Running Linux, 5th Edition - Matthias Kalle Dalheimer [284]
If your printer doesn't generate any output at all, consult the section "Printer Troubleshooting," later in this chapter.
Fine-Tuning Printer Definitions
Most modern printers provide options that affect print quality and style. These features include variable resolution, ink- or toner-saving modes, printing modes optimized to particular types of paper, and so on. CUPS provides a way to set defaults for these features for a given queue. From the main print queue list page in the web-based CUPS configuration (Figure 14-3), click Configure Printer in the area for the printer you want to modify. The result is a list of options you can set, as shown in Figure 14-5.
The list of options available for any given printer varies greatly from one printer to another. Some common options you might want to investigate include the following:
Output Mode
This option sets the color options for the printer: whether it prints in color or black and white, and if in color, how it encodes color information. For most color printers, RGB Color is the best choice.
Print Quality
This option describes print resolution in imprecise verbal terms (Economy, Standard, High, and so on).
Resolution
You can set the print resolution in precise numeric terms using this option. Many printers support different horizontal and vertical resolutions. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the resolution, the slower the printing, particularly for inkjet printers.
Figure 14-5. CUPS enables you to fine-tune the configuration for each of your print queues
Media Size
You can tell CUPS what size paper you use with this option. Be sure to check it, because it has a habit of setting itself to the wrong size when you first install a printer.
Media Source
Many printers support multiple paper feeds, and this option lets you tell CUPS which one to use by default.
Media Type
This option lets you tell CUPS about the type of paper you're using. This feature can be particularly important for inkjet printers, because different papers absorb ink in different ways. When CUPS knows what type of paper you're using, it can have Ghostscript adjust its output to suit the paper.
Output Order
Depending on the printer's design, multipage documents may print in such a way that the complete stack is backwards. You can set this option to correct for this problem by having the document print backwards, if you like.
Duplexing and paper handling
Some drivers enable you to turn on duplexing (printing on both sides of the paper) and other advanced paper-handling options.
Color and brightness options
Many options relate to the brightness, saturation, and color balance of the output of color printers. These options vary from one printer to another. You may need to experiment with these options to find what works best for you.
Dithering options
Ghostscript dithers its output—that is, when it's told to print a particular color, it's likely to print a pattern of several different ink colors. The reason is simple: color printers have just a few colors at their disposal, so to match a given color, two or more must be combined in a pattern. Certain dithering algorithms work better for particular applications than others, and personal preference can also play a role. Thus, CUPS lets you tell Ghostscript what dithering algorithm to use. As with color and brightness options, you may need to experiment to determine what works best for you.
Specialty print options
Some printers support borderless (edge-to-edge) printing, printing on CD-R and DVD-R media, and other special options. You can set these options if your Ghostscript