Jean Hollis Weber wrote:
That's what I want, but what printer driver do you need to have
installed in order to get a PostScript file? (Keeping in mind that I'm
using Linux.)
From my understanding, it should allow you to create a postscript file
from any printer driver that supports postscript printing. I think
under Linux, the most common printer drivers are installed with CUPS,
though I think HP does a separate printing setup for their printers for
Linux. There are probably also a few rarer drivers that have
installable driver packages for your distribution.
Some printers support additional postscript options, so printer
manufacturers will provide separate drivers for people who are creating
postscript files for their printers. I think, particularly for POD
services, they may be using larger Xerox digital printing systems, or
other Raster Image Processors, maybe from SGI or Xerox, that will
require the use of specialized drivers. For those types of things you
almost always have to go to the manufacturer's website for the drivers
or at least a Postscript Printer Description (PPD) file to setup a
virtual printer.
For example, on my Ubuntu machine, I can go into my Administrative
settings and with the Printer Configuration tool, setup a virtual printer:
Select "New Printer"
Select "Print into PDF file" and Forward
Scroll down and select "Xerox" and Forward (note if you download a PPD
from a website you can select a file)
Scroll down and select the "Phaser 3420" (top PPD) and Forward
In the first field, just append "_3420" (without quotes, obviously ;) )
In the second field, give it a name like "Xerox Phaser 3420 Virtual Printer"
Hit Apply.
Now, when I go into OOo, I can select File > Print, and the printer will
be available from my list. Selecting the "Properties" button, under the
"Device" tab, will show me what postscript options are available from
that printer's PPD under the "Options" column. Each printer's PPD
should offer any available postscript options under this tab. When you
select the "Print to File" option, and save the PS file, it should use
the PPD to create the postscript file. Using Acrobat later is a matter
of creating the PDF from that postscript output. They call it
distilling, because it used to be 3 separate programs; Acrobat Distiller
for creating a PDF from a postscript, Acrobat Reader for simply viewing,
and Acrobat Exchange for advanced stuff.
At least, that's my understanding of how it all comes together. It's
pretty much the same for other Operating Systems.
In response to Gary, I'm not sure off-hand about the PDF as a default
option. I have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on my Ubuntu machine, my
Mac, and Windows XP as well, so I couldn't tell you if those drivers
were installed, and possibly a printer setup for me by default when
Reader was installed. Under Linux, though, CUPS does provide a print to
PDF option by itself, and I'm inclined to say that some distributions
may setup a PDF print to file printer as part of the install process,
though it may not be standard across the board.
Thanks,
Sak.
