A huge range of printers are available, offering various features at widely
differing prices. Before picking a particular model just try printing a sample on
various machines — the final choice is often matter of personal taste.
It’s very important to check for:-
z PostScript compatibility
z Printing quality
z Connections to the computer
z Printer driver software
Remember, Apple always provide ongoing software support for their printers. This may not be the case for models produced by other manufactures, particularly after a long period of time and where non-standard software mechanisms are used.
PostScript Compatibilty
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  The Mac creates images mathematically using QuickDraw object-orientated
descriptions — also known as vector graphics. During printing these descriptions
are rasterised to create a bitmap image for the printer.
Unfortunately QuickDraw isn’t the universal standard for graphical descriptions. Most desktop publishing (DTP) applications use PostScript — a software mechanism that can describe anything from a single font to an entire page of text and graphics within a PostScript file or Encapsulated PostScript File (EPSF).
For PostScript-based DTP or graphics applications you’ll need a PostScript printer to reproduce PostScript fonts and files. Most LaserWriters are PostScript devices anyway!
The rest of us can live very happily with a non-PostScript printer — sometimes wrongly called a QuickDraw printer.
› A non-PostScript printer won’t give good results with a PostScript-based application.
√π See the PostScript chapter for more about PostScript printing
Printing Quality
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  The performance of a printer is determined by its printing mechanism and its
resolution. Most common printers are either laser or ink-jet devices — but there
are numerous variations. Always try a printer before buying it!
Resolution
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Typical printers work at 300, 360, 400, 600, 720, 800 or 1200 dots per inch (dpi). Some machines include software for setting the resolution during printing. The following models have been produced by Apple:-
  ImageWriter dot-matrix: uses 9 pins to give a resolution of 144 dpi — only twice
the screen resolution. This printer, and other similar dot-matrix devices don’t
really live up to the expectations of modern printing.
  ImageWriter LQ dot-matrix: has 24 pins giving a resolution of 360 dpi — five times
the screen resolution. Useful for large sheets of paper, but only if you can’t find
anything more suitable!
  StyleWriter ink-jet: uses 64 nozzles to give a resolution of 720 x 360 dpi — this can
fall to 360 x 360 dpi when printing a colour image or to 180 dpi in Faster mode.
This printer and other similar low-cost devices are ideal for domestic use,
although the inks used aren’t usually waterproof!
  LaserWriter laser: provides a resolution of 300 or 600 dpi or even better, with very
consistent results. The mechanism is similar to a photocopier — making it ideal
for heavy office use. The modern versions have a hugely enlarged capacity for
PostScript fonts and include enhancements such as FinePrint or PhotoGgrade.
A StyleWriter or LaserWriter can create shading by using half-tones within a square, but with a loss in resolution. For a typical 300 dpi printer working at 60 lines per inch (lpi), the square consists of 25 pixels — 5 pixels high and 5 pixels wide. Note: 60 lpi x 5 = 300 dpi.
› To get a StyleWriter to print a test page hold down the power button for several
seconds when you first turn the printer on.
Resolution and Scanners
If you scan an image at 300 dpi and then print it on a StyleWriter the results look rather rough! An Apple utility can convert the 300 dpi image into 360 dpi form but the results are never as good as printing from a 360 dpi original. If you don’t mind a reduction in size you can simply scale down the image.
The trick is to always use a scanner whose resolution is the same as your printer — or a multiple of it. Typical scanners work at 300, 400 or 600 dpi.
Scanners can have a different horizontal and vertical resolutions — such as 300 x 600 dpi, 400 x 800 dpi, 600 x 1200 dpi or 1000 x 2000 dpi. This can cause unnecessary confusion, especially when you want to scan a sheet the ‘wrong’ way!
Colours and Ink
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The maximum colour density or blackness is set by the printer’s ink colours and the nature of the ink. Colour printers typically use three or four ink colours:-
Cyan, Magenta and Yellow (CMY)
or
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black/Key (CMYK)
CMY printers produce a muddy-brown form of black by mixing all three colours. CMYK machines create a better black but always exhaust the black ink before the coloured inks, simply because most printing is in black!
Some printers use separate ink cartridges for each colour (the best arrangement) or a combinational cartridge. The latter can often be replaced by a black cartridge that can hold more ink since there’s only one colour. A refill kit is very useful, but possibly messy!
The amount of ink needed depends on the density of blackness required — and this increases in proportion to quality. For example a StyleWriter cartridge will print 500 pages in Best, rising to 2,000 in Faster mode.
Colour Matching
If your Mac is equipped with ColorSync the colours produced by your printer and those shown on the screen should look much the same — but will they look right when reproduced on a real printing press?
The Pantone Matching System (PMS) provides exact colours by numbers — it’s widely used by professional printers. A swatch chart or fan book specifies the colour using RGB, CMYK or HSB values. You then enter these numbers into the colour dialog within your application — in some applications you can select a colour using its reference number from a preloaded Pantone library.
The Pantone Internet Colour System (PICS) defines all 216 colours (of 256) available to Macs and PCs on the Internet. It gives RGB, CMYK and 6-colour Hexachrome values — the latter are used in HTML documents.
Connections to the Mac
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  Most printers use one of the connections shown below. Some models
automatically accept any data that arrives at their LocalTalk, RS-232 or Centronics
inputs. Some machine also include an IEEE 1284 bidirectional high-speed port.
Printer or Modem Port without AppleTalk
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This is the simplest, and sometimes the only way, to use a printer that has an Apple-style mini-DIN socket. You must use a standard printer cable — life is simpler if you use the printer port (not the modem port) for the printer, unless it’s already used for a network.
Printers with a non-Apple RS-232 or RS-422 serial interface can be connected via a suitable printer adaptor cable. The printer should be configured to make it work with the Mac — you may have dismantle it to adjust the DIP switches inside!
If you want to use a printer with a parallel interface (often called Centronics) you’ll need a parallel/serial converter box as well as an adaptor cable. As with any other non-Apple device, the converter itself must also be configured to suit the Mac.
› Even if you connect a non-Apple printer to the Mac it isn’t much use unless it comes
with suitable printer driver software (see below).
√π See the Serial Ports chapter for details about using a serial interface
Printer or Modem Port via LocalTalk
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  With this arrangement a number of printers can be used over a LocalTalk network
using AppleTalk software. Printers not designed for networking can’t be used —
irrespective of whether they have serial or parallel interfaces.
The LocalTalk network uses a special box that connects to either the Mac’s printer port or modem port and to each printer. If you’re using the Classic form of AppleTalk this connection must be made to the Mac’s printer port. For a single AppleTalk printer you don’t need any boxes — just connect the Mac to the printer with a standard printer cable.
› Most Apple LaserWriters need AppleTalk to operate.
› AppleTalk may cause problems if you use either serial port for a Musical Instrument
Digital Interface (MIDI) box.
√π See the Networking chapter for details about setting up a network
Ethernet Port via EtherTalk
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Some printers are provided with an Ethernet connection for EtherTalk operation within an AppleTalk network. Other models may need to be adapted to work with it. EtherTalk is much faster than LocalTalk but only worthwhile in small systems if each Mac is already equipped with an Ethernet connector or Ethernet card.
If the printer only has an AAUI-15 port you’ll also need an external Media Adaptor to make the actual network connection — make sure the adaptor suits your network type!
Some Ethernet printers also support TCP/IP or Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) via an AppleTalk or Novell network.
√π See the Networking chapter for details about setting up a network
SCSI Port
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This fast connection is used with a some models of LaserWriters. It can be convenient if you’ve got spare room on your SCSI bus and don’t need to operate over a network.
√π See the Parallel Ports & Slots chapter for details about SCSI