Epson FX-286e, FX-86e LPRINT CHR$(27);"?K";CHR$(4);, CRT, ESC L, Option, Plotter (1:1), Single-density, Double-density, High-speed double-density, Reassigning a graphics mode

Table 5-1. Graphics modes

Option	Alternate	m	Horiz. density
	Code		(dots/in.)
Single-density	ESC K	0	60
Double-density	ESC L	1	120
High-speed double-density*	ESC Y	2	120
Quadruple-density*	ESC Z	3	240
CRT I	none	4	80
Plotter (1:1)	none	5	72
CRT II	none	6	90
Double-density plotter	none	7	144

*Adjacent dots cannot be printed in this mode.

Modes 4-7 in the table are special modes that alter the horizontal density to give proportions of a computer monitor (the CRT modes), or to match the vertical density so as to give round circles (the plotter modes).

In two modes, high-speed double-density and quadruple-density, the print head cannot print two consecutive dots with the same pin, so that it can print dots in only half the possible dot positions in any one row. The higher density means that the resolution of the pattern is better than in single-density mode. When you design patterns in these two modes, however, you must see that no dots overlap.

Reassigning a graphics mode

Another graphics command lets you assign a different eight-pin graphics mode to one of the specific eight-pin graphics commands. You can use it with graphics software programs to quickly change the density and proportions of your printouts. Changing the graphics option changes the width without changing the height.

The command for reassigning a graphics mode is ESC ? c m. In this command, c is a letter designating one of the four alternate graphics codes (K, L, Y, or Z) and m is the mode number of the new mode, as listed in Table 5-1.

For example, to change the ESC K command to select the CRT I screen graphics mode, the command in BASIC would be the following:

LPRINT CHR$(27);"?K";CHR$(4);

Graphics and User-defined Characters 5 - 9