Bruce: There are ways of storing graphic information. One is called "bitmap" or "matrix". This inludes GIF and most of the files that produce pictures. It takes the area the graphic is to occupy and divides it into small region. Then it has a code saying what color dots to put in what region. (In the case of b/w, it just says whether there is a black dot or not.) There is no way to vary the resolution of these, because the resolution has been preset by the division of the graphic.

The other type is often called "vector" or "outline". This contains instructions like "put a letter here", or "put a line here", or "put a circle here". A program is then needed to change this to instructions as to where the printer puts the actual dots. But the translating program can make a graphic at the resolution you specify. The only two formats I know of this kind are postscript and pdf (which I suspect is a souped-up postscript).

So you probably should look into graphic programs that produce one of them. There are a lot of them around. Most word-processors, point-and-shoot graphic programs, and spreadsheets on Windows will print a postscript file. You just have to install one of the postscript print drivers that come with Windows (like the apple laserwriter ones). Then choose this as your printer and select "print to a file" You will then get a postscript file. There is free software for converting postscript to pdf and vice-versa and there is free software for viewing and printing postscript and pdf files.

I am very interested in this in an amateur way and I don't want to get carried away. Send me an email if you want more details.

Murray