[Coco] M.E.S.S. Printing

[Robert Gault]

Brian Hostetler wrote:

> I was just wondering if anyone has figured out how to print graphics in 
> MESS.
That is a different topic from the questions below. MESS has a screen 
save option. The image will go into the MESS Snap directory.
>  I have figured out how to print to a file, which works fine for 
> text documents.  I want to print several Cocomax drawings on my inkjet 
> printer under Windows XP.
You will need the graphics commands required for the inkjet printer and 
write an assembly program. The program will either need to be interfaced 
with Cocomax or you will need to have Cocomax save the image to a file 
and process the file with your assembly program.
>  I used to have a Star Gemini 10X and Cocomax 
> has the driver for this.  When I print to file, it makes the print file 
> about 32k in size.  Evidently this is in Gemini 10X printer graphics 
> format.
It should be and if you could attach a Gemini 10X to your PC you could 
route the file to the printer.
>  I need to figure out how to convert this file into a bitmap or 
> anything useable by windows that can be printed.  The print file data 
> does not look that complicated (hexadecimal).  Has anyone written a 
> DOS/Windows utility to convert any coco printer graphics formats into a 
> standard image type?  (It'd be pretty cool to make the print file's 
> pixels round dots on a full page bitmap about the size of a 9-pin 
> printer's) Thanks!
>                                     -Brian Hostetler

Your best bet is not to attempt any of the above. Do a screen capture 
either with the MESS option or the Windows print screen function and 
paste the image into any good PC graphics editor.

The first thing you will want to do is resize the image so that it 
prints larger than the expected 2x2 inches. Then use the graphics editor 
to print to your inkjet.