Usually three bitmaps, containing red, green and blue colour components, are printed at a time. Typically these bitmaps contain a colour map generated by one (or more) of the mapping programs: MAPIMA, MAPPSC, MAPBIT or MAPVEC. If only one bitmap is specified, it is printed as black on white image.
Images not fitted on a single sheet are automatically printed in long strips which can later be cut and pasted to recreate the entire image.
Note: Other models may be supported with appropriate firmware upgrades. See the CALCOMP section below.
See Also: MAPBIT, MAPIMA, MAPPSC, MAPTHM, MAPVEC
Name Prompt Count Type MAPFILE Plot Database File Name 1-64 Char MAPSEG Database Input Bitmap 1-3 Int OVERLAP Overlap Sections by 1": YES/NO 1-3 Char SECTIONS Sections to Print 0-16 Int PAPERWID Paper Width in Inches 1 Real PRINTDEV Printer Device Name 1-64 Char DOTEXPAN Dot-expansion Factor 1 Int
EASI>MAPFILE="filespec"
EASI>MAPSEG=red,green,blueWhen a map, created by one of the map generating programs, is being printed the red, green and blue bitmaps are segments 1, 2 and 3.
EASI>MAPSEG=1,2,3 |Typical setting for printing mapsIf only one segment is specified then the output will be in black on white. Ranges of segments can be specified with negative values. For example: {2,-4} is internally expanded to {2,3,4}.
EASI>OVERLAP="YES" |Include a 1/4" overlap margin EASI>OVERLAP="NO" |No overlap marginSometimes a narrow margin of overlap between strips eases the job of cutting and alignment as strips are assembled to make the full image.
During the printing and assembly of very large images it is not uncommon that one or more sections are ruined or of poor quality for one reason or another. In these cases it is convenient to be able to reprint only those sections.
Sections are numbered sequentially from left to right.
EASI>SECTIONS= | default, print the entire image EASI>SECTIONS=i, j, ... | print sections (strips) i, j, ...
EASI>PAPERWID=w
Typical parallel port names are shown below:
EASI>PRINTDEV="PRN" or "LPT1" | for IBM PC's and compatibles EASI>PRINTDEV="/dev/plp" | for Silicon Graphics Iris EASI>PRINTDEV="/dev/lp0" | for IBM Risc System 6000 EASI>PRINTDEV="/dev/centronix" | for Kubota Pacific EASI>PRINTDEV="/dev/pp0 | for Sun workstations
EASI>DOTEXPAN=1 | 1:1 400 dpi resolution EASI>DOTEXPAN=2 | 2:1 200 dpi resolutionThis parameter is handy for maps that may be visually too small when printed on a 400 dpi device.
NOTE: If the DOTEXPAN parameter is set to 2, then the printer should be treated as a 200 dpi device. In order words, when the map is generated using one of the programs MAPIMA, MAPBIT, MAPPSC and MAPVEC, the parameter MAPDEVIC should be set to "C200" rather than "CALCOMP" (400 dpi). Otherwise, map scale and layout may not be appropriate.
Any CalComp printer which supports the Compressed Raster Format (CCRF) can be used. This includes; models 68436, 68444 colour electrostatic plotters; and models 67436, 67444 monochrome (black and white) plotters. Older CalComp plotters (models 58444,58436, 58424,57444,57436,57424) require a firmware upgrade to support the CCRF data format. CalComp customers should call CalComp's Customer Service Hot-Line at (800)451-PLOT to order the upgrade for these particular plotters.
For more information, consult the plotter's user's guide.
Port: Enabled Connector Type: Cent_2 Input Monitor Dump: No Print: No Checksum: No Plot Command Language: 907 Beginning of Record Character: $02 End of Record Character: $03 Number of Sync. Characters: 1 Steps per Inch: 2032 Dead Job Timeout: 60 Timeout Action: Force
The CalComp plotter is used as a raster device. The bitmaps are printed at 1:1 or 1:2 resolution, that is, every dot (bit) in the bitmap results in one or two dots respectively in the printed image. The bitmaps are expected to contain a complete representation of the image to print, including text, dithering for colour, and graphics. Typically three bitmaps are specified at once: red negative, green negative, and blue negative. By 'negative', it is meant that a set bit in the bitmap implies that the colour is NOT present at that point, a clear bit implies that the colour is present. The CALCOMP program maps the red, green, blue negatives onto cyan, magenta, and yellow respectively. Composite black (mixing of cyan, magenta and yellow toner) is automatically replaced with true black (black toner). If a single bitmap is specified then it will be printed in black and white.
The file unknown.pix contains a small bitmap on segment 12. The user wishes to get a black and white printout of this bitmap at 2:1 resolution. The plotter is loaded with 44 inch wide paper and the parameter PRINTDEV has already been set to the appropriate device name.
EASI>MAPFILE ="unknown.pix" EASI>MAPSEG =12 EASI>OVERLAP ="NO" EASI>SECTIONS= EASI>PAPERWID=44 EASI>DOTEXPAN=2 EASI>RUN CALCOMPExample 2
The file map.pix contains a colour map, held in three bitmap segments, produce by the map generation program MAPIMA. Bitmap segment 1 holds the red (negative) component, 2 the green, and 3 the blue. This is a fairly large map so it will be printed at 400 dpi in 4 sections (strips) numbered as follows:
1 2 3 4
Since the sections will have to be trimmed and pasted together the
user would like an overlap between sections to ease the job of
cutting and matching segments. The plotter is loaded with 36 inch
wide paper since this larger size reduces the number of strips that
are printed. It is assumed that parameter PRINTDEV has already been
set to the appropriate device name.
EASI>MAPFILE ="map.pix" EASI>MAPSEG =1, 2, 3 EASI>OVERLAP ="YES" EASI>SECTIONS= | print all sections EASI>PAPERSIZ=36 EASI>DOTEXPAN= EASI>RUN CALCOMPDuring the cutting and pasting processes section (strip) 3 was ruined so the user wishes to print only this section again:
EASI>SECTIONS=3 EASI>RUN CALCOMP