Re: Install Printer under Linux
Dear Jaroslaw:
Many thanks for your letter, and sorry for my delay reply becouse of
my trip. After I checked my files, I found the problem now is that there
is no magicfilter, so could you please let me know the name of this
package, can I find it on the CDROM or it is better to get from the
internet and where is the side?. I hope after your description after
magicfilter everything will be OK.
Many thanks for your cooperation
aboanber
On Sun, 20 Jun 1999, Jaroslaw Berezowski wrote:
> On Sat, 19 Jun 1999, you wrote:
> > Dear Jaroslaw,
> > many thanks for your interest. Actually debian system is new for me,
> > So could you please let me know step by step how can I install my printer
> > to my PC.
> > First I have kernel with lpr support installed in my system also I
> > have lpr command what after that?.
> > How can I adjustments GhostScript options for StylusColor device)?.
> > early reply is better for me
> Sorry, I was away few days, so the answer is a bit late.
>
> > with my best regards
> > aboanber
> >
>
> Ok, I assume you have the physical installation correct.
>
> 1. You have to have kernel with lp support (note that under 2.2.x kernels You
> have a bucket of features related with lp: parport, parport_pc, parport_probe
> etc, and under 2.2.x typical printer port is /dev/lp0 instead of /dev/lp1 under
> 2.0.x).
>
> 2. You should install the printer daemon and utils package (lpd or recommended
> lprng). This will provide the daemon and programs like lpr, lpc ,lpq, lprm.
>
> 3. Install gs and gsfonts packages (and gv if You want to have the viewer fo
> *.ps files).
>
> 4. Install magicfilter and suggested packages (dselect will tell You about
> suggested packages). These packages are user in input filters to convert some
> formats onto PostScript. Then, You will be allowed to print files of many
> formats, like $lpr foo1.ps foo2.pdf foo3.troff
>
> 5. Run #magicfilterconfig (#magicfilterconfig --force if it refuses to run
> because of already configured printers). This utility will show a brief
> example of values and ask You for some settings in loop for each printer:
> a) the full printer name ("done" ends the loop).
> b) short name (the spool dir will have this name).
> c) device path (see the note 1.).
> d) than magicfilterconfig prints the so-called input filters to be used -
> choose for example stylus_color_360dpi. I will explain the setting below.
>
> If You will follow these instructions, the magicfilterconfig will have filled
> the /etc/printcap file with chosen settings and created the spool directory and
> some control files inside for each printer. Now look into /etc/printcap. You
> will see something like :
> #
> # Copyright (c) 1983 Regents of the University of California.
> # All rights reserved.
> #
> # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted
> # provided that this notice is preserved and that due credit is given
> # to the University of California at Berkeley. The name of the University
> # may not be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
> # software without specific prior written permission. This software
> # is provided ``as is'' without express or implied warranty.
> #
> # @(#)etc.printcap 5.2 (Berkeley) 5/5/88
> #
> # This file was generated by /usr/sbin/magicfilterconfig.
> #
> sc400-360-mono|Epson SC 400 360 dpi Mono:\
> :lp=/dev/printer:sd=/var/spool/lpd/sc400-360-mono:\
> :sh:pw#80:pl#72:px#1440:mx#0:\
> :if=/etc/magicfilter/stylus_color_360dpi-mono-filter:\
> :af=/var/log/lp-acct:lf=/var/log/lp-errs:
>
> sc400-360-color|Epson SC 400 360 dpi Color:\
> :lp=/dev/printer:sd=/var/spool/lpd/sc400-360-color:\
> :sh:pw#80:pl#72:px#1440:mx#0:\
> :if=/etc/magicfilter/stylus_color_360dpi-filter:\
> :af=/var/log/lp-acct:lf=/var/log/lp-errs:
>
> sc400-720-color|Epson SC 400 720 dpi Color:\
> :lp=/dev/printer:sd=/var/spool/lpd/sc400-720-color:\
> :sh:pw#80:pl#72:px#1440:mx#0:\
> :if=/etc/magicfilter/stylus_color_720dpi-filter:\
> :af=/var/log/lp-acct:lf=/var/log/lp-errs:
>
> I have 3 entries because I need different settings and this is IMHO the best
> way to pass settings to print system (/dev/printer is symlink to /dev/lp0,
> beacause I have 2.2.x kernels). Each "virtual" printer (their names are
> self-explanatory) maps onto the same physical printer. You can create more than
> one entry if You need different print settings and specify the -P printer_name
> in lpr command.
>
> So, You can see that the differences between virtual printers are the input
> filters. With magicfilter come only basic filters. I have copied
> stylus_color_360dpi-filter onto stylus_color_360dpi_mono-filter and
> stylus_color_360dpi_mono-filter and made some modifications to each.
>
> Each input filter is the set of converters' invocations like gs or enscript.
> Every print job is processed to determine the data type (by using some magic
> values - specific file content parts) and then the conversion is applied (one
> or multiple stage pass - some formats need temporal another format storage like
> temporal files or pipes). The ultimate result is the printer-specific data
> stream sent to printer device. Jobs wich cannot be converted are not printed
> and the mail with error message is sent back to user.
>
> For Epson printers the ultimate stage is handled by GhostScript with
> StylusColor device (ESC/P2 printers are fairly supported - my friends with
> other printers' vendors have big problems with configuration of their
> printers). Look into /etc/magicfilter/stylus_color_360dpi-filter. You will see
> lines like:
> # PostScript
> 0 %! filter /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r360 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- -
> 0 \004%! filter /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r360 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- -
>
> # PDF
> 0 %PDF fpipe /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r360 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- $FILE
>
> I have modified it for my best settings - added the dithering option (default
> is veeeeeeeeery bad for pixmaps and such like) and the Microweave flag. Detailed
> option explanation is in /usr/doc/gs/devices.txt in section Epson Stylus Color.
> You can play with options to reach the best results and to fit Your needs like
> resolution (option -r1440x720 for example). Probably You want to have the
> virtual printer with the best resolution (You mentioned You have Epson Photo),
> so copy the stylus_color_360dpi-filter onto (may say)
> stylus_color_photo1440-filter and apply the changes:
> # PostScript
> 0 %! filter /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r1440x720 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- -
> 0 \004%! filter /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r1440x720 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- -
>
> # PDF
> 0 %PDF fpipe /usr/bin/gs -sDEVICE=stcolor -sDithering=fscmyk -r1440x720 -q -dMicroweave -dSAFER -dNOPAUSE -dSpotSize='{2.6 2.4 2.6 2}' -sOutputFile=- $FILE
>
> You should create the input filter for each virtual printer (I think for mono
> and low resolution prints) BEFORE running #magicfilterconfig, then
> #magicfilterconfig will show these filters as available.
>
> If You want me to send my filters (or create ones for You), let me know.
>
> NOTE: I don't know how Yor printer will handle the data stream for non-photo
> printers like mine. It's not guaranted the results will be OK, but I hope this
> will work.
>
> HTH
>
> --
> Jaroslaw "Jaros" Berezowski
>
>
Reply to: