After further testing and review, I have isolated the problem to the
pstops filter that's included with CUPS 1.4.5 (and Mac OS X 10.6.5). I was incorrect in my first guess that the pictwpstops filter was involved (although I was close)!
If you'd like to fix the problem yourself before Apple does, you can. Here's how:
PLEASE NOTE THAT:
• CUPS is open-source and free software, so the source code is published at www.cups.org.
• It is perfectly legal to replace an open-source part of Mac OS X with a different version of that part that you've compiled from source (or that a third party has compiled from source for you).
• Although I've heavily outlined the following procedure, and tested it to the best of my ability, you're the one who will be following the directions, so you could make a mistake. As such, you assume full responsibility for anything that goes wrong (including data loss)!
Now, here's what to do, in a nutshell:
(1) You need the Xcode Developer Tools installed (specifically, you need the gcc compiler). You can install these from your Mac OS X 10.6 Install DVD. You also must be logged-in as an administrator.
(2) Download the CUPS 1.4.4 sources from www.cups.org/software.php. (Direct link:
http://cups.org/software.php?VERSION=1.4.5&FILE=cups/1.4.4/cups-1.4.4-source.tar .bz2)
(3) Expand the compressed archive in your Downloads folder - you'll get a folder called "cups-1.4.4" after doing so. At this point, let's agree that the path to the "cups-1.4.4" folder is: ~/Downloads/cups-1.4.4
(4) Open Terminal, then issue the following commands:
(4a) *cd ~/Downloads/cups-1.4.4* +Press return.+ This takes you to the directory where you've expanded the CUPS 1.4.4 source.
(4b) *sudo ./configure --with-archflags="-arch i386 -arch x86_64"* +Press return, and enter your account password, then press return again.+ This begins the process of setting up the build. It will take a few seconds.
(4c) *sudo make -B* +Press return.+ This will build the CUPS software. It will take a few minutes to complete.
After 4a - 4c, you've built CUPS 1.4.4. At this point, you have two options to proceed:
*Option A - Replace all of CUPS.* You can replace the entire CUPS 1.4.5 that came with Mac OS X 10.6.5 with the CUPS 1.4.4 that you just built.
OR
*Option B - Replace just the pstops filter.* This leaves the rest of your CUPS 1.4.5 installation intact, only downgrading the pstops filter.
(5) - Option A Only: In Terminal, type: *sudo make -B install* and press return. This will move the just-compiled CUPS 1.4.4 pieces into their appropriate locations. Restart your computer when this finishes.
(5) - Option B Only: Issue the following commands while still in Terminal:
*sudo launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.cups.cupsd.plist* (This stops the CUPS printing system so that we can replace the pstops filter.)
*sudo rm /usr/libexec/cups/filter/pstops* (This removes the CUPS 1.4.5 version of pstops.)
*sudo cp ~/Downloads/cups-1.4.4/filter/pstops /usr/libexec/cups/filter/pstops* (This copies the 1.4.4 version of pstops to its appropriate location.)
*sudo chown root:wheel /usr/libexec/cups/filter/pstops* (This sets the owner/group on pstops correctly.)
*sudo chmod 0555 /usr/libexec/cups/filter/pstop* (This sets the permissions on pstops correctly.)
Reboot your computer when finished with the above.
*To undo the changes you've made:* If you'd like to undo the changes you made - either replacing all of CUPS with version 1.4.4 or just the pstops filter - you can easily do so by re-applying the Mac OS X 10.6.5 Update Combo. Link:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1324
