Gutenprint 5.0.0 released -- enables many natively unsupported printers under Mac OS X

Gutenprint 5.0.0 -- a significant update to the set of open-source print drivers that enable a number of natively unsupported printers under Mac OS X -- has been released. The final release follows a string of release candidates.

Formerly named gimp-print, the package is invaluable for resolving issues with output devices connected to Macs, in some cases providing better compatibility than the drivers offered with Mac OS X or through device manufacturers.

The new release includes the following enhancements:

• A serious problem with margins when printing from CUPS in some  cases was introduced in Gutenprint 5.0.0-rc3. The symptoms are  that when printing certain kinds of material on certain printers,  the print is positioned incorrectly on the page (too far to the  right and too far down the page). This problem has been fixed.   
• The Ghostscript driver used with Foomatic now prints all pages of  a document correctly. Previously it did not print any page  except the first page of a document, or printed all other pages  with possibly incorrect settings (bug 1501816).   
• A new user's manual has been added in  doc/gutenprint-users-manual.odt (ODF format) and  doc/gutenprint-users-manual.pdf, replacing the old manual that  was based on Gimp-Print 4.2 (bug 1260142).   
• The Postscript driver now handles PPD files with non-integer  imageable areas correctly in all locales (the PPD files certain  HP inkjet printers using the HPIJS driver have non-integer  imageable areas for some paper sizes). In 5.0.0-rc3, this was  handled incorrectly in locales that do not use the decimal point  (".") for separating fractions from integers.   
• The PPD file parameter is now always accessible when using the  Postscript driver in third party Gutenprint-enabled applications.  This was not an issue with the enhanced Print plugin for the  GIMP.   
• The Epson driver now chooses unidirectional vs. bidirectional  mode more intelligently on new printers that are capable of  producing excellent quality in bidirectional mode at high  resolutions. This improves printing speed with the default  settings in certain cases and in some cases improves print  quality.   
• The Epson driver offers the same quality choices as 5.0.0-rc2 for  certain new printers such as the R800, R1800, and R2400. Certain  quality choices (in particular Super Photo and Ultra Photo) were  not available in 5.0.0-rc3.   

The virtues of Gutenprint are extolled in this VersionTracker poster's comment:

"I have an HP LaserJet 1100 and couldn't find a driver for it on the HP site. Gutenprint doesn't actually contain a specific driver for it either, but I found that the LaserJet III driver works sufficiently well for my needs. I am running MacOS 10.3 (Panther). Installation was simple and configuration instructions clear and thorough."

As noted by the above reader, if you cannot find a driver that is specific to your printer, try using a similar driver for a related model, or try to find out if your printer uses a generic mechanism shared by other devices. In some cases, a driver for one printer will function properly with another.

Gutenprint 5.0.0 is available as a 9.4 MB standalone download.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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