Choosing which is hplip PCL driver for LaserJet [SOLVED]

[Pofadda]

My laptop spots my networked HP 2100 printer but has defaulted to PScript.  When I attempt to change the driver I am confronted with a mighty list of them - mostly CUPS.  

Which of the rest is the most uptodate one to load: 'hpijs'?, 'hpijs, plc'?, 'hpijs, hpcups'?

Or something else, maybe?

[AS]

Hi and welcome! 

try, in the following order:
HP Laserjet 2100 Series pcl3, hpcups
HP Laserjet 2100 Series hpijs pcl3,
HP Laserjet 2100 Foomatic/lj5gray

These are all PCL drivers, result may vary ... Let us know about the results. 

AS

[Pofadda]

Not a 'Hero' for nothing!

I tried most of the drivers using the standard CUPS Printer Test Page.
The hpijs is for inkjets, I realised later.  It still prints but definitely generates a slightly heavier and rather ragged text.  The half-tone gradients showed faint echoes of the text a few centimetres above it (inkjet v. laser? My printer's age?).  Its default formatting put the border line inappropriately closer to the paper edge, chopping a footer in half.

The Foomatic/ljet4's gradients were noticeably stepped, especially the circular one with radial wedges of inaccurate tones.  Avoid.

The Foomatic/ljet5gray's and the PXLMono's gradients were fine enough, given the 2100's age and period.  All the laserjet drivers gave clean, crisp text and more appropriate borders.

So far, stick with LJ5 and PXLMono.  I will.

[AS]

Glad it worked!  Thanks about the report.  

If you feel satisfied with the driver, please edit your first post and add [ SOLVED ] to the subject line, thanks.

Have fun!

AS