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Computer-printer communication – Epson Y465ss127mo User Manual

Page 110

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When buying graphics software, always make sure the program has an

option to print on an LQ printer. Any program with an option for an LQ

printer should give excellent results, using different dot densities to

produce a realistic scale of grays.

If you plan to use color, be sure that the program supports color for an

LQ printer.

Most graphics programs have a printer selection procedure, in which

case you should check the lists on page 4-2 to find the proper selection.

Computer-Printer Communication

Your computer communicates with your printer using a standardized set

of numbered codes called ASCII codes (American Standard Code for

Information Interchange). When you press the letter A on the keyboard,

it is translated into the ASCII code for A, transmitted to a peripheral

device such as your computer screen or your printer, and then converted

back into the letter A.

There are ASCII codes for all the letters in the alphabet, both uppercase

and lowercase letters, and for the numbers 0 through 9. The ASCII set of

codes also includes most punctuation marks and some codes that control

printer functions.

In the Command Summary in Chapter 8, each code is expressed three

different ways: as an ASCII character, as a decimal number, and as a

hexadecimal (base 16) number. For example, the uppercase letter A is

represented as the ASCII character A, the decimal number 65, and the

hexadecimal number 41. The numbering system you use depends on

your software and your preferences.

All letters, numbers, and punctuation marks are assigned decimal

numbers from 32 through 255. ASCII codes with decimal values of less

than 32 are called control codes, because they control the operation of

your printer and other peripherals. These ASCII characters do not

usually have corresponding keys on the keyboard and cannot be printed

as characters by your printer.

Using Software and Graphics

4-5