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Almathera Ten Pack 2: CDPD 1
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076-100
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094
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iff2ps
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iff2ps.doc
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1995-03-13
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IFF2PS - A PROGRAM TO CONVERT IFF FILES TO POSTSCRIPT
VERSION 1.2
COPYRIGHT (C) 1987
WILLIAM MASON AND SAM PAOLUCCI
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
IFF2PS is a shareware program for the AMIGA(TM) which converts
IFF ILBM (interleaved bit map) files such as those created by Deluxe
Paint(TM) to PostScript(TM) image files for half-tone printing on laser
printers, such as the Apple LaserWriter(TM), which support PostScript.
This version supports IFF ILBM files in all of the standard AMIGA view
modes (i.e., high resolution, interlace, and HAM (hold and modify)).
As noted above, IFF2PS is a shareware program. Shareware is a
concept wherein computer software can be distributed in a manner which
allows potential users to try out the software without having to
purchase it initially. If you become a regular user of this program,
please become a registered owner by contributing to its continued
development and improvement. Details are given below in the section
entitled "SHAREWARE".
As shareware, this program is not in the public domain. It may
be distributed free of charge to anyone by anyone as long as it is
accompanied by this document. IFF2PS may not be distributed for a fee
with the permission of the authors. An exception is made for
non-profit user's groups which my charge a reasonable fee in order to
defray the cost of duplication and distribution.
USAGE:
This version of IFF2PS operates only from the CLI. It requires
that the stack be set to at least 8000 (i.e., Stack 8000). It has two
possible modes of operation. There is a UN*X-like mode with command
line arguments entered on the execution line and an interactive mode
where the user is prompted for the required information.
In the first mode, the execution line takes the form:
iff2ps -i iffname [-o output] [-g #grays] [-n] [-c #copies] [-?]
where the "-i" keyword is required and is followed by "iffname" the
name of the IFF input file. The parameters in brackets are optional
and are defined as follows:
OPTION DESCRIPTION
-o output Send PostScript data to "output". This may be a
file name or "ser:". If "ser:" is used, it is
assumed that the AMIGA has been PROPERLY connected
via the serial port to the laser printer. (Note:
See section on connecting printers below.) If this
option is omitted, the output will be sent to a file
whose name is created by appending a ".p" to the input
file name. This file will reside in the same directory
as the input file.
-g #grays Number of gray shades to be used in the half-toned image.
There are only four possible values for the number
of gray shades: 2, 4, 16, 256. If this option is omitted,
the next number greater than or equal to the number
of colors in the IFF file will be used. For example:
a 320 by 200 pixel by 5 bit planes (32 colors) picture
would default to 256 gray shades while a 640x400x4
(16 color) picture would default to 16 gray shades.
If an image contains a pure white color, it will be
rendered as pure white in the half-toned print. In
order to get a half-toned white (99 percent of pure
white) instead of pure white, enter the number of
gray shades as a negative number (e.g., -g -256).
Special effects (and smaller output files) can be obtained
by choosing fewer gray shades than colors in the original
picture. Choosing 2 shades will result in a high contrast
image while choosing 4 shades for a picture with
greater than 4 colors will result in a posterized effect.
-n Negative image. Can be used with any choice of the number
of gray shades.
-c #copies Number of copies. The practical upper limit on the number
of copies is governed by the number of sheets which the
printer paper tray will hold. The default value is 1.
If you want multiple copies of the same image, use
this option instead of running the code multiple times
as it is orders of magnitude faster.
-? Produces a synopsis of usage when used with no other
parameters.
The second mode of execution is an interactive mode which is
initiated by typing only the program name from the CLI. The program
will then prompt for the parameters which are described above.
ADDITIONAL OUTPUT INFORMATION:
The size of the PostScript format output file created by IFF2PS
can be roughly calculated from the equation
SIZE = WIDTH * HEIGHT * B / 4
where SIZE is the size in bytes, WIDTH and HEIGHT are the respective
width and height (in pixels) of the IFF picture and B=(1, 2, 4, 8)
respectively as g=(2, 4, 16, 256). For example, a 320x200x5 picture
with 32 colors represented by a range of 256 shades of gray would
result in a PostScript file of approximately 128K bytes while a high
contrast image of the same picture would require only about 16K bytes.
A 640x400x4 HIRES picture with 16 colors represented by 16 gray shades
or a 320x400 HAM picture using 256 gray shades to represent 4096
colors will result in a file more than 256K long.
There are two possible solutions for handling large files. One
is to go directly to the serial port by specifying "ser:" as the
output option in which case no file is saved. Another is to save
the files to disk and compress them using a file compression utility.
Experience has shown that a typical PostScript image file will
compress by about 70-80 percent.
In order to send a previously saved PostScript file to the
printer use either the CLI copy or type command in the form:
copy pfile to ser:
or
type pfile to ser:
where "pfile" is the name of the PostScript file.
PRINTER CONNECTIONS:
Incorrect connection of a laser printer to the serial port on the
AMIGA could cause serious damage to the printer, the computer or both.
Make sure that you obtain complete information about serial
connections for both the AMIGA and the laser printer you plan to use
before making the connection. Note particularly, that pins 14, 21, and
23 on the AMIGA serial connector are designed to supply external power
and should definitely not be connected to any current laser printer.
If you do not understand how to make the proper connection between the
AMIGA and the laser printer, get help from a knowledgeable person.
It is also important to set the AMIGA preferences to correspond
to those required by the laser printer. For example, the Apple
LaserWriter requires a setting of 9600 baud, 8 bits, no parity,
xon/xoff.
DISCLAIMER:
This program is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY. The author
accepts no responsibility for the usefulness or accuracy of this
program. As stated above, this program may only be distributed when
accompanied by this document.
SHAREWARE:
If you find this program useful and continue to use it, please
become a registered owner by sending $15.00(US) to:
William Mason
1709 Timberlake Circle
Lodi, CA 95242
As a registered owner, you will receive a disk containing the
latest version of the program along with a more complete user's manual
and several examples (both hardcopy and as files). You will also be
put on a mailing list to receive information about bug-fixes, updates,
and enhancements. Please send any comments, either pro or con which
you may have about the program to the author so that future
improvements can better reflect the needs of the users.