Dot matrix impact printers used an interesting trick: it worked withs half columns. Two dots of the same needle could not use intermediate position, but a different needle/row could use all intermediate columns but never repeat too close. This was based on mechanical limitations
So my sugestion is to make the SW with half columns even if for now you don't have the fonts for it
----- Alain Mouette (•̀_•́) On 12/08/2026 15:00, Jerome Shidel via Freedos-devel wrote:
Actually, thinking about it a little. I would likely use an 8x16 font. Then, you could supply a simple “standard” dos font on the command line or have the program pull the font directly from video memory at startup. Then, I would programmatically separate the font into two separate 8x8 fonts. One consistent of the even lines in left to right order. And another font of the odd lines in right to left order. Then, during simulated printing, the fake print head would print the even lines, shift down 1 pixel and print backwards. Then, drop down the remaining character bits and start the next line. This could also be used to generate audio using the PC speaker in order to “Simulate” the sounds of printing. Combined with a visual print head, scrolling fan fold paper, audio, it would be kind of neat. Then, of course, would be to tie it to a LPT port, add file/image output, and of course support common printer escape sequences. Maybe even emulation of some classic printers. Like a Citizen GSX-130. :-) _______________________________________________ Freedos-devel mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-devel
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