Subject: DIY COLOR printing
From: Dave Theurer    [theurer.cop.tek]tek.doc
Date: 8/25/88

We now own a Tektronix 4693D color printer (300 dots/inch thermal wax transfer).
We have the capability to print RAD and PIF files from the VAX via an IBM PC.
Within 3 weeks the IBM PC will be removed from the path and we will have a 
direct connection from the VAX to the Tektronix printer.
Each page costs 35 cents.
Please give me your suggestions for making the following procedure better.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Preliminary procedure:

1> Take your RAD or PIF file and create a TEK print file:
   a> On the VAX, "run [theurer.cop.tek]tek".  Answer the "20 questions".
      See discussion at end for more info on this program.

2> Turn on the PC:
   a> Turn it on.  Wait for the C:\> prompt.  Hit CR if it asks any questions.
   b> Type at the C:\> : cd \tek

2> Send the TEK print file from the VAX to the PC: (~~ 90 seconds)
   a> Type NFT and wait for the NFT> prompt.
   b> Type at the NFT> : copy charm::[directory-of-your-TEK-file]your-TEK-filename.TEK
      Enter your password if it asks.
      This takes about a minute.  Wait for the NFT>.
   c> Type at the NFT>: exit

3> Send the TEK print file from the PC to the Tektronix: (~~ 90 seconds)
   On the PC:
   a> Type at the C:\TEK> totek your-TEK-filename.TEK
      This takes about a minute.  The Tektronix should say IMAGING at this time.
      When it's done sending, it'll say C>\TEK again. 
   b> Type at the C:\TEK> del your-TEK-filename.TEK
      If you don't do this we'll quickly run out of disk space on the PC.

4> Turn off the PC:
   a> Type at the C:\TEK> park
   b> Turn it off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"20 questions" program:

> NOTE: most of the questions have a default which will work.  Just hit CR.
> Takes cells from RAD or PIF files and lays them out on a big bitmap(whose
  size you specify), adds some information, then converts the bitmap into a 
  TEK print file.
> Range of cells to print:
  > You can print any range or combination of ranges of cells.
> It lays your cells out from left to right, top to bottom on the bitmap.
  You specify size of gaps:
  > between cells
  > around the edge (borders)
> Bitmap size:
  > You specify the size of your bitmap in pixels.  The program makes a guess 
    for you, but it doesn't guess very well if you have a lot of cells of 
    different sizes, or a lot of really big cells.  
  > The printer expands your bitmap to fill the page, maintaining the original
    aspect ration.  If you give it a small bitmap, it will get magnified more 
    than if you give it a big one. 
    > A page can contain 2440 x 3198 dots, so if your bitmap is 
      > 1000x1000 it gets magnified 2.44 X.
      >  500x500  it gets magnified 4.88 X.
  > To get a picture in portrait orientation that looks about the same scale as 
    > lo res game screen use size 175,228 (lo res game screen is 21 dots/inch)
    > RAD screen use size 520,680	(RAD screen is 64 dots/inch)
  > NOTE: if you are going to print several pages and you want them all to be
    the same size, you MUST SPECIFY THE SAME SIZE BITMAP for each page.
  > NOTE: if there isn't enough room on the bitmap you specified for all the
    cells you want, it gives you a warning but doesn't generate the second page.
    You have to rerun the program for subsequent pages. 
> You specify picture orientation on page:
  > portrait print area is 8.13" x 10.66" (for skinny pictures)
  > landscape print area is 10.66" x 8.13"  (sideways printing) (fat pictures)
> You specify aspect ratio (for those pictures with rectangular pixels).
> It inserts cell info(cell # and size) at the bottom left corner of each cell 
  if you request a vertical cell-to-cell gap of at least 10 pixels.
> It inserts an "info zone" containing palette & file info  at the bottom of 
  the bitmap:
  > You get to specify the height of this "info zone" in pixels.  If the
    program needs more room for the cells you specify, it will rob from this
    info zone.  If there is extra room, the program will expand the height of 
    the palettes.
  > It inserts a palette for each set of 16 colors used.  The height of each
    palette depends on how high you specify the "info zone" to be.  
  > It inserts file information below the palette.
> Grids:
  > Tic marks around the edge of each cell may be requested if you don't want
    to mar your picture.
  > Grid lines through the picture may be requested.
  > You specify the grid spacing, grid color, and grid origin.
  > NOTE: if you want tics, you must specify at least 1,1 cell-to-cell
    separation, and a top/bottom border of at least 1.
> NOTE: there are a few color matching problems (for purplish bluy especially)
  which can be fixed if somebody will volunteer to do a color translation
  algorithm.