Re: [Gimp-print-devel] Re: HP DeskJet 9xx support?

[Dave H. <da...@mi...>]

Robert L Krawitz wrote:
> 
>    Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2000 13:05:44 -0500 (EST)
>    From: Eddie Maddox <ed...@mn...>
> 
>    I'm new to GIMP. I also just bought an HP DeskJet 952C printer. All the
>    9xx models support 2400x1200 resolution and the use of both premium and
>    real photographic paper.
> 
>    The GIMP 1.0.4 print config does not have the HP 900 series listed.  So, I
>    found that the 600 series is, for now, the next best to select. But it
>    only has 600x600.  Nor does it list photographic paper, only plain and
>    premium.
> 
>    Does HP publish the PCL (Printer Control Language) docs still? Or a
>    Technical Reference Manual? How may I obtain such? (I can't write code,
>    but I write little shell scripts some times.)
> 
>    So, when can we expect the next stable GIMP release with HP DeskJet 9xx
>    support?
> 
> Eddie,
> 
> I've forwarded this to gim...@so..., where we're
> working on the next generation Gimp print plugin.
> 

Hi Eddie

I am currently looking after the PCL driver for Gimp Print,
mainly to make sure that it carries on working!

Adding "photo" to the list of paper types is easy (I'll submit
it asap).

Adding extra resolutions is also easy, but the difficult bits are
the rest, for example:-

1/ I assume that the 900 series is two-cartridge (i.e. Black and CMY).
Do you know if there are any printers in the range that do NOT
use two carts? (e.g. my DJ 600 is single cart, but others in the
6xx range are two cart).

2/ There is currently no support for "photo ink" cartridges.

3/ Do you know how many levels of dither the 900 series supports?
The current driver does 2 level dithers only unless you select
the Deskjet 800 at 300 dpi (does this work on your printer?)
This is called "CRet" printing in the HP documentation.
I know that "PhotoRet" now exists, but I have no info on it (see
2/ above!).

4/ How many ink colours does the colour cartridge have? Is it just
CMY or are there "light" versions as well.

5/ What resolutions does your printer support? 

If you can provide me with some information I can put code in
for you to test.

I found that a good place to look for information about the HP
printers is in the Ghostscript driver by Martin Lottermoser at
ftp://ftp.sbs.de/pub/graphics/ghostscript/pcl3/pcl3.html
He has been through most, if not all, of the HP documentation
(and support people!) and gleaned as much of the information
as he could. Reading his comments it appears that much of the
HP documentation is out-of-date.

Dave Hill

-- 
Dave Hill, Kempston, Bedford UK		da...@mi...
				davehill at users.sourceforge.net
Sicth munce ago, I cutn't evun spel enjuneer, and now I are one!