Re: Laser Printer recommendation...
On Wed 05 Jul 2017 at 15:31:51 +0100, Brian wrote:
> On Tue 04 Jul 2017 at 09:05:21 -0400, Celejar wrote:
>
> > On Tue, 4 Jul 2017 12:03:45 +0100
> > Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > > On Mon 03 Jul 2017 at 19:15:19 -0400, Celejar wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Mon, 3 Jul 2017 14:46:08 -0400
> > > > Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > ...
> > > >
> > > > > A Brother with all of:
> > > > >
> > > > > - ethernet networking
> > > > > - duplex
> > > > > - BR/Script3 (Their PostScript clone, which I think is actually
> > > > > GhostScript)
> > > > >
> > > > > will not need a driver.
> > > > >
> > > > > Current examples: HL-L5100N ($170), HL-L6200DW ($250)
> > > >
> > > > Very interesting, thanks. Is this documented / explained anywhere? I
> > > > think I understand why 1 and 3 might be relevant to the need for
> > > > drivers, but 2?
> > > >
> > > > FWIW, my HL-2280DW meets 1 and 2, but not (apparently) 3, and indeed
> > > > does seem to require a driver.
> > >
> > > I do not see why 1 and 2 are in any way necessary to use a printer
> > > without a proprietary driver. PostScript or PCL6 emulation is, however,
> > > a pre-condition. The HL-2280DW has PCL6 emulation.
> >
> > I know that it has PCL6 emulation, but the fact is that I have never
> > been able to get it working properly without Brother's binary blob
> > drivers, nor have I seen any reports of anyone who has.
>
> Depends what you mean by "properly".
>
> The PPD in /etc/cups/ppd has a line beginning *cupsFilter:..... . Alter
> the line to read
>
> *cupsFilter: "application/vnd.cups-raster 50 rastertohp"
>
> Restart cups and do
>
> lp -d <queue_name> /etc/nsswitch
>
> That file prints out perfectly on my PCL/PCLX capable LaserJet. (I used
> a Brother PPD, with the altered line, for your printer).
>
> I am unsure about "50" in the *cupsFilter: line. "0" might be better.
Reports of success from Brother printer users would be of benefit.
Another technique would be to use a Generic PCL6 (or maybe PCL5) PPD or
the pxlmono one; a disadvantage might be that needed printer features
are missing from them but they have been reported to work.
--
Brian.
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