Date   : Sun, 15 Nov 1992 21:07:32 GMT
From   : ryptyde!tommy@nosc.mil (Tom Williams)
Subject: Re: Can a Kaypro-4 PRINT Gif's on a dot matrix (RX-80)?? :}

cstewart@npal.rn.com writes:

> Has anyone ever written a program for a Kaypro-4 to
> PRINT Gif's on a dot matrix printer? 
> I have an Epson RX-80.

Well, Charles, now that I've dried all the tears from my eyes and can see 
what I'm doing again ...

I own a Kaypro 10 (which I'll be posting about shortly), and I seem to 
remember that there is a program to print graphics with CP/M.  While I 
can't remember ever using it, I do browse the local graveyards here once 
in a while.

You might try writing your own program in, say, S-Basic (came with my 
machine), or in C using some of the DOS C routines for GIFs (again 
noticed while browsing local boards).  The GIF structure is fairly simple 
once you understand how the compression algorhythm works.  You could, 
then, replace the palette with patterns, one for each major color, and 
send the whole lot to the printer.

A program written for the Commodore 64 and the Gemini 10x is still around 
somewhere (I have a copy of the compiled program, not the source).  It's 
called ShadeyDump, and converts any Commodore graphic (bitmapped with 
separate palette of three selectable colors) to a pseudo-dithered 
monochrome file ready for printing.  The program was featured in one of 
the Commodore magazines and should be easily translated to S-Basic or C.

(I hear you snickering over there when I say Commodore, so STOP IT!!)

I hope this helps.  If I see something on a local board I'll mail it to 
you.

Tom

--
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 |   "The only winning move is ..     |  Tom Williams, Lemon Grove, CA.  |
 |  not to play." -Joshua, `WarGames' |  Internet: tommy@netlink.cts.com |
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