[cups.general] CUPS INFO

[Michael R Sweet]

Ved Prakash wrote:
> ...
> 1. Suppose i am adding a new usb printer only ".ppd" is enough for   proper working of usb printer? Because in linux every hardware interaction is done through "driver".

The PPD file describes the printer features and any needed driver
(filter) programs needed to print to that printer.

> 2. What is the difference between "driver" & "ppd"?

See above for the PPD.

A "driver" is a filter program that CUPS runs to convert the print
job into a printable format.  Typically CUPS printer drivers accept
CUPS raster data (application/vnd.cups-raster) and produce the
corresponding printer data.

> 3. In latest cups whether ghostscript is also available or removed?

Ghostscript has not been part of CUPS since CUPS 1.1.

> 4. What ghostscript does? Whether it contain all the drivers required for the printers. or

Ghostscript converts PostScript print jobs to a generic raster format
that can be used by CUPS raster printer driver filters.

> 5. Generic printer drivers are used for the interaction?

They can be for some printers.  For example, PostScript printers and
PCL laser printers typically can be driven by a generic PPD file and
(in the case of PCL laser printers) the rastertohp filter included
with CUPS.

However, most inkjet printers require their own printer drivers to
work.  Free software like Gutenprint and HPLIP do this for many of
the major brands...

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Michael R Sweet                        Senior Printing System Engineer