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Fig. 3.4 CalComp model 565, a 12 in. drum plotter (1959)
Plotters were perfect devices in the early years of digital cartography, but their
high price has made these devices affordable only for large companies. When the
price was reduced these plotters were also used in the higher education because the
programming was relatively easy (very simple instructions on the plotter graphic
languages) and students can use it efficiently. It was also important in the higher
education that the operational method of the plotter was theoretically easily
understandable. The operational costs very relatively low (pen, paper) and the
devices didn't require special
treatment which was important
in the higher
education.
On our department the first real digital output device was a simple Numonics
drum pen plotter which we acquired in the beginning of 1990s and our students
printed different projection coordinate networks which was driven by the students'
computer programs.
3.7 Actual Computer Printing Technologies
Since the graphic operation systems and graphic environments were released
around 1984-1990 and graphic software also become available computer printers
started to be a part of a cartographic workstation. Laser printers were fast and
reliable, but color models were very expensive in the beginning. This technology
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