[NTLUG:Discuss] printing from Linux

[Leroy Tennison]

Charles Cashion wrote:

> I would like to understand the flow of information from a
> program to a printer.
>
> True for False?
> The output from Linux programs is occasionally, frequently,
> most frequently, almost always PostScript?

Haven't got a clue, hopefully someone else has.

>
> True for False?
> If you feed PostScript (PS) to a printer that understands PS or
> that pretends to understand PS (emulation), then you will get
> your printout.

If it's valid Postscript and the printer is either set to expect 
Postscript or is capable of automatically detecting it (on this latter 
point remember other intelligent technologies such as plug-and-pRay and 
advanced power MISmanagement not to mention NIC auto-speed deFection) 
then you should get it's interpretation of the printout (genuine Adobe 
Postscript is the standard, emulators? Well, place your bets).  If it's 
not valid Postscript you may well see the printer warm up only to do 
nothing.  If it's a "nice" printer (I haven't seen one yet) you might 
get a message stating that the Postscript has an error.  Just because 
it's Postscript doesn't produce magic.  I get fine results on my HP 
laserjet 1200 series printer with the Linux generic Postscript driver. 
 Think that HP's own Postscript driver for Linux works?  My experience 
at least is that the answer is "No".

>
> True?
> A NON-PS printer that understands raster scan (RS) can be used
> if the computer translates PS to RS.

Depends on the printer.  HP has it's own language (PCL) that consists of 
Escape codes plus text which gets interpreted into some kind of image 
before being printed by the printer.  I don't know how many printers 
accept raster scan directly.  This is definitely not preferable because 
of the sheer size of the file being sent unless some kind of compression 
is done in which case both ends have to agree somehow on which 
compression technique is used.  The printers I've seen all have their 
(usually proprietary) Escape sequence languages.  Ihaven't done the 
research but I would think that Linux printer drivers for the popular 
printers would use the printer's Escape sequence language rather than 
output raster scan.

>
> True?
> Almost any new printer (ink jet or laser) does raster scan.
>
> Options?
> If your printer does not understand PS, then you have several
> options:
>         1. You translate PS to raster scan and send it to
>                 the printer?
>         2. You send your printing to ghostscript and that
>                 converts it to RS
>         3. You send your printing thru pimp and it does the
>                 conversion
>
> Print Specific file:
> So if you are going to convert PS to RS, you are really
> translating PS to whatever language the printer speaks?
>
> WHAT I REALLY NEED: If you understand how printing works, and
> you learned it from something you read, I want to know what
> you read. I want to read it.
>
> WHAT HELPS: Most of the time, I have to read something from
> more than one source before I finally understand it. If more
> than one person would suggest something to read, it would
> help. Please let me know what you read that finally caused
> you to understand Linux printing.
>
> Tnx,
> Charles
>
>
>
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