How to pixel-play with printer?

gregors · 04-30-2022, 09:33 AM

Hi there,

some 20 years ago, when I bought a new printer, I used to "pixel-play" with it: Try printer commands, see how far I can push it using the highest possible resolution, see how fast I can print graphics ...

So, recently I had to bury my loved HP-LJ 4M (600 dpi laser) and bought an Epson ET-M1140 (1200x2400 ink) and I'd like to see what I can do with it. First I bought different types of paper and tried paper handling, two sided printing and such. BTW: Once I used to work as an DTP operator.

Now, how can I try out printing in 1200x2400 dpi? Since angled lines look kinda "stairy" I guess CUPS doesn't use the printer's full capabilities. So, what to do?

Any hints anybody?

TIA

Gregor

PS: The cover page for my calendar (made in Inkscape, printed with "vector" option set): http://test.szaktilla.de/nmz/ (beware the big hi-res files behind the previews :-)
PPS: Inkscape is faulty. It doesn't really embed images. So, here you are: http://test.szaktilla.de/scheibe1.png

ferrari · 04-30-2022, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregors

Now, how can I try out printing in 1200x2400 dpi? Since angled lines look kinda "stairy" I guess CUPS doesn't use the printer's full capabilities. So, what to do?

Any hints anybody?

TIA

Gregor

Start by examining the available printer options (as reported by the printer or associated PPD).

Code:

lpoptions -d <printername> -l

More info:

Code:

man lpoptions

gregors · 04-30-2022, 09:59 PM

Using lpoptions

Code:

lpoptions -o quality=HIGHQUALITY_PLAIN_HIGH

I changed the print quality in some way - well, at least printing takes more time now.
But it didn't change any resolution aspects. Circles, angled lines, text and so on still show some kind of „saw tooth“ edges. Now grey areas don't show „line feed stripes“ as it was before but text/bitmaps still look like 300 dpi (ugly for someone like me). It seems that there simply doesn't exist a way to change the resolution to something other than 300x300 dpi - so to me it seems that Epson has some major problem with their printers under Linux/CUPS. Looking at this problem with my DTP operator's eyes it is a really HUGE problem.

And searching the Epson Homepage I didn't find out how to tell/ask them about it. Huh?! Don't they offer any support?

Even the most recent version of Debian 11 doesn't support this printer in any way other than use it with the driver for the (older) ET-M1120 ...

Hm ... ?!

Gregor

ferrari · 05-01-2022, 12:20 AM

Which drivers are you using?

Code:

sudo egrep -i "name|model|filter" /etc/cups/ppd/*

ferrari · 05-01-2022, 12:27 AM

Linux drivers (release date 7 March 2022) for the ET-M1140 are available from here:
https://epson.com/Support/wa00821

gregors · 05-01-2022, 12:50 AM

Yes, there are deb packages on that page.

But trying to install

epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.1.48-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb
or
epson-printer-utility_1.1.1-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb

results in an error message: lsb-3.2 missing (although lsb-11.1 is installed)

Code:

gszaktilla@mimi:~$ aptitude show lsb-base
Paket: lsb-base                                 
Version: 11.1.0
Zustand: Installiert
Automatisch installiert: nein
Multi-Arch: foreign
Priorität: optional
Bereich: misc
Verwalter: Debian sysvinit maintainers <debian-init-diversity@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Architektur: all
Unkomprimierte Größe: 50,2 k
Liefert: lsb-base:i386 (= 11.1.0)
Beschreibung: Linux Standard Base - Funktionalität für Init-Skripte
 Die Linux Standard Base (LSB, http://www.linuxbase.org/) ist ein vereinheitlichtes Basissystem, auf das
 Linuxanwendungen von Dritten aufbauen können.

Gregor

PS:

Code:

root@mimi:/home/gszaktilla/dokumente/downloads# apt-get install ./epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.1.48-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2' instead of './epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2_1.1.48-1lsb3.2_amd64.deb'
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 epson-inkjet-printer-escpr2 : Depends: lsb (>= 3.2) but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

ferrari · 05-01-2022, 01:06 AM

Regarding Debian based distros and LSB:
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLsb

One of many threads on this topic:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...ll-lsb-package

gregors · 05-01-2022, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrari

Regarding Debian based distros and LSB:
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianLsb

One of many threads on this topic:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...ll-lsb-package

Uh ... so Linux is moving away from being conform to any standard ...?! Well, it must have something to do with systemd ... maybe *eg*

Shit happens ...

Gregor

ferrari · 05-01-2022, 01:26 AM

Yes, a Debian decision...you can read the history for yourself...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_...ions_on_Debian
https://lwn.net/Articles/658809/

Unfortunately, Epson Linux driver packages require it. FWIW, here's an account of a Mint user who managed to install lsb-compat via a Debian repo...
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtop...f=247&t=315539

Good luck.