Print server for Mac clients

OK. A Mac (or iPhone/iPad) must be connected to the same network as the printer.

What about the following workaround then? Disconnect (at least) one (AirPrint-enabled) copier/printer from the existing network (and move the Canon machine in question to the media room). Install a relatively simple Wi-Fi router in the media room, merely for the purpose of creating a guest network. Connect the copier/printer (wired or wirelessly) to the guest Wi-Fi router. Inform the members of the media about connection details. Mac users can add the copier/printer as an AirPrint printer. No need for drivers. iPhone/iPad users should see the Canon machine as an available AirPrint printer.

A guide from Canon Europe (for PIXMA printers) may show users the general way of working with AirPrint.

https://www.canon-europe.com/support/consumer_products/apple_airprint_guide/

Hi,

Just one question. Do you have any printers that support the driverless AirPrint technology (see the list in About AirPrint - Apple Support)?

Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support

It is per se possible to Add a network printer by its IP address (see this section in the article Add a printer on Mac - Apple Support). On the other hand, one should take into account the use of iPhones and iPads, which use automatic discovery for AirPrint printing.

Use your Mac to print to a printer connected to a Windows computer is an option, but that would lead to a number of other difficulties and limitations in a case like this.

>the challenge is that it creates a separate network just for printing and would require clients to disconnect from the main WiFi any time they needed to print.

Yes, a separate network (Wi-Fi router) for printing purposes only would mean that the user must temporarily switch from the existing Wi-Fi network for printing. However, it should be easy to enable Internet access for that "printing" Wi-Fi network, thus at least avoiding the problem with having to disconnect when printing a web page or an external email message. Also, when on the existing Wi-Fi network, users could just print/save to PDF, and then later print to paper via the printing network. Again, the advantage with a separate Wi-Fi network and an AirPrint-enabled printer is that you include all Mac and iPhone/iPad users (a majority of the members of the media?). Perhaps some kind of bridge solution possible? Anyway, good luck!

Create a new VLAN for the event that the media will use to access the network and temporarily change the VLAN for the printer(s) to match it. Or maybe you could set up a Mac at the event and share the printer so the media can connect to the "shared" printer since the computer sharing the printer will be on the same local subnet.

Thank you, fredweston. It could perhaps be a good idea to post make and exact models for the copiers/printers anyway. That way we can find out details about printing languages, et cetera, which may make it easier for someone here to suggest some kind of solution/workaround.