Thread View: adobe.postscript.programming
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Started by Paul_Fread
Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:31
Does Mac only speak Post Script to Printers?
Author: Paul_Fread
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:31
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 22:31
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I work for an architecture firm and we are in the market for a large format printer. We were thinking something along the lines of the HP DesignJet 500, 800 or 1055cmPlus. We require both Mac and PC compatibility as well as graphic intensive images and CAD/linework capacity. While reviewing the specs for these models it seemed that only HPs "ps" models were Mac compatible, why is this? What is the difference between print drivers and print languages? I asked HP Direct these questions and two of there support guys gave me conflicting answers. You seem to know what you are talking about, so could you enlighten me? Thanks -Paul
Re: Does Mac only speak Post Script to Printers?
Author: Aandi_Inston
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 08:00
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 08:00
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To oversimplify: Talking to a printer requries both a printer driver and a printer controller. The printer driver runs on your computer, while the printer controller runs inside the printer. A printer might, in effect, have multiple controllers which talk different languages. So, the manufacturer would make the printer controller just once, but someone needs to make a printer driver for each system (Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 are different systems; Windows 9x and Windows NT/2000/XP are different systems). And the PostScript driver for systems already exists, manufacturers don't have to make it. Many more drivers have been written for Windows, so your ability to use printers in the Mac is more limited. There are two main reasons for this 1. Commercial - there is more money in selling printers for Windows. Apple's update to Mac OS X has compounded this because manufacturers may have written drivers years ago for Mac OS 9 and kept selling them, with minor updates for new models; but they don't want the investment of a new Mac OS X driver. 2. Historical - PostScript is much more associated with the Mac. More Mac users buy PostScript. More Mac applications expect or work best with PostScript. So, if they say a printer is not compatible with the Mac, believe them. It means the driver doesn't exist. Aandi Inston
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