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PAPER$
function: return a control index number to set background colour
b$=PAPER$(index number)

Similarly to the PEN$ function, PAPER$ returns a character string that automatically sets the background colour when the string is printed on the screen. For example:

E> Pen 1
   B$=Paper$(3)+"Flash Harry"+Paper$(1)+"The Invisible Man"
   Print B$

Changing text options

INVERSE ON/OFF
instructions: toggle inverse mode of subsequent text
Inverse On
Inverse Off

The INVERSE instruction swaps over the text and background colours already selected by the PEN and PAPER commands, and so sets up an inverse mode for printing. For example:

E> Pen 2 : Paper 4: Print "I appear normal"
   Inverse On : Print "Poetry inverse"
   Inverse Off : Print "Don't be so negative"

SHADE ON/OFF
instructions: toggle shading of subsequent text
Shade On
Shade Off

The appearance of your text can be changed more subtly by introducing a mask pattern that reduces the brightness of the characters when printed. To make use of this shading facility, simply turn it on and off like this:

E> Shade On :Print "Shady Lady"
   Shade Off:Print "Norman Normal"

Setting text styles
As well as customising the appearance of your text by changing the text options, you can also use the standard type-face techniques available to printers and word processors.

UNDER ON/OFF
instructions: toggle underline mode of subsequent text
Under On
Under Off