Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dotmatrix

Why did I waste my youth pulling the sides off printer paper?

smackfu — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:28:13 -0800

Why did dot-matrix printers invariably take tractor-feed paper? Was there a technical barrier to using single sheets? Why didn't typewriters require tractor-feed?

Wall Graphics

Sreiny — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:33:25 -0800

Converting an image to a simple dot-matrix pattern? A section of my wall is concrete and so I can't hang anything on it. I am planning on buying a few thousand color labels and creating an image in a dot-matrix style. This is a bad example
but kind of along the lines of what I'm thinking of doing, except with an image. Is there a program or application that I can download to convert an image to a dot matrix grid. Basically what I'll do is set up a grid in Illustrator to plan it out, and either there'll be a sticker there, or there won't.

To focus the answers a bit, this isn't a job for Rasterbator or photoshop halftone filter, it needs to be gridded with an "either there's a dot there or there isn't process." Thanks.

What would I use to make one of those old banners?

Wiggo — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 22:50:33 -0800

You all are geeks right? Well, remember those old-school banners that everyone used to print at home for Science Projects and other stuff? You know, where the letter "A" was made up of a bunch of A's to form the letter? Where in this day and age would I get something like that done? Anyone have Print Shop Deluxe 1.0 and an old printer? Would I try some local schools?? My band's CD Release party is coming up and the whole theme of the packaging and everything is "old computer stuff". Thanks! This place rules...

Tractor-feed paper

Mwongozi — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 03:32:54 -0800

Where in the UK (preferably online) can I buy tractor-fed paper for a dot-matrix printer? I have just inherited an Epson FX-880 dot matrix printer, and amazingly it still works perfectly. I really want to keep it, since I can still buy new ribbons for just a few pounds, which makes it really good value for text-only print jobs.

But I want a stack of tractor-fed paper for it, the type that is lots of sheets joined together with perforations and holes down the sides to pull it though. (Bonus points if it has those green stripes on it too.)

My Google-fu is, however, failing me. I've tried Googling (and Froogling) for tractor paper, dot matrix paper, fanfold paper, z-fold paper, and I'm not finding anything.

You *must* be able to still buy this stuff.