More printer drivers

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Hi,

A dumb PostScript printer driver is in the repository.
It supports monochrome and color printing.
Color printing requires about 24 times more space
than monochrome printing in the output not in
memory!
The printer driver is not usable for PS file creation,
because it creates very large files depending on the
chosen dpi.

A PCL6 printer driver is also in the repository.
It supports monochrome printing only and is
untested and it's very likely that it does not work.

BTW has anybody documentation for a printer
language called PCLGUI? My HP DeskJet 3816
seems to use this for color printing.

- Michael

[Philippe Houdoin]

Nice job Michael, as always.

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
A dumb PostScript printer driver is in the repository.
It supports monochrome and color printing.
Color printing requires about 24 times more space
than monochrome printing in the output not in
memory!
The printer driver is not usable for PS file creation,
because it creates very large files depending on the
chosen dpi.

I guess it's a proof of concept now.
For R1, however, it should be a PictureIterator-herited printer driver,
no=3F
Like PDF Writer. Your knowledge on GhosScript engine will help greatly
here !
The fonts substitutions handling and the PPD (Postscript Printer
Description) files support, with GUI settings, will make this an hard
work :-(

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
A PCL6 printer driver is also in the repository.
It supports monochrome printing only and is
untested and it's very likely that it does not work.

In the future, I guess OpenBeOS web site will have some common
Hardware Compatibility List, but now, maybe it'll good to put
somewhere a list for each print drivers available.

Post by Michael Pfeiffer
BTW has anybody documentation for a printer
language called PCLGUI=3F My HP DeskJet 3816
seems to use this for color printing.

Except for some usenet posts, I can't find any reference to this new
(software-driven) printing protocol.
Maybe asking to Canon or HP could help here=3F

Anyway, it's nice to see new print drivers coming to OSBOS like... like
everyday !
:-)

-Philippe

--
Fortune Cookie Says:

186,282 miles per second:

It isn't just a good idea, it's the law!

[Michael Pfeiffer]

Post by Philippe Houdoin

PostScript printer driver...

I guess it's a proof of concept now.
For R1, however, it should be a PictureIterator-herited printer driver,
no=3F
Like PDF Writer. Your knowledge on GhosScript engine will help greatly
here !

The problem with PS is that its capabilites are a subset of that
of the BeOS graphics model (for PDF generation pure raster images are
no option and PDF 1.4 supports at least transparency).
For emulation raster images have to be generated like the printer driver
currently does. ATM I don't plan to improve the PS driver.

Post by Philippe Houdoin

A PCL6 printer driver is also in the repository.
It supports monochrome printing only and is
untested and it's very likely that it does not work.

In the future, I guess OpenBeOS web site will have some common
Hardware Compatibility List, but now, maybe it'll good to put
somewhere a list for each print drivers available.

ATM the print kit team page is sufficent, maybe when
we get our new web site we can add such a list.

BTW the PCL6 driver works now. Thanks to
John Payne for testing!

Post by Philippe Houdoin

BTW has anybody documentation for a printer
language called PCLGUI=3F My HP DeskJet 3816
seems to use this for color printing.

Except for some usenet posts, I can't find any reference to this new
(software-driven) printing protocol.
Maybe asking to Canon or HP could help here=3F

The documentation can be obtained from HP after a license
agreement has been signed.

- Michael