[comp.sys.apple] Graphic Programs

johnmac@fawlty.towers.oz (John MacLean) (09/11/89)

Does anyone know anything/own "Print Magic" or "Print Master"?
Are they simply "Print Shop" ripp-offs?
Do they use their own graphic formats?
Are they any good?

John Mac
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jetzer@studsys.mu.edu (Mike Jetzer) (09/12/89)

In article <405@fawlty.towers.oz> johnmac@fawlty.towers.oz (John MacLean) writes:
>Does anyone know anything/own "Print Magic" or "Print Master"?

I own Print Magic, and think it's quite a good program.  If you have a RamWorks
style memory expansion card, it will load onto that.  Otherwise, there's a
good deal of disk access, but it's not that annoying.  It will work with a
mouse (I'd recommend one), but you can also use it with just the keyboard.
It's also faster that I expected, even on an unaccelerated //e.  (The reason
why I can provide all of these insights as to how it works on various
hardware configurations is that I run it on both my //e with RamWorks,
Zip Chip, and mouse, and my //e without any of the above.)

>Are they simply "Print Shop" ripp-offs?

No.  Print Magic tried to advertise itself as a replacement for Print Shop,
but it's really not much like it at all.  (The way I got Print Magic was
to send in the front cover of my Print Shop Manual) Print Shop has standard
formats and determines where things are placed on the page.  Print Magic is
entirely free-form; it supports unlimited graphics and fonts on a page.

With Print Magic, you can make banners (although no graphics on the banner),
greeting cards, and page layout (with which you can make either signs or
letterheads).

>Do they use their own graphic formats?

Print Magic does, although it has a desk accessory that allows you to
import/export graphics to standard hires/print shop/newsroom formats.

Print Magic gives about the same resolution as MacPaint (as I recall, it's
about 2 1/2 hires screens across, and about 3 1/4 down) in page layout mode.

>Are they any good?

Absolutely.  I highly recommend it.  The main thing that I don't like about
Print Magic is that it runs under DOS 3.3, and the back side has no file
format at all (the program reads the disk directly).  This, of course,
prevents one from loading it onto a RAMdisk.  (The program is not protected).

Also, the included clip art is quite detailed and very good.
-- 
Mike Jetzer
"Hack first, ask questions later."

SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) (09/13/89)

On Mon, 11 Sep 89 03:32:18 GMT you said:
>Does anyone know anything/own "Print Magic" or "Print Master"?

Print Master LOST big to Broderbund in the famous "original" look-and-feel
suit.

>Are they simply "Print Shop" ripp-offs?

Flat out rip-off.

>Do they use their own graphic formats?

Yes

>Are they any good?

Higher resolution than the original Print Shop; limited graphics, fonts, etc.

NOTE (as was been mentioned here some time ago) Broderbund has been showing
user groups a beta copy of the NEW Print Shop (for //e, //c as wall as IIgs)
due early next year which is FAR SUPERIOR to Print Master as well as the
original Print Shop (with which it is upward compatible).

Better graphic resolution, more than one graphic per page, more than one
font per page, preview, support for LOTS of color and page printers, beaucoup
other goodies.  It does work; I'm ready to buy a copy upon release.

Murph Sewall                       Vaporware? ---> [Gary Larson returns 1/1/90]
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