need generic post script drivers for OS X

Ok, I have my Dell 2130cn working with OSX 10.5.3
I downloaded the driver from Matt's links above:

either the HPIJS: http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/hpijs
or the pxlmono: http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/pxlmono

I used the pxlmono one. The resolution for me was to use driver:

Generic PCL 6/PCL XL Printer Foomatic/pxlmono

I initially got the 'network busy' issue others have reported. I control-clicked the printer list and reset printing (your tip from another thread) and then readded the printer. I also selected LPD and not IPP. I always do that backward when I go to enter an IP address and forget the LPD works with IP address printing as well.

Anyway, its working for now. I still need to add the duplexer but it won't be a big deal if that doesn't work.

The instructions on how a college setup what would normally be a Windows only printer may help you do the same thing with the Dell. Here.

Also, see if OS X lists the printer. Open the System Preferences and click on the "Print & Fax" icon. Click the + button to add a printer. The Default button at the top of the resulting dialogue box should be highlighted. If the Dell lists there, click on it once to choose it. Below that, give it a name and change the "Print Using:" option to "Select a driver to use...". Scroll down to "Generic PostScript Printer, 1.3" and click "Add". If that doesn't work (the Dell may not handle PostScript data from the driver), remove the printer you added and follow the same steps, but choosing "Generic PCL Laser Printer, 1.3" instead.

Might want to check the Lexmark web site. Many Dell logo'ed printers are manufactured by Lexmark.

There should be a "generic laserwriter" option in the printer setup.
If all else fails, that should work for you.

I dont' believe that the Gutenprint drivers support color for any laser printers. Even the HP Color LaserJets that are listed as being supported will not print color.

For PCL color support look to either the HPIJS _ http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/hpijs_ or pxlmono _ http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/MacOSX/pxlmono_ drivers. The pxlmono (includes color support despite its name) drivers are PCL 6/PCL XL only. The HPIJS drivers support most generic PCL versions.

Kurt Lang wrote:
According to Dell's site, the Printer Language is HP PCL® 5e/6 Emulation. Just need to find a driver to match those options.

Many people feel that the pxlmono drivers (PCL6) produce better overall output compared to the HPIJS drivers. The big unknown is how well their "Emulation" works.

Forget that, problem located (between keyboard and chair). After some more googling, I found a post from Matt (Thanks Matt) in another forum - apparently the pxlmono PCL6 driver prints greyscale by default. I just needed to enable color in a print settings dialog. Ooops.

Thanks to all of you for the information contained here.

Cheers,
Con

When you see "PCL," think HP-compatible.
To get color printing, try using an HP Color laserjet Gutenprint driver (I'm not sure which model(s) to choose, because I've updated my Gutenprint drivers, so I may not have the same ones you do.)

To update your Gutenprint:
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/OpenPrinting/macosx

According to Dell's site, the Printer Language is HP PCL® 5e/6 Emulation. Just need to find a driver to match those options.

I agree with others, the pxlmono puts out high quality color prints.
And quality trumps speed.

I tried the HP color laserjet drivers and they work the same as generic (pxlmono prints slow color, hpijs prints fast greyscale).

I set up one printer in my queue to be a 2130 color (using pxlmono driver) and one as a 2130 B&W (using the HP color laserjet 5500 driver).

Thanks again for the help in solving this for me.

Steve

Steven Bleyl wrote:
The problem is, the pxlmono spools VERY VERY SLOW on pages with photos.

This is a known issue with the pxlmono drivers. However, many, if not most, users I have had contact with have found that the pxlmono drivers produce much better quality output than the HPIJS drivers.

I tried all the other generic PCL drivers and they spool much faster, but only give Black and white print of much poorer quality than the pxlmono greyscale.

You could also try the HPIJS drivers for the HP Color LaserJet 4500 or the HP Color LaserJet 5500.

Sorry SugarSher, but I don't see another way to get this printer to work in OS X. As you've discovered, there are no OS X drivers available from Dell. Makes sense actually that Dell, a very PC only oriented company, would not have Mac drivers for a printer with their own name on it. I looked for UNIX drivers that can often be found for what are normally Windows only printers, but had no luck there either.

Hi Matt,
I just took a look at the Gutenprint HP Color LJ 4500 PPD.
It has this line:
*ColorDevice: False

Haven't we already determined that by changing that to True, it makes the driver give all the normal Color options? (I really don't remember, since I don't own a color L-Jet or other PCL 6 color printer.)

greg sahli wrote:
Haven't we already determined that by changing that to True, it makes the driver give all the normal Color options? (I really don't remember, since I don't own a color L-Jet or other PCL 6 color printer.)

That still won't give color output. I got caught out on that one on the Gutenprint forums a while back trying to get color output for a Dell laser printer.

Even if you change the ColorDevice to True, you still don't have any color choices under ColorMode

<pre style="overflow: auto;font-size:small; font-family: Monaco, 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; color: #222; background: #ddd; padding: .3em .8em .3em .8em; font-size: 9px;">*OpenUI *ColorModel/Color Model: PickOne
*OPOptionHints ColorModel: "radiobuttons"
*OrderDependency: 10 AnySetup *ColorModel
*DefaultColorModel: Gray
*StpDefaultColorModel: Gray
*ColorModel Gray/Grayscale: "<</cupsColorSpace 0/cupsColorOrder 0>>setpagedevice"
*ColorModel Black/Inverted Grayscale: "<</cupsColorSpace 3/cupsColorOrder 0>>setpagedevice"
*CloseUI: *ColorModel
</pre>

The big unknown is how well their "Emulation" works.

That's what I wondered, too. Does the printer have another language set that is native to that printer and the HP emulation is there as a secondary option? Or is the HP language emulation it's only method?