using grass to make high quality maps

[Jim Klein]

The easiest way to get high quality output from GRASS files from my 
experience is to convert grass output (ps.map, screen dumps etc into a 
*.gif file, move the file to a mac and then do your editing in one of the 
mac programs.  Photoshop can convert gif files, or there is a shareware 
program called 'gif converter' into a *.tiff file.  In photoshop we also 
tend to enhance the legend.   We then import the files to Aldus Pagemaker to 
add title blocks etc.  

There are numerous service bureaus that can take Pagemaker files and 
enlarge them to presentation size.  It would be wise to do a small test 
first with the service bureau.  While this sounds complicated, it is 
a very straitforward, economical approach to someone, like yourself 
without access to expensive hardware, or the so called 'higher end' 
commercial GIS programs. 

Jim Klein
 > 
> My question probably has more to do with computer graphics and output than
> with grass in particular.  I'm interested in making large maps of a
> professional quality -- and in using GIS-style routines like contour
> shading, slope and aspect stuff, oblique viewing angles and the like -- the
> kind of stuff I know many GIS's are capable of -- and am assuming grass is
> also capable of (isn't it?), but my knowledge is weak at a more practical
> level.  Seeing as I don't have high quality plotters at my disposal, how
> would someone like me go about the printing part of all this?  Are there
> printing companies that can accept a standard sort of data file or files
> and produce large, high quality (and hopefully color) maps?  I know many
> printing shops can accept Macintosh data from programs like Adobe
> Illustrator and especially things like Quark Express.  Would I have to
> transfer the map from grass into a package like this, and then go to the
> printer?  Are other people doing things like this?  Any pointers?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Paul Fly
>