plot drivers

[FRED JOHNSON]

I am thinking up upgrading computer to new iMac w/ 10.4x and VW to 12.5. Does the OS still have gimp drivers included or will I need to get X-rip 1.7 to use my old but still going strong HP330?

[Guest]

Gimp's still available.

You'll find many printing options are not available using Gimp and that plotter. XRIP is likely to not support that plotter.

[FRED JOHNSON]

Actually Katie X-rip 1.7 (intel macs) still supports the old girl (opps, beg pardon)

[Guest]

Well that's good - have you compared the difference in printing options between using Gimp and XRIP?

I'd say don't spend the money on XRIP if you don't need to.

[FRED JOHNSON]

I am not in a position to compare as, at the moment, I have neither gimp or x-rip. I was just wondering if someone plotting from vw is using gimp in lieu of x-rp and what plotters gimp supports.

[Guest]

I can look that up on Sunday or Monday. Meanwhile, I think you can go to the gimp print website (search for it using a search engine) and all their supported printers are listed.

[FRED JOHNSON]

Katie,

Checked the gimp web site, seems the 330 is not supported but both older 220 and 450 are.. so I think I'll plan on X-rip. I need to get all my upgrade costs lined up before I jump in 12.5x

Thanks

[CipesDesign]

Fred, you might consider the cost of a new plotter (HP 430 or 110, both with drivers straight out of the Mac OS) against X-rip. Eventually your 330 is gonna need replacing, and if it turns out to be soon then you won't need X-rip anymore.

[islandmon]

Check-out the latest:

[islandmon]

Oops! Gimp-Print & GutenPrint

[islandmon]

Right click to download 370k > a list of :

GutenPrint supported printer

[FRED JOHNSON]

Islandmon,

Went to link - Yep, not there.

[FRED JOHNSON]

Peter,

I will need to plot sooner than later and x-rip is a lot cheaper than a new plotter. My 330 was refurbished at an HP service shop and is in new working condition - the 430 is just a newer name for the 330 with the same features and gimp may, in fact , drive it. Bottom line: I would consider a 430 if the price was right because, as you said, its got built-in OS support and the 330 won't last forever.

[johncruet]

Gimp's still available.

You'll find many printing options are not available using Gimp and that plotter. XRIP is likely to not support that plotter.

Wrong.

In fact, Xrip does support that printer

Output rivals that of PostScript output. That has been my experience with the Encad CadJet printer I use.

It appears that Gimp (Or GutenPrint) lacks the options that xrip offers.

[Guest]

In my history work with the guys over at Gimp and XRIP team directly, not to mention extensive lists of printers that are supported and to what level listed on the website - a lot of the older, especially HP plotters, are not fully supported by Gimp. And the same is true for XRIP. The older printers are rather difficult to match with more modern technology. (Which the 330 is one of)

You are lucky you have an encad plotter - the technology to create a print driver to work with an encad is much more simple than that of an HP plotter.

My statement did not say it will not be available - you can reread it for yourself. I said it MAY not be available and to reference both Gimp and xRip directly.

There are certainly some printers better off with Gimp and some better off with XRIP.

My note was to look at the whole picture because many people recently moving to OS 10 think they have to stay with a rip software to print - which is not necessarily the case these days. It's an unnecessary expense in many cases - but not all cases.

[islandmon]

If your on a new Mac v10.4.9 then use CUPS with Gutenprint , If earlier than TIGER then use CUPS with GIMP. OSX uses CUPS exclusively thereby eliminating the need for printer specific drivers. But print specific PPDs are essential and available from GIMP and/or Gutenprint and many come pre-installed with OSX.

this page lists all the supported printers:

http://gutenprint.sourceforge.net/p_Supported_Printers.php3