Star Micronics 8 Series Printer User Manual


 
Cartridgeand downloadedfonts
YourStarLaserPrinter8canusetwootherkindsof fonts,alongwiththose
builtintothe printer.
Cartridgefonts,like the internalones, are permanentlystored on ROM
chips.ThedifferenceisthatthoseROMsaminremovablecartridges.Your
StarLaserPrinter8 hasslotsfor two fontcartridges.
Eachcartridgemayholdanywherefmmhalfadozentotwodozenfonts,all
differingfromtheinternalfontsin size,style,strokeweightor symbolset.
You’llfindthatcartridgefontsopenup a widerrangeoftypefacestoo,such
as HelvetandLetterGothic.Generally,cartridgeandinternalfonttypefaces
are suitableforbothtextandheadlines.
The third kind of font is neitherbuilt into your Star LaserPrinter8 nor
availablejust by slippingin a cartridge.You downioadthis kindof font,
which means you use a computerprogram to send characters from a
computerdisktoyourprinter’smemory.Anydownloadedfont(sometimes
called a “soft” or “installed”font) that you put into the printer’sRAM
disappearswhenyouturnofftheprinter,soyouhavetodownloadthatfont
againnexttimeyouwantit.
Downloadablefonts run the gamutfromEgyptianhieroglyphicsto those
eye-catchingdecorativefarmknownasdisplayfonts.Theyalsoincludethe
more exoticforeign-languagecharacters,such as Arabicor Cynllic, and
symboland mathematicalfonts(sometimeswithfractions).
How can you comparecartridgeand downloadablefonts?Whenyou use
cartridgefontsyoudon’thaveto taketimeto downloadthcm.Theydon’t
takeanyof yourStarLaserPrinter8‘sRAMmemoryeither.Butdowrdoad-
ablefontsoffermanymorechoices.Downloadablcfontsusuallycost less
too.
Theprinteralwaysknowswhereits internalfontsarc.For each emulation
program,it alsokeepstrackof cartridgeanddownloadedfontsin a partof
itsmemorycalledthe~onttable.
SowiththeStarLaserPrinter8youcanhavemanyfontsavailableatanyone
time—theinternalfonts,thefontson anycassettesyou’vepluggedin, and
any fonts you have downloaded.You can change fonts in mid-lineto
emphasizea word or two wheneveryou want. You can mix internal,
cartridgeanddownloadedfontsin the samedocument.Youcan use fonts
frombothcartridgeslotswithinthe samedocumenttoo.
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