laser-lovers@uw-beaver (11/05/85)
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