- Foomatic
Foomatic is a configurable printing filter. It uses PPD files as configuration to generate appropriate output for a given printer. It is intended to be used with the
Common Unix Printing System (CUPS). It usesghostscript in the background, using options according to the PPD file of the printer.Currently it is developed by the
OpenPrinting workgroup of theLinux Foundation .Description of the package
The components of the package are:
;foomatic-filter (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 and pxlcolor, to work with
HP LaserJet s
* ljet4, also for LaserJet printers [http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/doc/printer.htm]
* hpijs, for PCL inkjet printers [http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/samsung-gdi/]
* splix, forSamsung Printer Language [http://splix.ap2c.org/]
* gdi, forSamsung SmartGDI [http://www.openprinting.org/download/printing/samsung-gdi/]poolers that can interact with foomatic
*
CUPS
*LPRng
*LPD
*GNUlpr
*Solaris LP
*PPR
*PDQ
*CPS
*Direct printing (no spooler)How it works
As everything under CUPS, foomatic supposes that applications will produce output in Postscript. If the output is sent to a Postscript printer, no further action is needed. Otherwise, the most generic way to act is:
* Create a raster file from the Postscript (ps2raster, usually using ghostscript in the background)
* Create aprinter language file from the raster data (raster2xxx, using the raster driver of the printer)
* Send the printer language file to the printerBut 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.
External links
* [http://www.linux-foundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/Database/Foomatic Foomatic page]
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