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From: laser-lovers@uw-beaver
Newsgroups: fa.laser-lovers
Subject: Re: Question on color printer/plotters -- ink jets vs. pen
Message-ID: <1695@uw-beaver>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 14:45:41 EST
Article-I.D.: uw-beave.1695
Posted: Tue Nov  5 14:45:41 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 04:50:01 EST
Sender: daemon@uw-beaver
Organization: U of Washington Computer Science
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From: starkweather.pa@Xerox.arpa

The answer is complex since the pen plotters are fine if the number of
lines is reasonable and there are no tints (halftone patches) etc. Maps
usually have lots of both. The image generation for pen plotters is much
easier since HP has its HPGL for plotters etc. The colors, however, are
much better on an ink jet printer. Reliability of the pen plotter is
substantially better in most current implementations. The plots are
cheaper on the pen plotter. The speed of the pen plotter clearly favors
that technology if the map is simple. If you have a complex map with
contour lines, tints, blue patches for lakes etc. The ink jet might end
up being much faster. Reproducing a map like one buys at a gas station
or a military map with lots of shading clearly favors the ink jet versus
the pen plotter.

This is brief, but I would choose ink jet over the pen plotter since its
ability to handle complex images is much better as well as having a more
desireable color gamut.

Gary Starkweather