+1 for post #40 from canton for this good summary.
...and +1000 for robkohr's proof-of-concept printcoin web page and for providing the source code.
Of course having an EASY Java Script solution like bitaddress.org would be the nicest solution for the people who cannot easily set up a local web server but still want a save solution to print their own printcoins. --> Maybe I have an idea here...
The reason this is server side rather than js is that I have not found one decent pdf creation library written in javascript (just a couple half hearted attempts that were useless). pdf's are the simplest way to create something that will print to exact dimensions on the web.
--> ...concerning bitaddress.org (which is fully javascript based), I
am able to generate proper PDFs extremely easily! I just use the
"Print" button and print to my PDF-printer!!! (this is extremely easy under Linux (=my case), but free PDF printer drivers also exist for Windows and can be downloaded and installed at a click of a button).
So, robkohr (or any other programmer here), could you imagine considering offering a JS-based printcoin.com implementation?
I would use the JS-based bicoinaddress.org straight away, but it lacks two features for me (both of which printcoins.com offers):
- entering my OWN private keys (instead of having new random ones generated for the printed bills)
- the secret key QR code size is too large (unlike printcoin bills) to be covered by a 2.5 cm (1 inch) hologram.
Update: I have just requested
here enhancement of the javascript code on bitaddress.org - maybe this is the more reasonable approach, since the codebase in javascript (a single html file) is already available.
UPDATE: I think there is good news for the subject of this thread's title "print your own bitcoin bills", especially, if I add both "SECURELY" and "EASILY" at the same time. And in good quality of course.
Since today, a new solution exists:
* 100% offline
* Open Source < 500 kB (html/javascript)
* High Resolution images (printing in full 600 dpi), at least 10 different designs (=colors)
* No IT expert knowledge required:
- No need to set up a web server
- No need to work on the command line
* Works on Linux and Windows
* Only requires FIREFOX (may have problems with other browser, so consider Firefox not a browser but a bitcoin bill printing software)
* Configurable for certain individual aspects!
Now everybody can
easily print
High Quality bitcoin paper notes
100% securely.
So I think this fits perfectly to the subject of this thread, therefore I wanted to let you know about the news in this posting:
https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.1383041Thanks for all the contributors to this topic.