[NBLUG/talk] Printing PDF files - slow...

[Nat Welch]

On Mon, 2008-04-21 at 18:12 -0700, Ken McGlothlen wrote:
> No, you definitely shouldn't be sending attachments to the list.  :)
> 
> So, I've taken a look at the files, and again, there's nothing  
> outstanding about either of them.  (Of course, I'm not talking about  
> the design or writing in this case, so let's not take offense  
> here.  :)  )
> 
> So again, I'm thinking it may have something to do with your print  
> driver.
> 
>    Do you have the right PPD file?  If not, you can get it at:
>     http://www.linuxprinting.org/download/PPD/HP/ 
> HP_LaserJet_1320_Series.ppd
>    It will need to be chmod a+r, by the way.
>    It will have to be installed somewhere under
>     /usr/share/cups/model/
> 
>    If you had to install it:
> 
>     1)  Restart the CUPS daemon, which will probably be one of the
>            following commands:
>         # killall -HUP cupsd
>         # /etc/init.d/cups restart
> 
>     2)  Walk through the Add Printer wizard in the CUPS web interface at
>         http://localhost:631/admin
>         (Or, if you're using KDE, you can use the Print Manager's Add  
> Printer
>          wizard).
> 
> If you already have a PPD file for the HP LaserJet 1320, you may want  
> to download the file anyway and use cmp to see if they're different.   
> If they are, try installing the new one (preserving the old one, of  
> course, just in case the new PPD makes things even worse), bounce the  
> CUPS daemon, set up a new printer, and try it out.
> 
> If you want a somewhat smaller PostScript file, I can generate one  
> (my attempt to do so came up with only a 7MB PS file rather than a 30 
> +MB monster).  Let me know.
> 
> ---Ken

I'm not sure if this comes default on a lot of machines, but our school
has similar printers and the best way to print PDFs is to run pdf2ps on
the command line. It gives you a nice PS file which prints well on old
printers.

/Nat