5.15 PostScript Parameters
EPSF=1|2|3
Forces print-to-file and PostScript. If PRINTFILE is not specified, the
default filename is FRACT001.EPS. The number determines how 'well-
behaved' a .EPS file is. 1 means by-the-book. 2 allows some EPS 'no-nos'
like settransfer and setscreen - BUT includes code that should make the
code still work without affecting the rest of the non-EPS document. 3 is
a free-for-all.
COLORPS=yes|no - Enable or disable the color extensions.
RLEPS=yes|no
Enable or disable run length encoding of the PostScript file. Run
length encoding will make the PostScript file much smaller, but it may
take longer to print. The run length encoding code is based on pnmtops,
which is copyright (C) 1989 by Jef Poskanzer, and carries the following
notice: "Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software
and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
supporting documentation. This software is provided "as is" without
express or implied warranty."
TRANSLATE=yes|-n|n
Translate=yes prints the negative image of the fractal. Translate=n
reduces the image to that many colors. A negative value causes a color
reduction as well as a negative image.
HALFTONE=frq/ang/sty[/f/a/s/f/a/s/f/a/s]
Tells the PostScript printer how to define its halftone screen. The
first value, frequency, defines the number of halftone lines per inch.
The second chooses the angle (in degrees) that the screen lies at. The
third option chooses the halftone 'spot' style. Good default frequencies
are between 60 and 80; Good default angles are 45 and 0; the default
style is 0. If the halftone= option is not specified, Fractint will
print using the printer's default halftone screen, which should have
been already set to do a fine job on the printer.
These are the only three used when colorps=no. When color PS printing is
being used, the other nine options specify the red, green, then blue
screens. A negative number in any of these places will cause it to use
the previous (or default) value for that parameter. NOTE: Especially
when using color, the built-in screens in the printer's ROM may be the
best choice for printing.
The default values are as follows:
halftone=45/45/1/45/75/1/45/15/1/45/0/1 and these will be used if
Fractint's halftone is chosen over the printer's built-in screen.
Current halftone styles:
0 Dot
1 Dot (Smoother)
2 Dot (Inverted)
3 Ring (Black)
4 Ring (White)
5 Triangle (Right)
6 Triangle (Isosceles)
7 Grid
8 Diamond
9 Line
10 Microwaves
11 Ellipse
12 Rounded Box
13 Custom
14 Star
15 Random
16 Line (slightly different)
A note on device-resolution black and white printing
----------------------------------------------------
This mode of printing can now be done much more quickly, and takes a lot
less file space. Just set EPSF=0 PRINTER=PSx/nnn COLORPS=NO RLEPS=YES
TRANSLATE=m, where x is P or L for portrait/landscape, nnn is your
printer's resolution, m is 2 or -2 for positive or negative printing
respectively. This combination of parameters will print exactly one
printer pixel per each image pixel and it will keep the proportions of
the picture, if both your screen and printer have square pixels (or the
same pixel-aspect). Choose a proper (read large) window size to fill as
much of the paper as possible for the most spectacular results. 2048 by
2048 is barely enough to fill the width of a letter size page with 300
dpi printer resolution. For higher resolution printers, you can use
fractint's new larger disk video sizes, up to 32k x 32k.
A word from the author (Scott Taylor)
-------------------------------------
Color PostScript printing is new to me. I don't even have a color
printer to test it on. (Don't want money. Want a Color PostScript
printer!) The initial tests seem to have worked. I am still testing and
don't know whether or not some sort of gamma correction will be needed.
I'll have to wait and see about that one.