Star Micronics 8 Series Applications Manual page 47

Cartridgeand downloadedfonts
YourStar LaserPrinter8 can use two otherkindsof fonts,alongwiththose
built into the printer.
Cartridgefonts, like the internalones, are permanentlystored on ROM
chips.Thedifferenceis thatthoseROMsam in removablecartridges.Your
Star LaserPrinter8 has slots for two font cartridges.
Eachcartridgemay holdanywherefmmhalfa dozento twodozenfonts,all
differingfrom the internalfontsin size,style,strokeweightor symbolset.
You'llfindthatcartridgefontsopenup a widerrangeof typefacestoo,such
as HelvetandLetterGothic.Generally, c artridgeandinternalfonttypefaces
are suitablefor both text and headlines.
The third kind of font is neither built into your Star LaserPrinter8 nor
availablejust by slippingin a cartridge.You downioadthis kind of font,
which means you use a computer program to send characters from a
computerdiskto yourprinter'smemory.Anydownloadedfont(sometimes
called a "soft" or "installed"font) that you put into the printer's RAM
disappearswhenyouturn off theprinter,so you haveto downloadthatfont
againnexttime you want it.
Downloadablefonts run the gamut from Egyptianhieroglyphicsto those
eye-catching decorativefarm knownas displayfonts. Theyalsoincludethe
more exotic foreign-language characters,such as Arabic or Cynllic, and
symboland mathematicalfonts (sometimeswith fractions).
How can you comparecartridgeand downloadablefonts? When you use
cartridgefonts you don't haveto take time to downloadthcm.They don't
takeanyof yourStarLaserPrinter8'sRAMmemoryeither.Butdowrdoad-
able fontsoffer many more choices.Downloadablcfontsusuallycost less
too.
The printer alwaysknowswhereits internalfonts arc. For each emulation
program,it also keepstrackof cartridgeand downloadedfontsin a part of
its memorycalledthe~onttable.
SowiththeStarLaserPrinter8youcanhavemanyfontsavailableat anyone
time—the internalfonts,the fontson any cassettesyou'vepluggedin, and
any fonts you have downloaded.You can change fonts in mid-line to
emphasize a word or two whenever you want. You can mix internal,
cartridgeand downloadedfonts in the same document.You can use fonts
fromboth cartridgeslotswithinthe samedocumenttoo.
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