gimp-print URL: http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/ Obsolete, replacement: gutenprint Manufacturer-supplied: No Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Driver type: CUPS Raster Comments: Gimp-Print supports a wide variety of Epson Stylus, HP DeskJet, LaserJet, Canon BubbleJet, Lexmark inkjet printers, with the primary goal being uncompromising quality. Epson Stylus printers in particular are supported in all resolutions and modes, and the latest printers are capable of producing prints that rival photographic prints in quality. This package also offers much faster printing for high quality text and presentation graphics when required.

The actual printer drivers are in the Gimp-Print library. To give access to them Gimp-Print has various interfaces:

  1. Plug-in for the GIMP: This plug-in provides a printing dialog for the GIMP to print images directly, and graphical controls to adjust the rich set of options of the Gimp-Print drivers. The possibility to integrate a PPD file and to print PostScript allows to use the plug-in also with Ghostscript drivers other than Gimp-Print or on PostScript printers.

  2. Native CUPS driver: This interface makes it possible to set up print queues under CUPS so that one can print from any application or from the command line. As it integrates directlty into the CUPS filtering system it is easy to set up in any CUPS 1.1.x version without need of any additional software. With Foomatic it is even possible to use this native CUPS driver with other spoolers than CUPS.

  3. Ghostscript IJS plug-in: This is a way use Gimp-Print as a Ghostscript driver without necessity of patching and recompiling Ghostscript. It uses the IJS plug-in interface as also HPIJS from HP or the drivers for the Epson EPL-....L series do. IJS drivers can be used with any IJS enabled Ghostscript as ESP Ghostscript 7.x or newer, GNU Ghostscript 6.53 or newer, APFL Ghostscript 7.04 or newer. With the Foomatic data coming with Gimp-Print and the current Foomatic packages PPD files for use with all printing systems (CUPS, LPRng, LPD, GNUlpr, PPR, PDQ, CPS, spooler-less printing) can be generated. Print queues set up with these PPD files and foomatic-rip give full access to all options of the Gimp-Print driver.

  4. Ghostscript built-in driver: This is a classical Ghostscript driver based on code compiled into the Ghostscript executable. The Gimp-Print package also contains the Foomatic data to generate PPDs for this driver. Note that the IJS driver gives the same functionality and is much easier to install. Therefore this interface of Gimp-Print is obsolete and not part of Gimp-Print 4.3 (upcoming 5.0) any more.

The Gimp-Print package already ships with all needed PPD files for CUPS and data files for Foomatic. Therefore we do not provide PPD files for download here.

If you got Gimp-Print with your operating system distribution, use the printer setup program coming with your distribution. Otherwise it is recommended to use the CUPS driver if you use CUPS as your printing system or the IJS driver if you use another spooler. Do not use the Ghostscript built-in driver "stp" as it is obsolete.

IMPORTANT: Always use the Foomatic data and/or PPD files of the Gimp-Print version which you are actually using! Remove and re-create your print queues after every update of Gimp-Print. If you are using the Gimp-Print package of your Linux distribution, it is possible that the Foomatic data and/or the PPD files can be in separate packages. Make sure you install them and that they are of the version corresponding to your Gimp-Print package.

The information currently here corresponds to driver version 4.2.7. If you use another version, have a look in the documentation coming with your Gimp-Print package. If you have still a 4.0.x version of Gimp-Print, it is highly recommended to upgrade to 4.2.x.

gutenprint URL: http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/ Supplier: Gutenprint project Manufacturer-supplied: No License: GPL Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Support contact: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/gimp-print-devel, Gutenprint mailing list at SourceForge (voluntary) Short Description: Top Quality Printer Drivers for inkjets, dye sublimation printers, and PCL lasers Driver type: CUPS Raster Color output: Yes Text printing support: 90 Line art printing support: 90 Graphics printing support: 100 Photo printing support: 100 Rendering speed: 60 Comments: This driver is available in the Gutenprint Printer Application

Gutenprint supports a wide variety of Epson Stylus, HP DeskJet, Canon BubbleJet, Lexmark inkjet printers, PCL laser printers, and Canon, Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus dye sublimation printers. Its primary goal is uncompromising quality. Epson Stylus printers in particular are supported in all resolutions and modes, and the latest printers are capable of producing prints that rival photographic prints in quality. This package also offers much faster printing for high quality text and presentation graphics when required.

Gutenprint is the successor of Gimp-Print, it was renamed with the change from version 4.x to 5.x. All printers which worked with Gimp-Print before, work also (and hopefully better) with Gutenprint.

The actual printer drivers are in the Gutenprint library. To give access to them Gutenprint has various interfaces:

  1. Plug-in for the GIMP: This plug-in provides a printing dialog for the GIMP to print images directly, and graphical controls to adjust the rich set of options of the Gutenprint drivers. The possibility to integrate a PPD file and to print PostScript allows to use the plug-in also with Ghostscript drivers other than Gutenprint or on PostScript printers.

  2. Native CUPS driver: This interface makes it possible to set up print queues under CUPS so that one can print from any application or from the command line. As it integrates directlty into the CUPS filtering system it is easy to set up in any CUPS 1.1.x or CUPS 1.2.x version without need of any additional software. With Foomatic it is even possible to use this native CUPS driver with other spoolers than CUPS.

  3. Ghostscript IJS plug-in: This is a way to use Gutenprint as a Ghostscript driver without necessity of patching and recompiling Ghostscript. It uses the IJS plug-in interface as also HPIJS from HP or the drivers for the Epson EPL-....L series do. IJS drivers can be used with any IJS-enabled Ghostscript as ESP Ghostscript 7.x or newer, GNU Ghostscript 6.53 or newer, APFL Ghostscript 7.04 or newer. With the Foomatic data coming with Gutenprint and the current Foomatic packages PPD files for use with all printing systems (CUPS, LPRng, LPD, GNUlpr, PPR, PDQ, CPS, spooler-less printing) can be generated. Print queues set up with these PPD files and foomatic-rip give full access to all options of the Gutenprint driver.

The Gutenprint package already ships with all needed PPD files for CUPS and data files for Foomatic. Therefore we do not provide PPD files for download here.

If you got Gutenprint with your operating system distribution, use the printer setup program coming with your distribution. Otherwise it is recommended to use the CUPS driver if you use CUPS as your printing system or the IJS driver if you use another spooler.

IMPORTANT: Always use the Foomatic data and/or PPD files of the Gutenprint version which you are actually using! Remove and re-create your print queues after every update of Gutenprint. If you are using the Gutenprint package of your Linux distribution, it is possible that the Foomatic data and/or the PPD files can be in separate packages. Make sure you install them and that they are of the version corresponding to your Gutenprint package.

The information currently here corresponds to driver version 5.2.7. If you use another version, have a look in the documentation coming with your Gutenprint package. If you have still a 4.x version of Gimp-Print, it is highly recommended to upgrade at least to Gutenprint 5.0.x.

The driver package which is available for download here on this site only contains the CUPS driver and the utilities (escputil, cups-calibrate), it does not contain the IJS driver and the GIMP plug-in.

Packages for i486 File: openprinting-gutenprint-5.2.7-1lsb3.2.i486.rpm URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS/i486/openprinting-gutenprint-5.2.7-1lsb3.2.i486.rpm Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.2.7 Version: 5.2.7 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.2 Sorting index: 5.2.7_1_3.2 Link text: 5.2.7 (RPM for LSB 3.2) Architecture: i486 Packaging System: rpm Scope: general Repositories yum: [openprinting-gutenprint-driver] name=OpenPrinting LSB-3.2-based driver packages of "gutenprint" baseurl=http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS enabled=1 gpgcheck=0 zypper: zypper addrepo -c -t rpm-md -n 'gutenprint' http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS/ gutenprint File: openprinting-gutenprint_5.2.7-1lsb3.2_i386.deb URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/dists/lsb3.2/contrib/binary-i386/openprinting-gutenprint_5.2.7-1lsb3.2_i386.deb Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.2.7 Version: 5.2.7 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.2 Sorting index: 5.2.7_1_3.2 Link text: 5.2.7 (DEB for LSB 3.2) Architecture: i386 Packaging System: deb Scope: general Repositories apt: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.2 contrib File: gutenprint-5.0.1-1lsb3.1.i486.rpm URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS/i486/gutenprint-5.0.1-1lsb3.1.i486.rpm Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.0.1 Version: 5.0.1 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.1 Sorting index: 5.0.1_1_3.1 Link text: 5.0.1 (RPM for LSB 3.1) Architecture: i486 Packaging System: rpm Scope: general Repositories yum: [gutenprint-driver] name=OpenPrinting LSB-3.1-based driver packages of "gutenprint" baseurl=http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS enabled=1 gpgcheck=0 zypper: zypper addrepo -c -t rpm-md -n 'gutenprint' http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS/ gutenprint File: gutenprint_5.0.1-1lsb3.1_i386.deb URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/dists/lsb3.1/gutenprint/binary-i386/gutenprint_5.0.1-1lsb3.1_i386.deb Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.0.1 Version: 5.0.1 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.1 Sorting index: 5.0.1_1_3.1 Link text: 5.0.1 (DEB for LSB 3.1) Architecture: i386 Packaging System: deb Scope: general Repositories apt: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.1 gutenprint Packages for x86_64 File: openprinting-gutenprint-5.2.7-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS/x86_64/openprinting-gutenprint-5.2.7-1lsb3.2.x86_64.rpm Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.2.7 Version: 5.2.7 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.2 Sorting index: 5.2.7_1_3.2 Link text: 5.2.7 (RPM for LSB 3.2) Architecture: x86_64 Packaging System: rpm Scope: general Repositories yum: [openprinting-gutenprint-driver] name=OpenPrinting LSB-3.2-based driver packages of "gutenprint" baseurl=http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS enabled=1 gpgcheck=0 zypper: zypper addrepo -c -t rpm-md -n 'gutenprint' http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.2/contrib/RPMS/ gutenprint File: openprinting-gutenprint_5.2.7-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/dists/lsb3.2/contrib/binary-amd64/openprinting-gutenprint_5.2.7-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.2.7 Version: 5.2.7 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.2 Sorting index: 5.2.7_1_3.2 Link text: 5.2.7 (DEB for LSB 3.2) Architecture: amd64 Packaging System: deb Scope: general Repositories apt: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.2 contrib File: gutenprint-5.0.1-1lsb3.1.x86_64.rpm URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS/x86_64/gutenprint-5.0.1-1lsb3.1.x86_64.rpm Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.0.1 Version: 5.0.1 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.1 Sorting index: 5.0.1_1_3.1 Link text: 5.0.1 (RPM for LSB 3.1) Architecture: x86_64 Packaging System: rpm Scope: general Repositories yum: [gutenprint-driver] name=OpenPrinting LSB-3.1-based driver packages of "gutenprint" baseurl=http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS enabled=1 gpgcheck=0 zypper: zypper addrepo -c -t rpm-md -n 'gutenprint' http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/components/lsb3.1/gutenprint/RPMS/ gutenprint File: gutenprint_5.0.1-1lsb3.1_amd64.deb URL: http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/dists/lsb3.1/gutenprint/binary-amd64/gutenprint_5.0.1-1lsb3.1_amd64.deb Signature key fingerprint: https://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/keys/openprinting Real Version: 5.0.1 Version: 5.0.1 Release: 1 LSB version: 3.1 Sorting index: 5.0.1_1_3.1 Link text: 5.0.1 (DEB for LSB 3.1) Architecture: amd64 Packaging System: deb Scope: general Repositories apt: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.1 gutenprint hplip* URL: https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing Supplier: Hewlett-Packard Manufacturer-supplied: Yes License: MIT/BSD/GPL Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Support contact: https://launchpad.net/hplip, HPLIP support and bug tracking system (voluntary) Short Description: HP's driver suite for printers and multi-function devices Driver type: CUPS Raster Max. X Resolution: 600 Max. Y Resolution: 600 Color output: No Text printing support: 100 Line art printing support: 100 Graphics printing support: 100 Photo printing support: 100 Rendering speed: 70 Comments: This driver is available in the HPLIP Printer Application

HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) is an HP-developed solution for printing, scanning, and faxing with HP inkjet and laser based printers in Linux. The HPLIP project provides printing support for over 3000 printer models, including Deskjet, Officejet, Photosmart, PSC (Print, Scan, Copy), Business Inkjet, Envy, NeverStop, Smart Tank, Tango, DesignJet, (Color) LaserJet, Mopier, Edgeline MFP, and LaserJet MFP.

Note that most HP models are supported, but a few are not. See Supported Devices at the HPLIP website for more information.

HPLIP is free, open source software distributed under the MIT, BSD, and GPL licenses. HP does not provide formal consumer or commercial support for this software.

HPLIP contains two flavors of the printer driver. The default driver is the CUPS Raster driver "hpcups" and as alternative the older IJS-based HPIJS driver is still available, but its development and support has been discontinued. In addition there are ready-made PPD files for all supported PostScript printers, so that they get used in PostScript mode. HPLIP ships updated PPD files for all HP printers and both driver flavors. Therefore we do not provide PPD files here. For non-HP printers which work with HPIJS we provide PPDs via the driver entries "hpijs-pcl3", "hpijs-pcl5e", "hpijs-pcl5c".

lj4dith URL: http://www.ghostscript.com/ Manufacturer-supplied: No Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Driver type: Ghostscript built-in Comments: This driver is available in the Ghostscript Printer Application

Replacement for the ljet4 Ghostscript driver intended to enhance the image output quality with Floyd-Steinberg dithering. Unfortunately, this driver has problems with the margins. The document is not placed exactly at the same position as with the "ljet4" driver. The page seems to be shifted to the upper right, probably due to the upper and right unprintable borders not taken into account. Therefore the driver is not used any more together with "ljet4" in the same PPD files, with an option to switch between the two.

To get higher output quality you can set Well-Tempered screening when you use the "ljet4" driver with Ghostscript 8.x or later, which is the recommended replacement for "lj4dith". Or use HPIJS or Gimp-Print.

ljet4 URL: http://www.ghostscript.com/ Supplier: GPL Ghostscript Manufacturer-supplied: No License: GPL Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Support contact: http://forums.openprinting.org/, OpenPrinting forums (voluntary) Short Description: Built-in Ghostscript driver for PCL 5e laser printers Driver type: Ghostscript built-in Max. X Resolution: 600 Max. Y Resolution: 600 Color output: No Text printing support: 90 Line art printing support: 90 Graphics printing support: 60 Photo printing support: 30 Rendering speed: 90 Comments: This driver is available in the Ghostscript Printer Application

Ghostscript's HP LaserJet 4 (PCL 5e) driver.

"ljet4" is the classical Ghostscript driver for PCL 5e printers. It is probably widely used, as it is part of Ghostscript and does not require any extra software, but before Ghostscript 8.x its output quality was lousy and one has searched for alternative drivers. From Ghostscript 8.x the well-tempered screening was introduced which gives much better quality for half-tone images. You can make use of it by downloading the PPD file for your printer here and using the "HalftoningAlgorithm" option.

The "lj4dith" Ghostscript driver which uses Floyd-Steinberg dithering to improve the image output quality. Unfortunately, this driver has problems with the margins. The document is not placed exactly at the same position as with the "ljet4" driver. The page seems to be shifted to the upper right, probably due to the upper and right unprintable borders not taken into account. Formerly, you could use the driver with the same PPD file as "ljet4", simply by switching an option, but we have removed this feature due to the paper size problem. Use Well-Tempered screening if you want to enhance the image printing quality.

Use the "ljet4d" Ghostscript driver for Duplex (double-sided printing) support.

A Ghostscript bug in the driver breaks paper input tray selection. This patch for GPL Ghostscript 8.63 fixes the problem and allows to set the input tray with the "-dMediaPosition=X" commmand line option for Ghostscript. "X" is an integer number which depends on the printer model and tray. For HP "0" is usually the printer default, "7" automatic selection, "2" manual feed, "1" the upper, and "4" the lower tray. Note that for PCL 6/XL these numbers are different. The patch is required for Ghostscript 8.63 and older so that tray selection with the PPDs of this site works. The bug is fixed in Ghostscript 8.64 or newer.

A good PCL 5e driver is HPIJS which is developed by HP to support their non-PostScript laser printers. Gutenprint supports even PCL 4, 5, and 5e so that it serves as an alternative driver even for older printers. Gutenprint has many dithering algorithms to choose, but most are optimized for inkjets.

Note that many printers listed as supported by this driver also understand PCL-XL and so they can be used with the "lj5gray" and "pxlmono"/"pxlcolor" drivers which give a much higher output quality and resolutions up to 1200 dpi,

Unfortunately, the PCL drivers are not always absolutely compatible with every printer. omni URL: http://omniprint.sourceforge.net/ Manufacturer-supplied: No Free Software: Yes Patented algorithms: No Driver type: Ghostscript built-in Comments: NOTE: It seems that IBM is not maintaining any more the Omni printer driver framework, as the driver homepage at IBM and any mention of it on IBM's web sites disappeared. There is still a SourceForge project where version 0.9.2 was added as the last release in September 2004.

To keep this repository of technology, especially its excellent XML-data-driven concept and also the knowledge about the more than 450 printers Omni supported, in mind of users and driver developers, we have added this entry now.

We do not recommend to use Omni in production environments and also do not develop on or maintain the project. Volunteers for continuing this development are welcome. And anyway, this code is free software and so it can help you developing your own drivers.

Thanks to IBM and Mark Hamzy, Pete Zannucci, and Mark VanderWiele for working out this great concept!

IBM's free Ghostscript driver project to support arround 450 printers, based on the knowledge about these printers of OS/2 times. The drivers itself are in dynamic libraries and nearly all printer information they work with is in an XML database, so that when the driver root is once built into Ghostscript, new drivers can be added without Ghostscript rebuild (the first plug-in approach for Ghostscript drivers).

Omni provides a model for dynamically loading printer drivers, creating new devices by editing XML device description files, and simplifies new printer driver development by allowing for the subclassing of previous device features.

It was also planned to add run-time integration of printers described by UPDF files. Initial code for that is already in the package.

Foomatic data and CUPS PPD files are built by the driver package. The versions 0.9.1 and 0.9.2 of Omni you find also here.