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Printing in OS X

On the page, we will include all we know about printing and plotting in OS X with PowerCADD 6. Most of what we will discuss here applies to large-format ink-jet plotters, but all of this may be used for smaller printers as well. Executive Summary PostScript Printer/Plotters. If you have a large format inkjet plotter with PostScript built into the plotter, then printing in OS X from PowerCADD 6 will not be a problem as it is handled by the Laserwriter Driver. Plain Vanilla Printer/Plotters. In the past, these plotters have required a plotter driver program (PowerPlot, Microspot, etc.) to print. Essentially all of these machines can be used in OS X by using Gimp-Print, ESP Pro or Microspot X-RIP. The output is as good or better than with PostScript, and will certainly be better than these plotters have ever produced before. Gimp-Print is free, thus you no longer have to buy anything to print on one of these wide-format plotters. Printer/Plotters with software PostScript RIPs. Chances are that the PostScript RIPs will not work in OS X. Indeed, most have worked poorly in the past, so the best solution for these plotters will probably be to abandon the PostScript RIP and use Gimp-Print, ESP Pro or Microspot X-RIP. Printer/Plotters with OS X Drivers. These new-generation printer/plotters deliver the equivalent of PostScript printing and are the easiest to set up and use. First examples are the HP DesignJet 100/120 series discussed below.

Gimp-Print About Gimp-Print Gimp-Print is an open-source print driver for OS X. Full information on Gimp-Print can be found at the Gimp-Print website which includes a list of supported printers and plotters. Gimp-Print and USB Printers. The situation here is pretty simple. Examples: USB Epson 3000 Gimp-Print and TCP/IP. Most of us have our wide-format plotters on an ethernet network. To print, your printer must be set to a static IP address. This is the most difficult part of setting up your printer, and it's not very difficult at all. Some Basics How Printers Work TCP/IP Basics Print Servers Step 1. Set your printer to a static IP address, and write this IP address down. How To: JetDirect 300X Step 2. Download Gimp-Print from the Gimp-Print website. Gimp-Print Website Step 3. Create a printer with Gimp-Print. HP 250C Example Step 4. Print. Reports Epson 1520

ESP Print Pro Easy Software http://www.easysw.com/ just announced a CUPS printing solution for Mac OSX for most printers. It seems to include the HP 500 PS driver as well. It costs only $49.00 for a standalone download. I haven't tried it yet, but will soon. Gary Tilson Reports HP 250C Example

Microspot X-RIP About Microspot X-RIP Microspot X-RIP is a plotter/printer driver. Information is available at http://www.macroenter.com/xrip.html and we will publish reports here as they come in. Reports HP 250C Example

HP DesignJet 100 / 120 Hewlett Packard offers the DesignJet 100 and 120 wide-format inkjet plotters that come with drivers for OS X. Although these are not advertised as 'PostScript' plotters, in fact they offer the exact same quality of output and appear to be a good marriage of OS X, Quartz and Hewlett-Packard plotters. Reports HP DesignJet 100

Landscape Printing on HP Plotters Here's a way to set up landscape printing with a HP plotter.