Combining Print Modes; Dot-Matrix Printing - Epson P-80 User Manual

Combining Print Modes

One of the most pleasing aspects of your P-80 printer is its variety of
print modes that can be combined to make different typestyles. You
access these print modes through programming languages such as
BASIC. You can also access them through your word processing pro-
gram, if your program allows you to insert print commands in the
text (for example, Portable WordStar'").
This chapter gives a short explanation of how dot matrix characters
are formed, briefly describes the different print modes, and then
shows you how the print modes can be combined.

Dot-Matrix Printing

The P-80 uses a dot matrix to plot the characters it prints. Vertically,
the matrix consists of 6 main and 5 intermediate columns. Horizon-
tally, the matrix consists of 9 rows.
The P-80 characters are designed to be five or fewer columns wide.
The sixth column is left blank to allow for space between text charac-
ters (some of the graphics characters use the sixth column).
Because the use of 5 dots does not give enough detail for the highest
quality characters, the P-80 prints some dots half way between the
main columns in the 6-dot-wide matrix. This enhancement results in a
matrix grid that is actually
mediate columns. You can count the
Figure
5-l.
Chapter 5
dots wide-6 main columns with 5 inter-
11
positions on the grid shown in
11
33