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| CUPS Printing Problem Workaround | | Date Created: 20 Nov, 2004, 06:00 PM |
 This article will provide you with a workaround for the CUPS font and image download problems for shared printers using remote printing in OS X.
Before I go on, I have to quickly thank the good folks at Perfect Proof (makers of the ProofMaster RIP software) who shared this workaround with me. I have used this workaround on a few Macs running the ProofMaster RIP software (as well as a variation of this workaround on another, less than perfect hardware RIP) and it resolved some of my font downloading problems to these printers/RIPs.
One of the solutions my company resells is color proofing using the Epson Stylus Pro 4000 and the ProofMaster software. And when we moved to the OS X version of ProofMaster, we found that the fonts were not downloading to the ProofMaster printer queues the way that they had in earlier versions of the software in OS 9.
There is a known problem with fonts and images not being downloaded when sent to a printer using the automatic printer sharing used for remote printing in OS X. The problem is with the CUPS (Common UNIX Printing Systems) protocol and the way that handles (or rather doesn't handle) the downloading of fonts and/or images to these kinds of printers/queues.
The networked OS X machines will recognize the ProofMaster queues/printers as CUPS printer(s). The CUPS OS X library has this odd bug that puts a strange command line in the CUPS print job. And since a CUPS print job is generated on the receiver Mac, the sender Mac's commands "Fetch fonts @ localhost" and "Fetch images @ localhost" result in fonts and images (in the printed job) not being downloaded on the Mac running the ProofMaster RIP software.
The solution was to find a way to create a ProofMaster printer as a non-CUPS printer. This is the solution for Panther (10.3.x).
This workaround can be setup on the ProofMaster host workstation and/or the remote Macs...
1. Start the "Printer Setup Utility" (found in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on your hard drive). You will see the printer list (below). |
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2. Click with Option key pressed on Add icon on the toolbar of the Printer List window (above).
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3. In the the Add dialog box (above) you will notice at the bottom of the very top pull-down menu an extra Advanced option among the usual protocols. Select this one.
Note: The feature set available in this new Advanced dialog offer some useful options for other atypical or unusual printing workarounds. Please check back in the OS X Issues section of Font Geek in the future for more printing workarounds using this hidden option. |
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| 4. The window will change again. In this window (above), select Internet Printing Protocol using HTTP menu option from under the Device pull-down menu |
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5. Fill in the fields (as above). Feel free to change the name in the "Device Name" field. You should name it something that makes sense -- this is what the printer will show up as in your Printer List
In the "Device URL" field, you must type in your own settings. For this to work you must respect your local IP (the IP of the RIP Mac which can be found on the title bar of your ProofMaster Queue List window) and the queuename (the name of the ProofMaster queue in the Queue List window). |
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| 6. Then select the Other menu option in the Printer Model menu (above). |
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| 7. This will allow you to navigate in your Finder (above) and find the appropriate PPD (Parsed Printer Description) for the printer you are setting up. Choose the correct PPD and then click the Choose button. |
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| 8. Check all your settings and click on the Add button (above) to add your new non-CUPS printer. You will see your new printer show up in your printer list (below). |
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9. In order for this printer to work the ProofMaster software must be running. So if it isn't running turn it on. Then run a test print to this new printer locally and remotely to test the new printer. If it doesn't work, check your IP address and the rest of your settings and try it again.
Caution: Take care that if, during the creation process, a notification appears that new drivers are found; answer this with the Cancel button otherwise you will loose the Advanced options.
I hope this well hidden-secret of Mac OS X helps.
Resources: |
 If you're interested in learning more about CUPS you can find almost everything you want to know at http://www.cups.org run by the folks at Easy Software Products.
If you're interested in learning more about the Epson Stylus Pro 4000, you can read more about it on the Epson ProGraphics section of their website by clicking here. |
 If you're interested in learning more about the ProofMaster RIP software from Perfect Proof, you can find more information at http://proofmaster.net/. |
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