From 17fde29ef607e1cd4494bef4bbf6fe4623ec8722 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Joe Lothan <joe@lothan.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2026 19:31:20 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] better margins / gaps

---
 print_tape.py | 8 ++++++--
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/print_tape.py b/print_tape.py
index c9dfc4a..6bfc018 100644
--- a/print_tape.py
+++ b/print_tape.py
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ from glyphs import price_to_fraction, upload_fractions
 # so 512 printable dots / 24 = 21 chars fit across the 80mm paper width.
 LINE_WIDTH = 21
 NUM_COLUMNS = 4
-COL_WIDTH = LINE_WIDTH // NUM_COLUMNS  # 5
+COL_WIDTH = 4
+EDGE = 1  # 1-char margin on each edge
+GAP = 1   # 1-char gap between columns
+# Layout: edge(1) + col(4) + gap(1) + col(4) + gap(1) + col(4) + gap(1) + col(4) + edge(1) = 21
+COL_STARTS = [EDGE + i * (COL_WIDTH + GAP) for i in range(NUM_COLUMNS)]
 
 
 def format_price(lots, price):
@@ -76,7 +80,7 @@ def print_all(p, trades):
     for row_idx in range(max_len):
         row = [" "] * LINE_WIDTH
         for col_idx in range(NUM_COLUMNS):
-            col_start = col_idx * COL_WIDTH
+            col_start = COL_STARTS[col_idx]
             if row_idx < len(col_chars[col_idx]):
                 entry = col_chars[col_idx][row_idx]
                 if entry[0] == "top":