Re: Laser Printer recommendation...

[Celejar <celejar@gmail.com>]

On Fri, 7 Jul 2017 11:36:10 +0100
Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> wrote:

> 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.

This seems to work (I used "0", since the existing line had "0"),
except for the fact that each time I print a page (via the CUPS "Print
Test Page" feature), it prints out twice. Why? [I commented out, and
then actually removed, the original cupsFilter line, restarting CUPS
each time.]

> 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.

Ah, I guess this is what a reported trying in my other email. As you
suggest, it works, but important features seem to be missing.

Celejar