[comp.sys.next] Printing PostScript files with binary data

chavez@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (R. Martin Chavez) (09/21/89)

Folks,

I have a problem that's probably cropped up in other arenas.
I have large image bitmaps that I'd like to print on a PostScript
printer.  Everything works now, but the printing takes FOREVER.
I've run-length encoded the image data as ASCIIfied hex, and
I use readhexstring to generate a procedure for imagemask.

Now: I found that I can sacrifice portability and greatly increase
printing speed by including binary data in the PostScript file
and using readstring in place of readhexstring.  The bitmaps
image on my NeXT machine (under Preview) in less than a second
(compared to almost a minute with the ASCIIfied hex).

I've discovered, however, that lpr chews up my binary PostScript
files and never prints them out.  When I try the '-l' option,
I get the error 'Can't print binary file'.  I'm certain that
there's a switch for lpr to solve my problem.  Does anyone
know what it is?

Thanks,
R. Martin Chavez
Stanford University School of Medicine