Linux printing confusion: KDE / Gnome, CUPS, hplip, who is in charge?

browny_amiga · 05-11-2018, 06:01 PM

I'm trying to print photos with my hp photoprinter. It is supported by hplip, but I'm struggling with 3 types of settings: KDE, CUPS and hplip all have separate settings pages and I don't know which one is the one that counts. Can these three cooks be reduced to only one, because as we know, too many cooks can spoil the grub.

Mill J · 05-11-2018, 07:30 PM

Yes open http://localhost:631 This is the Cups interface. KDE is probably just a front end and hplip is just a driver ,ok I know, you can set some stuff up with hplip-gui etc but I find it more of a hassle than just straight Cups.

system-config-printer is another "generic" front end to cups. So my answer is: use cups.

browny_amiga · 05-11-2018, 10:24 PM

Well, it is not that simple: CUPS does not have many options and can definitely not control all the options that I need for the photo printing, and my question is: How does CUPS and hplip work together? Hplip is not just the driver, there are tons of settings in there, but so far I think the settings interfere with each other.

Mill J · 05-11-2018, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browny_amiga

Well, it is not that simple: CUPS does not have many options and can definitely not control all the options that I need for the photo printing

Are you sure? the options are driver specific, for example a HP deskjet will only have several variables you can change, while a officejet pro might have several hundred. The problem is, that most front-ends only list a very limited amount of options.

A while ago I wrote a front-end to lpadmin, lpinfo, etc that listed every option as well as allowed you to change them.

I'm not entirely sure but if I remember correctly lpoptions -l lists all the options for a printer. I'll double check my code when I have time. in the mean time I suggest you check out https://www.cups.org/doc/man-lpoptions.html and https://www.cups.org/documentation.html

edit: you might also want to check into GtkLP as I know it supports printing with all the options that the driver supports.

DavidMcCann · 05-12-2018, 11:57 AM

CUPS is just a print spooler that accepts print requests from applications and passes them on to the appropriate tools. It should respect the results of using a printer configuration tool: my Samsung was installed with the vendor's software and my previous HP was installed with HPLIP. As you have noticed, HPLIP is not "just a driver" and there's a reason that distro's always provide it.

Mill J · 05-12-2018, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMcCann

As you have noticed, HPLIP is not "just a driver" and there's a reason that distro's always provide it.

It can be used as "just a driver" since you are able to use hplip drivers via cups, you are right though

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mill J

ok I know, you can set some stuff up with hplip-gui etc but I find it more of a hassle than just straight Cups.

All that aside the OP was about which one can do it all.

@OP Are the options you need, availible in the driver? To check what options cups supports find your printer name with

Code:

lpstat -v

Then run:

Code:

lpoptions -p "printer name here" -l

If your printer is a recent and a little more advanced, you'll see a lot of output. Here is an example of one of my printers: The Text before the : is the option and the stuff after is the variables, the default(you can set it) is marked with *.

Code:

$ lpoptions -p "Canon-MX430-series" -l
PageSize/Media Size: *Letter Legal Executive Postcard CD5Inch CD3Inch CDCustom w216h360 w252h338 w252h360 w252h360J w144h432 w288h432 w288h432J w324h432 w324h495 w297h421 w288h576 w338h504 w360h504 w360h504J w360h576 w432h432 w432h576 w432h612 w432h648 c8x10 c8x10J Statement w213h284 w227h284 w284h284 w284h426 w284h1277 w360h360 w504h576 w576h576 w576h648 w576h774 w576h864 w576h842 w612h864 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 w609h864 ISOB5 ISOB6 ISOB7 ISOB8 ISOB9 ISOB10 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 C5 w354h918 C6 C6_l DL w229h459 w229h459_l C7 C7_l C8 C8_l C9 C9_l C10 C10_l EA5 w612h936 w535h697 w569h731 w348h527 w365h561 w391h612 w442h663 w314h504 w314h513 cw365h561 w283h425 w283h420 w420h567 w340h666 w255h581 w255h581_l w297h666 w277h538 w277h538_l COM10 w315h414 Monarch Monarch_l w288h387 w288h504 w288h512 w253h337 w155h244 w155h257 w283h566 w612h935 LegalIndia Oficio B-Oficio M-Oficio d-o400x600 d-o100x400 d-o131x400 d-o056x344 d-o319x350 d-o100x263 d-o200x100 d-o200x150 d-o200x400 d-o225x550 d-o300x200 d-o300x300 d-o319x175 d-o350x200 d-o400x200 d-o400x300 d-o400x400 d-o400x500 d-o400x650 d-o400x800 d-o400x1300 d-o600x200 d-o600x300 d-o600x400 d-o600x500 d-o600x600 d-o800x1200 d-o850x600 d-o850x1100 d-o250x313 d-o050x175 d-o175x300 d-o075x575 d-o44x31 d-o62x44 d-o74x52 d-o88x62 d-o105x74 d-o125x88 d-o148x105 d-o176x125 d-o210x148 A4-div2 A4x4inch A4x5inch A4x6inch A4x8inch A4x10inch A4x10inch-div2 w576h648-w576h360_w576h288 Custom.WIDTHxHEIGHT
ColorModel/Color Model: Gray Black *RGB CMY CMYK KCMY
StpColorPrecision/Color Precision: *Normal Best
MediaType/Media Type: *Plain PhotoPlusGloss2 PhotoProPlat PhotoProSemiGloss GlossyPaper PhotopaperMatte Envelope HagakiA InkJetHagaki CanonPhotoHagakiK Hagaki Coated TShirt PhotopaperOther
InputSlot/Media Source: *Front
StpQuality/Print Quality: None *Standard
Resolution/Resolution: *601x600dpi 600dpi 602x600dpi 300dpi 603x600dpi 604x600dpi 301x300dpi 605x600dpi 606x600dpi 607x600dpi 608x600dpi 609x600dpi 610x600dpi
StpiShrinkOutput/Shrink Page If Necessary to Fit Borders: *Shrink Crop Expand
StpCDInnerRadius/CD Hub Size: *None Small
StpInkType/Ink Type: *CMYK RGB Gray
StpInkSet/Ink Set: *Both Black Color
StpFullBleed/Borderless: *False True
StpOrientation/Orientation: *Portrait Landscape UpsideDown Seascape
StpCDOuterDiameter/CD Size (Custom): 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 *329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340
StpCDInnerDiameter/CD Hub Size (Custom): 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 *121
StpCDXAdjustment/CD Horizontal Fine Adjustment: -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 *0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
StpCDYAdjustment/CD Vertical Fine Adjustment: -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 *0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
StpColorCorrection/Color Correction: *None Accurate Bright Hue Uncorrected Desaturated Threshold Density Raw Predithered
StpBrightness/Brightness: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 Custom.REAL
StpFineBrightness/Brightness Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpContrast/Contrast: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 Custom.REAL
StpFineContrast/Contrast Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpSaturation/Saturation: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 *None 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7000 7100 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900 8000 8100 8200 8300 8400 8500 8600 8700 8800 8900 9000 Custom.REAL
StpFineSaturation/Saturation Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpImageType/Image Type: None Text Graphics *TextGraphics Photo LineArt
StpDensity/Density: 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 6000 6100 6200 6300 6400 6500 6600 6700 6800 6900 7000 7100 7200 7300 7400 7500 7600 7700 7800 7900 8000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineDensity/Density Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpDitherAlgorithm/Dither Algorithm: *None EvenTone HybridEvenTone Adaptive Ordered OrderedNew Fast VeryFast Floyd Predithered Segmented SegmentedNew
StpCyanDensity/Cyan Density: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineCyanDensity/Cyan Density Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpMagentaDensity/Magenta Density: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineMagentaDensity/Magenta Density Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpYellowDensity/Yellow Density: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineYellowDensity/Yellow Density Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpBlackDensity/Black Density: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineBlackDensity/Black Density Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpGamma/Composite Gamma: 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineGamma/Composite Gamma Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpCyanGamma/Cyan: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineCyanGamma/Cyan Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpMagentaGamma/Magenta: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineMagentaGamma/Magenta Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpYellowGamma/Yellow: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineYellowGamma/Yellow Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpBlackGamma/Black: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineBlackGamma/Black Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpCyanBalance/Cyan Balance: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineCyanBalance/Cyan Balance Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpMagentaBalance/Magenta Balance: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineMagentaBalance/Magenta Balance Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpYellowBalance/Yellow Balance: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineYellowBalance/Yellow Balance Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpLinearContrast/Linear Contrast Adjustment: *False True
StpLightCyanTrans/Light Cyan Transition: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineLightCyanTrans/Light Cyan Transition Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpLightMagentaTrans/Light Magenta Transition: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineLightMagentaTrans/Light Magenta Transition Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpLightYellowTrans/Light Yellow Transition: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineLightYellowTrans/Light Yellow Transition Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpInkLimit/Ink Limit: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineInkLimit/Ink Limit Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpBlackTrans/GCR Transition: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineBlackTrans/GCR Transition Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpGCRLower/GCR Lower Bound: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineGCRLower/GCR Lower Bound Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
StpGCRUpper/GCR Upper Bound: 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100 2200 2300 2400 2500 2600 2700 2800 2900 3000 3100 3200 3300 3400 3500 3600 3700 3800 3900 4000 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 5000 *None Custom.REAL
StpFineGCRUpper/GCR Upper Bound Fine Adjustment: *None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95