From: Andreas Klemm (andreas@myhost.subdomain.domain)
Date: 08/07/93


From: andreas@myhost.subdomain.domain (Andreas Klemm)
Subject: Re: Output devices for TeX
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 1993 09:34:25 GMT

In <1993Jul29.085928.14414@colorado.edu> atk@tigger.cs.colorado.edu (Alan Krantz) writes:

>This really isn't a Linux question but i'm curiuos if people have any
>suggestion for an output device (read laser printer) for TeX (as well as
>general output). Actually, the question really boils down to whether the
>printer should be postscript or Hp compatible. Postscript printers seem
>to run $400 or $500 dollars more for equivalent printing speed/brand
>(which is why this question is being asked). At school we have always
>used postscript printers connected to suns. A quick check with archie
>indicated that there are filters for hp language printers, though i have
>no idea how good they are. Any comments? (Please cc all replies to me as
>it appears some messages get lost when sent here (well at least they
>don't reach my eyes)...

What about a HP Deskjet or a similar printer.
vs. Laser: expensive, ozon output, ...
I use a deskjet 500 and it runs fine and it's laserjet compatible.

My way if doing tex:

latex file.tex
dvips file
  [MakeTeXPK creates missing tex pk-fonts]
   dvips is configured to print with "lpr -Pps"

I use the following printcap entry for ps on my Linux SLS 1.01:

ps|PS|ps_mode|HP Deskjet 500 with ghostscript as postscript filter:\
        :lp=/dev/lp1:\
        :sd=/var/spool/lp1:\
        :lf=/var/spool/lp1/lpd-errs:\
        :of=/home/files/lpd/psfilter:\
        :sh:\
        :mx#0:

The ps filter uses ghostscript to do the ps->deskjet500 conversion:

#! /bin/sh

# /usr/lib/lp/psfilter - postscript filter using gs as PS interpreter
#
# Andreas Klemm <andreas@knobel.GUN.de>
# Sun May 23 08:30:29 MET DST 1993

# The first arguments are -w<width> -l<length>
# We throw it away... We only want the ps data
shift ; shift

# stdin = ps data
# use ghostscript >2.5.2 to convert ps -> HP Deskjet 500
# stdout = HP Deskjet 500 commands ---> spool file
#
/usr/bin/gs -q -sDEVICE=deskjet -sPAPERSIZE=a4 -r300 -dNOPAUSE -sOutputFile=- -

That's it. My deskjet prints postscript ... prints dvi files in
a good quality ... prints man pages very well using groff
(groff -Tps -man xxx.1 | lpr -Pps)

It's also possible with any other printer that is supported by
ghostscript.

-- 
Andreas Klemm - 40469 Norf - Germany - phone: +49/ 2137 12609