up once the print button is clicked, and
you can output full page graphic images that were generated using Post from
postscript files as fast or faster than an expensive Apple Laserwriter II
NT. I would like to see this technology expanded to emcompass ALL laser
printers and ALL Amigas, not just the fortunate few who have good operating
CLtd LazerXpress systems still functioning. Another wonderful program that
is falling by the side is Express Paint. It too utilizes the VirtualPage
concept and will print to a LazerXpress printer. It is quick no wait from
the time you select print for the engine to start, it is like flipping on
alight switch!
This should be implemented fully by some enterprising company.
Save the Virtual Page concept!
Chris Tolmie
Chris;
I haven't tried Post 1.6. I have an old copy of PixelScript. I never
could make it work. Justin made some promises about sending a corrected
version — and did not do so.
I really have done nothing in PostScript except play around a couple of
times. I still can't decide if it would be worth the trouble to try to
write the drivers to use the GCC with something like the 2091 or GVP
controllers. The virtual page is really neat but there just isn't much
supporting it.
-bill/ARS KB7LX
Bill:
I have been able to make PixelScript work with the LazerXpress. After
the page is composed by PXS, it pauses and sends up a requester (can't
recall just what it says, right now). I send the screen to the rear and
call up PageControl and print from there. Works pretty neat.
Bill Perez
San Juan, PR
Bill;
I think it has been over a year since I even tried to use the program.
PixelScript would print any of the example files to the LazerXpress just
fine (I don't recall there even seeing a requester).
I tried to print PGS PostScript output and that always failed to work.
Justin told me that there was a small fix that would take care of the
problem and that he would send me a patched file. He never did so.
Can you tell me what version and file size you are using?
-bill/ARS KB7LX
Bill:
I am using Pagestream2.1; filesize, 403,200 and Pixelscript1.1; filesize,
47,456. The requester says "Pausing after showpage."
Bill Perez
San Juan, PR
Bill;
That is interesting. My version of PXS is also 403,200… will have to
take a look. Yep, just ran a 'strings' on it and it is version 1.1 of PXS.
Won't be fooling with it for awhile but do plan to check it out later.
Thanks for the information and I have made a note in my Whap! book to
indicate that you use PXS.
-bill/ARS KB7LX
Bill:
Let me know how is runs when you try it.
Bill Perez
San Juan, PR
Bill;
Ok, will do (or at least try to remember). I am really snowed under right
now and don't know when the chance to try it will surface.
-bill/ARS KB7LX
Bill,
Give Post 1.6 a try. I did and never went back to Pixelscript.
It works great, you can watch it do its thing on screen, play with
postscrip interactively, generate IFF pics, or print directly to the
'Xpress.
I use the generate to IFF feature, forget the print to xpress takes
longer, it'll do each page consecutively and number each one and our
program, Page Control (you got it right?) can load them and print to Xpress
quicker than a Laserwriter II nt
Save the IFF.pics and you can print them over and over quicker than a
Postscript printer can get started on the PS file again.
Chris
I think there was something which PixelScript doesn't support and they have
no intention of updating it or something. Can't remember. Post seems to
work best.
/post
Chris;
I don't think that I have Post but believe that it is shareware or PD, yes?
You are saying that 'convert/print' to IFF file is the better way to go?
PageControl is one of the C-Ltd programs that I seem to remember as being
very unstable — as in crash/lock-up frequently. I currently use VPU
exclusively since it rarely crashes. Of course it is not exactly the
handiest thing if you don't already have what you want in the virtual page.
In fact I don't think that it will load an IFF file for you.
-bill/ARS KB7LX
Bill, PageControl has been very very stable to me. [smile]
It has never caused me any headaches.
Chris
Chris;
I really have not given it (PageControl) a chance under 2.04 yet. Will
take another look at it soon.
-bill/ARS KB7LX
bill, I got 2.04 up and running reasonably well now, and Page Control,
ScanXpress, LazerXpress, and auto-boot with KRONOS all are working fine! I
even got my PPage and MIFont problems with diskfont.library squared away!
Gary from Mirror Image was a big help, and Andy Finkels revealation about
the multiple assigns of a device: were very helpful. I think I'll keep my
2.04 ROM installed!
Chris
Great! Certainly glad to hear that! I believe that as a month or two goes
by, you will really begin to understand why so many of us have been singing
the praises of 2.04!
Bill,
I am still having an occasional problem. It seems if I leave LoadWB
in my startup-sequence or even type the command too soon after boot-up, my
system locks-up. Also the first partition of my PRIAM ST506 drive
controlled by KRONOS fails to appear in the WB until I do a dir or list
dh0: in the shell.
I also just got Audition 4 from SunRize Industries today, and it
won't load. When I run it a requester pops up saying
"Can't open audio channels" then closes down. So you see there
are still problems, but I'm sure they'll be fixed.
On another problem, WPCorp. It is terrible that they're pulling
out.
I think WPerfect, although not, was/is important to our platform. It's a
shame that they're first release didn't take advantage of the machine's
power, and utilize a better GUI and was freer of Bugs, they would NOT be
backing out now, 'cause more copies of it would have been sold.
Its they're fault, not mine, I backed them up, bought and updated each
time. Now another orphan. I'm not sure if I'd rather have them back or CLtd
if I had to choose. B^(
Chris