05 Why won't my postscript file print on my mainframe's printer? (Miscellaneous Macintosh)
Description
This article is from the Miscellaneous Macintosh FAQ, by Elliotte Rusty Harold elharo@shock.njit.edu with numerous contributions by others.
05 Why won't my postscript file print on my mainframe's printer? (Miscellaneous Macintosh)
Moving PostScript files between the Macintosh and other platforms used
to be as dark an art as existed in the Macintosh universe. With the
LaserWriter 8 driver, it's no longer so complicated. You will need a
PPD file for your printer. Many are available in
<URL:ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/PPDfiles/MAC>
Be sure to select the options for PostScript Level 1 and ASCII
text PostScript files in the Print dialog box. Finally if you're
still having problems try using only genuine PostScript fonts, no
TrueType or bitmapped fonts; and don't include any fonts in your
document that already reside in the printer or on the host system.
Hugo Ayala's shareware control panel Trimmer will help with this
if host available fonts are other than the standard 13 which the
LaserWriter 8 driver has an option to omit. See
<URL:ftp://ftp.macfaq.com/pub/>
If you've installed QuickDraw GX you can ignore PPD files.
So far in my limited tests I've found that the PostScript files
produced by QuickDraw GX seem to be quite portable across different
printers.
Unfortunately the LaserWriter 8.1 and later drivers are
incompatible with older versions of most Aldus products, Canvas, and
QuarkXPress. Until you upgrade you may need to continue using an
older version of the LaserWriter driver. In this case you should
experiment with your combination of application software, LaserWriter
driver, and printer to see what works best. If you're using the
System 6 LaserWriter driver, try using Command-K instead of K
to create the PostScript file in which the Laser Prep header is
included. The System 7 LaserWriter drivers include this header
automatically though Trimmer will leave it out.
More importantly Trimmer also lets you select which fonts to
include in your PostScript file. Try using only genuine PostScript
fonts, no TrueType or bitmapped fonts; and don't include any fonts
in your document that already reside in the printer or on the
host system.
The freeware DMM-LaserWriter Stuff can customize your pre-8.0
LaserWriter drivers in several different, useful ways. Among other
possibilities this package can modify a LaserWriter driver so that
the PostScript files it creates are more compatible with non-Apple
printers and printing to disk is the default. The upload to the
mainframe from which the PostScript file will be printed may also
make a difference. Normally you need to transfer the file in pure
Binary format, neither MacBinary nor ASCII. See
<URL:ftp://ftp.macfaq.com/pub/>
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