Dear Tony,
I too would like to know how you get publishable quality output. I
have been raving and ranting about this issue for over 4 years now.
So, because I havent moaned for a while here goes:
For your info:
I use NT4, 98megs ram p200, I use calcomp (ps) drivers for our 400 dpi
versatec (up to 3m by 1m ), hp 755cm drivers for our HP (Iso A0),
tektronix550 (a4 size only) and lexmark 1200 (up to a3) all the
printer are via network printserver (this is the main catch ...by the
way)
Quality of non transparent raster is normally quite good upto iso A2
size, with output DPI normally matched to that of the original
scanned image. Beyond A2 size we tend to get a bit weird and the
images become 'flat' and grainy.
(hint, use v good paper and best quality inks)
Vector maps are never a problem if you remember the following:
Mapinfo's not-so-true type fonts can be a bit iffy (try and embed the
font in the postscript...forget trying to pdf these suckers its hard
work!), and haloes etc are a no no if you have to get your files on to
just one hard drive of 4 megs!
oh, and pattern fills are hopeless if you are printing above 200 dpi
(if mapinfo corp are watching...hey you people...get this sorted...its
a tad overdue for renewal!)
Transparent rasters are virtually impossible above a4 size, unless you
know how to hack postscript (thanks again CS! if your watching), or
happen to have a spare 20 gig HD for the spool file that comes out (at
which point the network manager normally rings you up with some choice
anglo saxon)
Ive tried work arounds with ghostview, adobe distiller, illustrator
and in the early days a trial version of map publisher (quite handy
actually) some are successful but never completely (particularly the
transparent rasters!!!!!!).
Always use the latest driver, alway process on the pc, always submit
the plot to a file and then send to the printer. (Buy wads of memory
for all the kit you have).
Basically mapinfo needs a good RIP. 'Propress' was supposed to be
this, but as yet I have seen little traffic about it and what I have
seen has not been positive, actually, I'm not even sure where you can
get it and what it costs.
As a UK civil servant I cannot go on 'endlessly buying' work arounds
for an application's basic failure to a) print properly under the
windows environment and b) output to other publishing packages. If you
are less financially-challenged I am sure you buy your way out of it.
Printing is one reason why the organisation I work for has decided to
akeview as its main tool for GIS (and paper output, yes....i know, i
know!, some reason av manages to print without hassle).
Dont get me wrong, I love MI to bits...but after four years of
make-do-and-mend printing tactics I have grown tired of having to
budget for a draftsperson to redo everything I make on every project
involving MI.
Final words:
Up to A2 size, no prbs (except transparent) over A2...hmmmm think hard
about it and budget for extra work
Regards
Russell Lawley
All opinions expressed are my own if you wish to flame my criticisms
please feel free but be courteous to other listers and do so directly
to me, not to the list!
thanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put
"unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
