Linux is an operating system which is similar to UNIX. It is a low cost alternative to Windows and Macintosh operating systems, and it is reputed to be extremely efficient and fast performing. With respect to its
printing capability, the Linux printing system works like magic. The Linux software which handles
printing is very flexible, and it facilitates a variety of
print formatting options.
The
printing processin Linux is initiated by the application which invokes the printing client software. Subsequently, the file that is to be printed is passed on to the printing spooler, and then through a number of print filters before it is finally sent to the printing device. Although Linux applications can support several printing formats, text is the most commonly used format.
Pine is one such application that prints plain ASCII text. There are also certain X-Windows based applications which support the printing of graphics and
photos. Adobe
Postscript is a portable printer language that was developed during the 1980s, and it is still the most widely used page description language supported in Linux. Additionally, with the help of an emulator program, Ghostscript, Postscript's portability is well-achieved. Many applications can print in a printer's native format or invoke Postscript for printing.
Currently, HP provides Linux printing support for several
HP printers, and most of the
Epson Inkjet printers are Linux compatible.
When data needs to be sent to the Linux printing system, a program called the Lpr is called by most applications. The Lpr will in turn send the file to the local print spooler. Lpd, on the other hand, is Linux's print spooler daemon. The Lpd starts when the Linux OS boots up, and it accepts a job when a print request is made from a local print client or a computer from the
network. Finally, after the file is processed and filtered, it will be all set to get printed.
The Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS) is a printing system which allows a computer to act as a server. This makes it possible for the computer running CUPS to act as a
print server, accepting and processing print jobs from client computers. For printing jobs in a large network, every printer should have just one point of control, wherein an administrator takes charge of the pausing and reordering of printing requests. This can be possible if everyone prints to a local server, which queues the jobs and redirects them to the appropriate printer. In large organizations and campuses, it is ideal to have a single server for each building.
The quality of a printed document as well as the size, color, and aspect ratio of a printed image are dependent on the printer-specific
driverin Ghostscript. Therefore, if you find a flaw in the printed page, the best way to get it rectified is to look at the source module of your driver and make adjustments to the parameters.
The Linux printing system is designed in a way which makes the printing of
fax, photos, documents, and graphics hassle-free for the end users. Nonetheless, a clear understanding of the process enables the end user to debug printing problems more efficiently.
This was written by
Clickinks.com the home of Printer inks and Laser Toner
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