Gutenprint
Encyclopedia
Gutenprint is a collection of free software
printer driver
s for use with UNIX
spooling systems, such as CUPS, lpr
and LPRng
. These drivers provide printing services for UNIX systems (including GNU/Linux), Mac OS X
, RISC OS
and Microsoft Windows
.
It was originally developed as a plug-in for the GIMP
, but later became a more general tool for use by other programs and operating systems(Apple and Windows). When Apple Computer
introduced Mac OS X, it omitted printer drivers, claiming that it was the printer manufacturer's task to produce these. Many of them did not update their drivers, and since Apple had chosen to use CUPS as the core of its printing system, Gimp-Print filled the void.
GutenPrint has more than 1,300 high quality drivers for: Apollo, Apple, Brother, Canon, Citizen, Compaq, Dai Nippon, DEC, Epson, Fujifilm, Fujitsu, Gestetner, HP, IBM, Infotec, Kodak, Kyocera, Lanier, Lexmark, Minolta, NEC, NRG, Oki, Olivetti, Olympus, Panasonic, PCPI, Raven, Ricoh, Samsung, Savin, Seiko, Sharp, Shinko, Sony, Star, Tally, Tektronix and Xerox printers. These drivers are often better than the default printer drivers supplied by printer manufacturers. From GutenPrint, you are able to control ink density and print resolution. Default drivers often do not really allow you to print at the published resolutions.
Gutenprint is not only available as plug in for GIMP Windows, it is also available as a plug in for Photoshop on Windows. Another free software that is based on Gutenprint is PhotoPrint for Windows. PhotoPrint is a standalone program that enables you to tap the functionality and power of GutenPrint (although you need to install +GTK).
Many users incorrectly called it Gimp, so the software was renamed Gutenprint to clearly distinguish it from the GIMP. The name Gutenprint recognizes Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type printing press.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
printer driver
Printer driver
In computers, a printer driver or a print processor is a piece of software that converts the data to be printed to the form specific to a printer...
s for use with UNIX
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
spooling systems, such as CUPS, lpr
Line Printer Daemon protocol
The Line Printer Daemon protocol/Line Printer Remote protocol is a network protocol for submitting print jobs to a remote printer. The original implementation of LPD was in the Berkeley printing system in the BSD UNIX operating system; the LPRng project also supports that protocol...
and LPRng
LPRng
LPRng is a printing system compatible with the Berkeley printing system. It provides printer spooling and network print server functionality using the Line Printer Daemon protocol....
. These drivers provide printing services for UNIX systems (including GNU/Linux), Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, RISC OS
RISC OS
RISC OS is a computer operating system originally developed by Acorn Computers Ltd in Cambridge, England for their range of desktop computers, based on their own ARM architecture. First released in 1987, under the name Arthur, the subsequent iteration was renamed as in 1988...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
.
It was originally developed as a plug-in for the GIMP
GIMP
GIMP is a free software raster graphics editor. It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.In addition to detailed image retouching and...
, but later became a more general tool for use by other programs and operating systems(Apple and Windows). When Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
introduced Mac OS X, it omitted printer drivers, claiming that it was the printer manufacturer's task to produce these. Many of them did not update their drivers, and since Apple had chosen to use CUPS as the core of its printing system, Gimp-Print filled the void.
GutenPrint has more than 1,300 high quality drivers for: Apollo, Apple, Brother, Canon, Citizen, Compaq, Dai Nippon, DEC, Epson, Fujifilm, Fujitsu, Gestetner, HP, IBM, Infotec, Kodak, Kyocera, Lanier, Lexmark, Minolta, NEC, NRG, Oki, Olivetti, Olympus, Panasonic, PCPI, Raven, Ricoh, Samsung, Savin, Seiko, Sharp, Shinko, Sony, Star, Tally, Tektronix and Xerox printers. These drivers are often better than the default printer drivers supplied by printer manufacturers. From GutenPrint, you are able to control ink density and print resolution. Default drivers often do not really allow you to print at the published resolutions.
Gutenprint is not only available as plug in for GIMP Windows, it is also available as a plug in for Photoshop on Windows. Another free software that is based on Gutenprint is PhotoPrint for Windows. PhotoPrint is a standalone program that enables you to tap the functionality and power of GutenPrint (although you need to install +GTK).
Many users incorrectly called it Gimp, so the software was renamed Gutenprint to clearly distinguish it from the GIMP. The name Gutenprint recognizes Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the movable type printing press.