Re: Looking for Epson ESC/P Raster printer language specs

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

CUTjefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney) wrote:

>I have been given (well they lent it to me with the option to buy it)
>an Epson Stylus Color 400 printer but it doesn't work with the Epson
>printer driver included with GS/OS.  I can print text with it from
>Applesoft but a graphic print from a GS/OS program using the Epson
>driver just prints garbage.
>
>After doing some research on Epson's web page, I discovered that this
>printer, and a few other models, are Windows only printers and that
>they use ESC/P Raster as the printer language instead of the standard
>ESC/P and ESC/P2 printer languages.
>
>I e-mailed Epson's tech support asking them to direct me to where I
>could find the control codes for ESC/P Raster and I got the standard
>reply "That printer is a Windows only printer and won't work with any
>other computer."  I still plan to e-mail them back and tell them just
>how stupid they are but I haven't done that yet.
>
>If my 486 can send graphic data over a standard parallel port to the
>printer and have it print fine then my IIgs, and any other computer
>for that matter, can do the same.  I just need to know what the
>commands are to make the printer produce the image I want it to.
>
>Which brings me to the point of this message.  If anyone could tell me
>where I might find information for the ESC/P Raster printer language I
>plan to write a GS/OS driver for printers that use this language.

ESC/P Raster is the same thing.

The reason these Epsons are called "Windows Printers" is
because they only have a parallel port and Epson thinks
the only other computer is Macintosh, which (they think)
needs an RS423 serial port.  However, since the IIGS can
take a parallel card or use a parallel to serial converter, this
is not a problem.

The reason you are getting garbage is because the 9-pin
Epson FX driver that comes with GS/OS is not compatible.
You need the Epson LQ drivers that come with Harmonie.
Luckily, Joe Kohn's Shareware Solutions II sells these.

Graphics printing will be in gray scale only, but you do
get 360x360 text and graphics (very sharp).  Good luck.