There are four color printers generally available on our system. Each has its own idiosyncrasies and processes for printing.
All postscript is not alike. With the introduction of ArcView 3.0 came a new (to us) postscript format called Enhanced postscript. As far as we can tell the primary value of this format is the reduction in the size of the postscript file. Ostensibly this should make printing faster, but observations thus far have not borne this out. Some of our printers and some of our printing software do not recognize Enhanced Postscript.
fsl217pscolor - this is a workhorse printer in room 217. It accepts both Enhanced and Basic Postscript files. Additional memory in the buffer makes it possible to print files in the range of 10 megabytes within a few minutes. Larger files could take much longer (hours). Also remember that all files are not equal. Raster data takes considerable longer to print than a similarly sized file of vector data. One thing to keep in mind about this printer is that it is the printer of choice for many users on both the Unix network and the LAN. We often experience heavy traffic problems on this printer.
fsl267pscolor - this is a printer similar to the HP printer in 217. It is a new model and will accept both Enhanced and Basic postscript files. This printer will also print 10 megabyte files in a reasonable time. My observation is that the colors are not quite as vivid on this printer. There is also much less traffic.
Colorcal - is a thermal wax printer in room 345. We got this printer about the same time we moved into 345 - over 5 years ago. It produces very high quality output from Basic postscript files. Files up to 10 megabytes print fairly quickly, but raster data prints quite slowly. Supplies for this printer are kept under the table where it is set. Colorcal has a couple of idiosyncrasies 1) examine the paper closely and you'll find a slight crease about 1 inches from one end; the crease is loaded to the top and the back of the crease is loaded to the back) 2) load no more than 4 sheets at a time.
fsl217ps, fsl334ps, fsl267ps - these printers are excellent for black and white or grey shaded maps. They read both enhanced and basic postscript files and they are very fast. The print quality is excellent.
hpplot345 - this is an HP large format inkjet printer. It produces excellent quality plots in vivid colors of plot files in hpgl2 or raster transfer language (.rtl) format. We bought all the memory we could when we got the printer, but the print buffer was overwhelmed almost immediately. Our solution has been to use the .rtl format for large files (these files are read a line at a time by the printer and the buffer does not overflow). Print hpgl2 format files up to 10 or 15 megabytes. We have several options for producing .rtl files.
fsl231plotter
hlpdskplotter
r207pscolor
helpdeskcolor
Arcpress is an ESRI program that creates .rtl files (or several other output formats) from both Enhanced and Basic postscript files produced by arc/info or arcview. Arcpress can be run from the Unix prompt. Input files should have a .eps extension and output files should have a .rtl extension. Select the RGB printer from the menu. There are a number of other options available, but it's been my experience that most selections from these menus are overridden by the postscript file instructions.
Image Alchemy is a 3rd party software package that converts among scores of graphics formats; including postscript to .rtl. This program is run from the command line and features a number of different switches and options. Image Alchemy does not recognize arcview's enhanced postscript output. The manual is in FSL 345.
Inkjet is an arc macro language program that will convert an arc/info map composition, an arc/info graphics file, or arc/info basic postscript file to an .rtl graphics file for plotting on the HP inkjet. This aml actually calls image alchemy to produce the .rtl file. The program now resides in our custom atool directory, so if &atool is set to /tools/esri/atool, the command inkjet can be run from the arc prompt.
Rotation - by default graphics files are printed in portrait orientation along the long dimension of the media. Output printed directly from arcview is appropriately oriented, but converted files in landscape orientation often waste a good deal of plotter paper or are cut off. There are a number of solutions and strategies for dealing with this problem. The hpgl2 command contains a ps/nops option that controls rotation. Map compositions can be rotated with a switch in the inkjet aml. Postscript files created in arc/info can be rotated using a parameter file created in the SEPARATOR command. One way of tricking arcpress is to use a square page size in your map composition or arcview layout. The map need not occupy the entire page size, but the printer will adjust to accommodate it.
Printing a Color Palette - Since the same color may print differently on each printer, having a color palette specifically for the printers you use may be beneficial. In arc/info the arcplot atool SYMBOLDUMP creates a graphics file that can be converted to postscript and printed. In arcview the sample script symdump.ave produces a layout that can be sent to the postscript printers.
Symbolsets and other useful files are buried deep in the software directories. Environment variables have been set to allow for easy access to these files. $ARCHOME will lead you to /atool for a look at some system amls or /symbols to guide you to a variety of marker, line, and shade sets. $AVHOME/arcview3 leads to /symbols where a variety of .avp files can be added to your project or /samples/scripts where many avenue scripts useful for customizing your projects reside.