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[sindi keesan <keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org>]

In case anyone cares, I think that the image format used in the pdf files 
that print 4X with epson device and gs, or with printgf for DOS, must 
contain some string that the printer interprets as setting resolution.

So I went back to the HP Deskjet and was able to print with netpbm after
chopping off 1/2" at the top (and adding 1/2" white space to the left of
one of the pages).

pamcut -top 150 filename.pbm > filenamecut.pbm
pnmpad -white -left=150 filenamecut.pbm > filenamecutpad.pbm
printnetlj fielnamecutpad.pbm

printnetlj is a script that prints with pbmtolj at res 300 on lp0. I could 
add to the script a couple more parts with $2 and $3 and pipes in which I 
enter the amount to crop the top or pad the left.  Then I would simply 
enter the file name, number of pixels to crop on top, and number of pixels 
to pad on the left (after printing out the unedited copy and measuring).

I am hoping whoever scanned was at least consistent and did not scan too 
far to the right or top sometimes, but that could be added too (-right and 
-bottom).  I wonder why nobody else noticed this problem before.  Do newer 
printers go right to the edges of the paper?

It is possible to print something that is too wide or too short on a
non-ppa printer - the excess to the right is ignored, and the missing 
section on the bottom comes out white.

Another solution suggested by my partner for getting the bottom 1/2" of 
the page to print is to use longer paper.  I am still in fanfold 
mentality.

The Laserjet IIP that was given us to recycle because it 'did not work'
after they replaced the cartridge is a bit light and streaky.  Shaking
the cartridge helped, and you can also darken output using a switch
on the cartridge itself.  It also refuses to print within 1/4" of the 
edges of the paper.  Someone added 1MB RAM to the original 512K so you can 
print 300 dpi graphics, not just 150 dpi graphics, or text.

Along with the printer we were given a VCR and a DVD player to recycle.
The DVD player 'has no video output'.  For us it works but they may have 
tried the S-video output.  Now that Mplayer works to play DVDs we expect
to be given more working DVD players but they still don't navigate menus 
(the remote controls are always missing).

The broken scale also works, as long as you measure pounds and not 
kilograms.  Switched to kg, it measures too light (even converted back to 
pounds).  Not related to BL but interesting.

My piano teacher will be proud of me.  The copies I scanned from the 
library book had too many grace notes added and these don't.  Too bad I 
spent the whole day printing instead of practicing.


keesan AT sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org