Printing to an Apple Imagewriter I and II from windows 64bit

[VERAULT]

I was wondering if anyone out there has some knowledge on the differences between the Imagewriter I and II control codes and print engine. I was able to get my Imagewriter II printing perfectly on windows 7 64bit using some instructions on this video:

It got me thinking that maybe it was time to get my one and only imagewriter I printer off the shelf and test it (pretty sure I never have done that). The printer works thankfully but using the modified commandset instructions from the driver in the video it doesnt print correctly. It does print partially but some lines get screwed up and graphics get wonky. I believe the issue to be the parameters for the IW2 are not the same as the IW1 and some of the graphics options are set on dipswitches on the IW1 vs software commands. Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with this.

Jumping into the video at this timestamp first would give you a better Idea of what I am talking about:

 

[njroadfan]

Should be fine as the original ImageWriter is a rebranded C-Itoh 8510 with a serial interface. The only additional commands on the ImageWriter II are for color and MouseText which the Windows driver doesn't use.

 

[VERAULT]

Should be fine as the original ImageWriter is a rebranded C-Itoh 8510 with a serial interface. The only additional commands on the ImageWriter II are for color and MouseText which the Windows driver doesn't use.

I thought so as well but something is different. Did you watch the video.and see how the dpi was changed to 144 and the commandset options was changed from an uppercase "E" to a lowercase "p". There must be something that is inhibiting correct printing on the imw1.

I guess I can do a test print on both machines to show the difference.

 

[njroadfan]

Something tells me nobody actually tested that driver before shipping it. The ImageWriter and C-Itoh 8510 print bitmap graphics the opposite of the common Epson ESC/P method. The least significant bit is the topmost pin (bit 0) and the most significant bit is the bottom pin (bit 7). Epson and IBM printers are the opposite, which the driver seems to be programmed for.

The dip switches set the serial port parameters and power on defaults for font pitch and graphics mode. Both can be (and will be) overridden with ESC commands from the computer.

 

[VERAULT]

Something tells me nobody actually tested that driver before shipping it.

Im sure thats true. I should show a photo of the printout on the IW2 on an unmodified file. Its all mirrored cutoff and upside down. Ill get photos next week. I bought some ink to reink my ribbons so the image will be darker.

Anyway it doesnt explain why it works on the imagewriter 2 and not the IW1

 

[VERAULT]

So I never reinked a printer ribbon before. I added a bit much and its soaked so give me a few days to let that level out and dry a bit before I can post some screen shots.

I have to remember to post photos of both printers dip switches currently as well.