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Foomatic is a configurable printing filter. It uses PostScript Printer Description, PPD files as configuration to generate appropriate output for a given printer. It is spooler independent which means it can be used with Common Unix Printing System (CUPS), LPRng and others. It uses Ghostscript in the background, using options according to the PPD file of the printer. Currently it is developed by the OpenPrinting workgroup of the Linux Foundation.
pxlmono
an
pxlcolor
to work with HP LaserJets
ljet4
also for LaserJet printers
for Printer Command Language, PCL inkjet printers
SpliX
for Samsung Printer Language
gdi
for Samsung SmartGDI
ptouch-driver
for Brother P-touch series of label printers
SourceForge page
* Solaris LP * PPR * CPS * Direct printing (no spooler)
Foomatic page
Computer printing Linux
Foomatic is a configurable printing filter. It uses PostScript Printer Description, PPD files as configuration to generate appropriate output for a given printer. It is spooler independent which means it can be used with Common Unix Printing System (CUPS), LPRng and others. It uses Ghostscript in the background, using options according to the PPD file of the printer. Currently it is developed by the OpenPrinting workgroup of the Linux Foundation.
Operation
Like CUPS, foomatic supposes that applications will produce output in PostScript. If the output spools to a PostScript printer, no further action is needed. Otherwise, the most generic way to act is: * Create a Raster graphics, raster file from the PostScript (ps2raster, usually using Ghostscript in the background) * Create a printer language, printer-language file from the raster data (raster2xxx, using the raster driver of the target printer) * Send the printer-language file to the printer But if foomatic-rip "knows" about the available printer, it will translate the PostScript data directly to the printer's language, without creating the intermediate raster file.Description of the package
The components of the package are: ;foomatic-filters (or "foomatic-rip") :It transforms PostScript data to raster (or to the printer's native language), using the PPD as configuration. It needs a low level driver (specific to each printer) to generate the final code. ;foomatic-tools :foomatic-db-engine: A tool that generates PPD files from the data in Foomatic's database. It also contains scripts to directly configure print queues and handle jobs. :foomatic-db: The collected knowledge about printers, drivers, and driver options in XML files, used by foomatic-db-engine to generate PPD files. :foomatic-db-hpijs: Foomatic XML data generators for HP's HPIJS driver.Free drivers that can interface with foomatic
The following free drivers were specifically developed to work with foomatic:pxlmono
an
pxlcolor
to work with HP LaserJets
ljet4
also for LaserJet printers
for Printer Command Language, PCL inkjet printers
SpliX
for Samsung Printer Language
gdi
for Samsung SmartGDI
ptouch-driver
for Brother P-touch series of label printers
Spoolers that can interact with foomatic
* CUPS * LPRng * Line Printer Daemon protocol, LPD * GNUlpr (see itSourceForge page
* Solaris LP * PPR * CPS * Direct printing (no spooler)
References
External links
{{Portal, Free and open-source softwareFoomatic page
Computer printing Linux