info-mac@uw-beaver (02/01/85)
From: Wang Zeep <G.ZEEP%MIT-EECS@MIT-MC.ARPA> The latest Macworld covers in great detail elementary typography, the Adobe Postscript Protocol and the specific details of the LaserWriter. Notice the abominable screen versions of many of the built-in printer fonts. This is why Mac fonts are stored as rasters -- more "efficient" techniques usually blow up at 72 dpi (many blow up at 300 dpi -- read Byte from last month or so). Quickdraw'd stuff will print at full resolution, and Atkinson hacked a pixel-blowup routine which is built in the printer. With any luck, the printer will also be bright enough to substitute similar fonts for text in New York, Geneva, etc. Laser printers will never get rid of the dedicated typesetter, but just as there are some things which users do much better than pro's (mathematical work, for example), good book design will probably be the job for expert systems or professionals. There are too many subtle errors that one can make when designing documents. Most important is the ability for a non-pro to type and edit copy (with formatting choices, etc.) for finishing by a professional typesetter. The Mergenthaler laser typesetter will be a big step in that direction. Note: Has anyone seen output from the LW? The pieces that were reproduced in the Macworld seemed to suffer from the typical problems of cheap copy machines. Perhaps someone can buy one of the "big-brother" PostScript machines and go into the laserprinting business? wz -------