Level 1

0 points

What ever happened to Postscript printing?

Is there any way to get decent results from a printer with OSX? I've been wrestling with this problem since switching from OS9 to OSX several years ago. I'm beyond frustrated by now; I'm completely beaten down. I had a G4, now have an Intel-based iMac. With OS9 running on my G4, I used Adobe PressReady to print to my HP Deskjet 12220C. I got good color, had all the options available in QuarkXPress, and life was good. I could produce decent comps for my clients, test separations, etc. Under OSX, however, nothing works. And it just gets worse every time I try to figure it out. Colors now look like mud (yellow prints green, red prints brown, etc.). Most options in Quark are grayed out, there is no way to predict what size anything will print, or where on the sheet of paper the image will end up. I've wasted soooooo much time trying to set up GimpPrint, Gutenprint and all that crap. Every time I try again, it just gets worse. I'm supposed to know how to write/understand code in order to print, according to the advice on these web sites. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE USER-FRIENDLY MAC I USED TO KNOW AND LOVE BEFORE OSX??????????

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Jul 21, 2007 11:10 AM

26 replies

nfarlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2007 1:13 AM in response to greg sahli

Greg - Did you read my reply to your previous post?

Jul 27, 2007 1:12 PM in response to nfarlow

Have you looked into PowerRIP? (was BirmyRIP). Have used it for years, first with OS 9 and now with X.

http://www.iproofsystems.com/powerrip_x.htm#downloads

or

http://www.iproofsystems.com

They support...
HP DeskJet DeskJet 900 series from 916 to 995 · DeskJet 1220 series

I have used them with Epson Stylus Color 3000 & Epson Stylus Photo 820 & 2200 printers on Mac OS X.

They have a fully functioning DEMO available that prints with an X through your output.

So long for now, TOM

Jul 27, 2007 2:48 PM in response to nfarlow

HP makes wide format PS printers in their DesignJet line ... they are pricey but quite capable.

Go here for example:

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/ga/WF25a/18972-18972-3328061-12600-3328079- 3204970.html

G

nfarlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 27, 2007 9:10 PM in response to dandeliondigital

Tom,

Thank you so much, I think PowerRIP might be the answer! I installed it and did some test prints. The output needs tweaking, but for the first time in OSX I was able to print a Quark file containing an EPS graphic, and also artwork directly from AI, that both looked pretty good! Wow, there's hope at last! 🙂 I also noticed that most of the the options in Quark's print window are no longer grayed out, e.g., separations, etc. This is great! I will report back when I've had a chance to spend some more time setting it up. Thanks again!

LilyLC

Level 4

2,834 points

Jul 27, 2007 10:56 PM in response to nfarlow

"I tried the printfab thing about a year ago and had no luck with it. My printer is old..."

Hi Nancy,

I had the same frustrations when I started using OS 10.2 that you posted here. PrintFab worked for my 1997 Epson Color 3000 and it is still working. The one thing I remember is that ZEDOnet said with OS 10.3, ghostscript is not needed. Well, only got it to work with ghostscript ON. Go figure. Anyhow, you might try it again as the Pro version is only $139 euros.

Even though my Epson 3000 works, it's slow because it's only PostScript 2. I am considering the Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Professional Edition (List price $1495 includes PostScript 3 RIP). Espon sent me a print sample and it is gorgeous.

Good luck.

brycas

Level 1

0 points

Aug 7, 2007 7:13 PM in response to nfarlow

I feel your pain with the 1220c ps. An affordable printer that I've had for years and used w/ both XP and OS9. Press Ready worked great. I then went OSX several years ago - sorry about your luck. The only thing I found (and trust me, I've tried them all) is a postscript rip from iproofsystems.com called PowerRIP-X for around $399. It gives me postscript3, pages sizes up to 13x19, seps, composite. I run the rip on my mac w/ a usb connection to the printer. My gripes w/ it - no network printing, no hot folder (for drag and drop of ps files), no way to clean/align heads (I plug the printer into my pc and use the old drivers/hp utilities for this). I've also had trouble w/ achieving decent color matching. I manage a commercial printing pre-press dept. thru the day and freelance design at night so I understand postscript and the need for an affordable ps3 13x19 (or even 12x18) inkjet printer. This rip has gotten me thru the last few years but I fear it's time has come. I am now looking at an Epson 3800 pro edition or an HP 90. Both are 13x19, ps3 and can be bundled w/ a third party rip (EFI for HP and Colorburst for Epson). Beefy price tag @ around $1,200. You can download a trial of the PowerRIP-X at the link above. If I were you, I would take that $399 and apply it towards one of the new printers I mentioned, looking for the best "12 months same as cash" deal you can find.

nfarlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 8, 2007 2:33 PM in response to brycas

Well, it's some comfort to know that I'm not the only one experiencing the same frustrations with printing in OSX. Someone else mentioned PowerRIP-X so I downloaded the trial version and loved it - until I saw the price tag. You're absolutely right, my old HP 1220C is not worth investing that much money into. So I'm kind of back where I started, although with a little better understanding of what I'm dealing with, thanks to all of you who've replied.

The Epson Stylus Pro 3800 Pro Edition looks like a great printer, but the price tag is over twice what the HP 1220c cost... I guess the only affordable solution for me right now is to get out my old G4 and reload OS9! Which ran faster than OSX ever has, even on my Intel Core Duo iMac, FWIW.

Sep 20, 2007 6:23 PM in response to brycas

Hi Brycas,
Yes the PowerRIP-X is not cheap, but it works. And...
CORRECTION#1

no network printing

I can use my RIP over the network with Apple Printer Sharing. It's not real e-z to set up but you can do it.
CORRECTION#2

no way to clean/align heads

You just launch the PowerRIP-X Utility and you can clean the heads about 10 times fater than Epson's Utility ever did. Also instantly print out a test to make sure you don't have clogged heads.

I too wish it used a hot folder, but who knows?

So long for now, TOM

Sep 20, 2007 7:49 PM in response to nfarlow

Nancy, don't know if you have ever checked it out, but HP still makes an affordable 13x19 inkjet that comes with PS3 built in. A few hundered dollars is a lot cheaper than buying a rip. My team uses it for mechanical devlopment. We use the coated stock for basic prints, we don't use it for comping. Can get a network version too!

Worth checking into it. HP Businesss inkjet 2800 printer.

Hope this helps!

nfarlow Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2007 8:40 PM in response to grassHOppa

Thanks for your info. I actually found out about the HP Business Inkjet 2800 and ordered it. But my old Deskjet 1220c died while I was waiting for my new printer, so I went to Staples and picked up one that was on sale, the HP Photosmart Pro B8350, intending to return it when the 2800 arrived. I know, I know, unethical, but I had no printer and HAD to get some stuff printed!

Well, lo and behold, it turned out to be a great printer! It accommodates up to 13"x19" paper, prints to the edge, it's fast, and - to top it all off - I had no Postscript issues with it! I get good quality prints from Quark, Photoshop, and even an EPS graphic printed directly from Illustrator. Nice and crisp, and even the color is pretty good. I printed a logo in 2 PMS colors recently, with Illustrator, and the colors are very close to those in my PMS swatch book. I printed some photos of my dog's new puppies on photo paper and they look great. So, I kept this printer and returned the 2800 - didn't even open the box.

With the sale price plus the rebate, this printer cost a little under $200. I highly recommend it.

Nancy

ozyland

Level 1

0 points

Dec 2, 2007 7:39 AM in response to brycas

With PowerRIPX it supports drag-and-drop of PS through Desktop Printers.

See:

http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/desktopprinter.html

This will work with PowerRIPX.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

What ever happened to Postscript printing?