Ghostscript Problem? Firefox Printing Graphics As Black Boxes

[blayne]

I recently installed the 2012 02 PCLinuxOS and everything went very well, except for some printing issues.  I always have printer problems.

I use PCLinuxOS for my business, and I print a lot of packing slips and shipping labels.  I've been working on this problem for over a day.  I searched this forum and couldn't find any relevant help.  I searched the internet and found the following that seems to describe my problem:

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=726090

The thread seems to indicate that there was a problem that was fixed starting in ghostscript-9.04-3.fc15.i686, and the current Ghostscript in PCLinuxOS is apparently ghostscript-9.04-2pclos2011.

More Detail On My Specific Problem:
Other applications print to my HP 4600 color laser printer just fine, but when I try to print from Firefox, most but not all of the graphics are solid black boxes.  I can have Firefox print to a PDF file, and when I print it, I get the same black boxes, but when I have Firefox print to a Postscript file and I print that from Okular, the graphics print properly.

I've been printing packing slips by printing to a Postscript file, even though that's a hassle, but my shipping labels are printed using a Java app, and it won't print to a file, so my shipping labels all print as a solid 4" X 6" black box.  If I can't ship soon, I'll have some angry customers.

I wish I could pay $100 and make this problem disappear.

[wedgetail]

blayne
Probably some hard facts on your system and setup would be a good start    (Have red the link, could be tricky)

Post info from root konsole, and include the prompt, it can be important.

lpinfo -v

lpstat -t

When I have these two I can be more specific on what next to ask.

Jumping ahead a bit.  If you can understand the following at this stage also post ( you can copy/paste to konsole)

Code: [Select]

ls -x /etc/cups/ppd

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p xxxx

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p xxxx -l
Notice the two lines are not the same.  xxxx is your printer name the install has given your problem printer, which you see in lpstat -t if you don't understand, just leave it and I will fill in when I see the result.

Did you write the Jave App to do the shipping label printing?

[blayne]

First, thank you VERY much for taking the time to try to help me with this frustrating problem.

I just deleted both of my printers in the printer configuration, then I updated everything in Synaptic, then I reinstalled CUPS.  I'm not sure what files had been changed when I repeatedly deleted and reinstalled the HP 4600 color laser printer and Zebra LP2844 thermal label printer, and I wanted to get back to more of a known state.  The Zebra printer initially printed from the Java app, but has been printing blank pages or nothing recently.  I installed the HP 4600 as ColorLaser using the system-config-printer 1.2.0 printer config utility.  This time I tried using the HP supplied color Postscript PPD.  I haven't tried to install the Zebra printer yet, to simplify the situation and concentrate on the HP 4600 printing problems in Firefox.

Post info from root konsole, and include the prompt, it can be important.

lpinfo -v

[root@localhost ~]# lpinfo -v
network lpd
direct pdf
network smb
network socket
network ipp
network beh
network http
direct scsi
direct parallel:/dev/lp0
direct hp:/par/hp_color_LaserJet_4600?device=/dev/parport0
direct hpfax

lpstat -t

[root@localhost ~]# lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: ColorLaser
device for ColorLaser: parallel:/dev/lp0
ColorLaser accepting requests since Mon 19 Mar 2012 09:56:46 PM EDT
printer ColorLaser is idle.  enabled since Mon 19 Mar 2012 09:56:46 PM EDT
        Printer is now online.

Code: [Select]

ls -x /etc/cups/ppd

[root@localhost ~]# ls -x /etc/cups/ppd
ColorLaser.ppd  LabelPrinter.ppd  Zebra2844.ppd

Looks like LabelPrinter and Zebra2844 are still hanging around from previous installs.

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p xxxx

[root@localhost ~]# lpoptions -p ColorLaser
auth-info-required=none copies=1 device-uri=parallel:/dev/lp0 finishings=3 job-hold-until=no-hold job-priority=50 job-sheets=none,none marker-change-time=0 number-up=1 printer-commands=AutoConfigure,Clean,PrintSelfTestPage printer-info='HP Color LaserJet 4600' printer-is-accepting-jobs=true printer-is-shared=true printer-location=bruce printer-make-and-model='HP Color LaserJet 4600 Foomatic/Postscript' printer-state=3 printer-state-change-time=1332208606 printer-state-reasons=none printer-type=8531996 printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost:631/printers/ColorLaser

Code: [Select]

lpoptions -p xxxx -l

[root@localhost ~]# lpoptions -p ColorLaser -l
PageSize/Page Size: *Letter A4 11x17 A3 A5 B5 Env10 EnvC5 EnvDL EnvISOB5 EnvMonarch Executive Legal
InputSlot/Media Source: *Default Tray1 Tray2 Tray3 Manual
Duplex/Double-Sided Printing: DuplexNoTumble DuplexTumble *None
Resolution/Resolution: 150x150dpi 300x300dpi *600x600dpi
Manualfeed/Manual Feed of Paper: *Off On
FastRes/Fast Res.: *Off On
Economode/Toner Saving: *Off On
Copies/Number of Copies: *1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 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
REt/REt Setting: Dark Light *Medium Off
TonerDensity/Toner Density: 1 2 *3 4 5
MemBoost/Memory Booster Technology: *Auto Off On

Did you write the Jave App to do the shipping label printing?

I didn't write the Java app.  I'm using PayPal shipping, which calls the USPS.com site, which uses a Java app supplied by Pitney Bowes.  It's every bit as fast and reliable as it sounds!


Thank you again for any help you might be able to provide.  It didn't seem to matter before the CUPS reinstall which driver I used for the HP 4600 color laser.  It always printed just fine in LibreOffice, Okular (with Postscript files generated from Firefox but not with PDF files generated from Firefox), etc., but Firefox printing directly to the default HP 4600 printed most of the graphics as solid black rectangles, as did Okular printing PDF files generated from Firefox.  After the reinstallation of CUPS and reinstalling the HP 4600 using the HP color Postscript PPD driver, it's doing the same thing - black box graphics when printing to the HP 4600 directly from Firefox, but everything works when Firefox prints to a Postscript file and that file is printed from Okular.  The Postscript PPD doesn't seem to support the duplexer option, though.

[wedgetail]

blayne
I have got a picture of the situation, I am particularly interested in your 4600 as to my surprise I have a couple of those still with plastic wrap, I did not need them but they were in danger of going to people who may not know what it was. I am yet to power them up.  Mine are 4600dn = duplexer + network ability.  

Any extra letters after your 4600 number.

How much memory installed I expect it will be plenty but postscript colour can blow you out of the water.

How desperately do you need the colour, can grey tones be used in emergency while testing goes on?

You have not turned duplexing on but we will come to that later, I assume it is not urgent?

You have installed a so called "foomatic" driver and that is fine, but some quick checking using CUPS drivers may cut through some work and perhaps get you going.

I have located too many 4600 drivers here on my system to be comfortable, instead of long talk I will PM you with instructions to get all drivers your system can see.  

I have not yet got hold of the 4600 manual I don't think but I will get one from the net.

..... the system-config-printer 1.2.0 printer config utility.

Pardon my ignorance what is that? Give me a short description?  A HP Utility ?  The reason I don't is that for quite some time I have almost entirely used CUPS as it is the only program that never has let me down for various reasons.

This raises the question have you used the CUPS graphics interface to handle printer management.  Takes a little perserverence but it is good. I try to bypass it and use the underlying command line instructions. As well it is simpler to post result to Forum as well, you have already used those and more will be asked of you.  

You are running 600x600 dpi if you try to print complex graphics that can kill GhostScript, now the colours you are getting via FF is an unknown so let us start with a fixed reference.

First look, with okular,  at this colourcircle which is going to be our reference for testing.

[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$ okular /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
^C
[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$

I started this as user and I get some extra lines but does not prevent Okular showing the picture

Now down grade your 600x600 to 150x150 and then try to print colour circle, just copy paste to a konsole, I expect user should be ok

lp -d ColorLaser /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps

I would like to know what printer control language is set in the panel on the printer: PCL or PostScript, or??   You need to pick your way in settings on printer panel, in my manual it is page 20,  "Configure device menu" where there is a an example picture below that Bold line.

CONFIGURE DEVICE      PRINTING  and then a column here (which has moved to beginning of line here in Forum)

COPIES
DEFAULT PAPER SIZE
DEFAULT CUSTOM PAPER SIZE
DUPLEX
OVERRIDE A4/LETTER
MANUAL FEED
COURIER FONT
WIDE A4
PRINT PS ERRORS
PCL   < ------ What do you see here, PCL or something else?

Can you give an example of what FF might be printing, I am thinking of a URL address ( I can go to another system where I have FF installed and see if I can reproduce problem then)


I have got a manual but it is big so I am only scanning very quickly though, keep that in mind.  I will assume you know the manual much better and can correct me if I guess wrong in places.

After the reinstallation of CUPS and reinstalling the HP 4600 using the HP color Postscript PPD driver, it's doing the same thing - black box graphics when printing to the HP 4600 directly from Firefox, but everything works when Firefox prints to a Postscript file and that file is printed from Okular.  The Postscript PPD doesn't seem to support the duplexer option, though.

Do I understand that if FF would print directly you would be much happier? Then as a side comment no duplex working?

I understand about the Java Apps, that is fine, means that it works for lots and lots of people.

By the way that is some printer that 4600 I guess I was expecting this as it came from a big company that closed its doors.

[blayne]

blayne
I have got a picture of the situation, I am particularly interested in your 4600 as to my surprise I have a couple of those still with plastic wrap, I did not need them but they were in danger of going to people who may not know what it was. I am yet to power them up.  Mine are 4600dn = duplexer + network ability.  

Any extra letters after your 4600 number.

I also have the 4600dn.

How much memory installed I expect it will be plenty but postscript colour can blow you out of the water.

160 MB

How desperately do you need the colour, can grey tones be used in emergency while testing goes on?

I don't mind testing in grayscale, but for my work, this needs to be a color printer.  The last time I did a new install of PCLinuxOS, the default driver would only print in grayscale.  Most of the HP laser drivers would print in grayscale only (regardless of which software application was printing), but through trial and error, I eventually installed the HP 3800 driver and it printed in color.  With the new installation of PCLinuxOS, all of the drivers I've tried print in color now, but printing in Firefox has solid black boxes where the graphics should be.

You have not turned duplexing on but we will come to that later, I assume it is not urgent?

All of the other drivers allow the duplexer to be selected in the driver configuration.  The generic HP color laser Postscript driver didn't.  I really don't think this is a driver issue.  As I posted in my initial post, I think there may be a bug that crept into Ghostscript that was fixed starting in ghostscript-9.04-3.fc15.i686, and the current Ghostscript in PCLinuxOS is apparently ghostscript-9.04-2pclos2011.  The Redhat discussion seems to imply that.  Anyway, I was planning on changing back to the HP 4600 driver, that seemed to work as well as any, and it does support the duplexer option.

I have located too many 4600 drivers here on my system to be comfortable, instead of long talk I will PM you with instructions to get all drivers your system can see.

PM received, and email reply sent with 1.1 MB attachment.

I have not yet got hold of the 4600 manual I don't think but I will get one from the net.

I have all of the stuff that could be downloaded from HP and a few other places, including service manuals, various PPD files, etc.  I'd be glad to zip them up and email them to you.  Just let me know if you'd like them.

..... the system-config-printer 1.2.0 printer config utility.

Pardon my ignorance what is that? Give me a short description?  A HP Utility?  The reason I don't is that for quite some time I have almost entirely used CUPS as it is the only program that never has let me down for various reasons.

It's the current PCLinuxOS printer configuration software.
PC - More Applications - Configuration - Configure Your Printer

This raises the question have you used the CUPS graphics interface to handle printer management.  Takes a little perserverence but it is good. I try to bypass it and use the underlying command line instructions. As well it is simpler to post result to Forum as well, you have already used those and more will be asked of you.  

I'm not a slacker.  I'm doin' the hard work.  (from the movie What About Bob?)

You are running 600x600 dpi if you try to print complex graphics that can kill GhostScript, now the colours you are getting via FF is an unknown so let us start with a fixed reference.

First look, with okular,  at this colourcircle which is going to be our reference for testing.

[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$ okular /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
^C
[gert@KDE-mini-Cprog ~]$

I started this as user and I get some extra lines but does not prevent Okular showing the picture

That printed a JetDirect status page followed by the color wheel, in color.  Looks good.

It also generated the following output:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ okular /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
GPL Ghostscript 9.02: Error: Font Renderer Plugin ( FreeType ) return code = -1
okular(29186)/kdeui (kdelibs) KXMLGUIClient::~KXMLGUIClient: 0x893bec8 deleted without having been removed from the factory first. This will leak standalone popupmenus and could lead to crashes.

Now down grade your 600x600 to 150x150 and then try to print colour circle, just copy paste to a konsole, I expect user should be ok

lp -d ColorLaser /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps

If it printed at 600 dpi, I expected it would print at 150 dpi, and it did.  The color was fine, but it looked slightly more grainy.  It generated the following output:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ lp -d ColorLaser /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
request id is ColorLaser-273 (1 file(s))

I would like to know what printer control language is set in the panel on the printer: PCL or PostScript, or??   You need to pick your way in settings on printer panel, in my manual it is page 20,  "Configure device menu" where there is a an example picture below that Bold line.

CONFIGURE DEVICE      PRINTING  and then a column here (which has moved to beginning of line here in Forum)

COPIES
DEFAULT PAPER SIZE
DEFAULT CUSTOM PAPER SIZE
DUPLEX
OVERRIDE A4/LETTER
MANUAL FEED
COURIER FONT
WIDE A4
PRINT PS ERRORS
PCL   < ------ What do you see here, PCL or something else?

Yes, it indicates PCL, but I think that's just the entry menu item to configure PCL if that's the data stream that's sent to the printer.  I think the printer will print PCL or Postscript.  When I print the printer configuration page, under Installed Personalities and Options, it lists:

PS (20010402)
PCLXL (20010402)
PCL (20010402)

Can you give an example of what FF might be printing, I am thinking of a URL address ( I can go to another system where I have FF installed and see if I can reproduce problem then)

It's a bit complex, but try printing the PCLinuxOS home page: http://www.pclinuxos.com

Page 1, under sponsors, top left, the PrimaCloud logo is a black box but the ibiblio logo prints as it should.

Page 2, the PCLinuxOS magazine graphic with the chocolates prints, as does the one below it with Tux ringing in the new year.

Page 3, the Happy 2012 graphic and the freaky festivus manger scene are black boxes.

Page 4, the SOPA graphic is a black box, but the PCLinuxOS magazine Happy Holidays graphic prints properly.

It mostly looks like the larger graphics aren't printing but the smaller (less complex, smaller file size) graphics print fine, other than the small PrimaCloud logo not printing.  However, on my packing slips, there are two small and simple graphics, my company logo and the PayPal logo, which should have small file sizes, and both are black boxes.

I have got a manual but it is big so I am only scanning very quickly though, keep that in mind.  I will assume you know the manual much better and can correct me if I guess wrong in places.

I know I should RTFM before asking for help, but the printer itself is so easy to use I haven't messed with the user manual, and only refer to the service manual for replacing the fuser, etc.  I get the impression this isn't a RTFM kind of problem, given that Firefox didn't have trouble printing before the recent OS upgrade, and now won't print graphics.  Then again, I obviously don't know what's wrong, so I can't say that the answer to my problem isn't in the user's manual.  I didn't find anything else when I searched for the problem I'm having online, other than the Red Hat forum describing my problem almost exactly and indicating that there were some versions of Ghostscript that caused the problem but the latest version (apparently not in PCLinuxOS yet based on the version numbers?) fixed it.

Do I understand that if FF would print directly you would be much happier? Then as a side comment no duplex working?

Yes, my big problem is Firefox printing black boxes for graphics when printing directly to the printer.  Something is getting lost in that process.  Other applications such as LibreOffice print OK (through CUPS?), and Firefox can print to file as a Postscript file and Okular will print that properly, but when I have Firefox print to file as a PDF, Okular prints the black boxes.  I'm thinking that should be a huge hint, if I had any idea how Firefox prints, or if I knew more about Linux printing in general.

Clearly, the printer is capable of printing the graphics, the problem started when I installed an all new version of PCLinuxOS (including new Firefox, new CUPS, new Ghostscript, etc.).

Does any of the stuff from the Red Hat forum I referenced in my first post make sense?  They seemed to be describing exactly the problem I'm having in PCLinuxOS.

By the way that is some printer that 4600 I guess I was expecting this as it came from a big company that closed its doors.

I had a couple of Lexmark laser printers, both color and mono, and they Just Worked with Linux.  Completely plug and play.  They printed great with generic Postscript drivers.  Nothing proprietary about them.  The problem was the supplies cost.  I do a lot of printing, and I can get high quality remanufactured cartridges for the HP 4600.  Contact me off list if you want details and supplier recommendations.  I've weeded through the cheapest refilled cartridges with <50% reliability, toner leaks, and print quality issues at $99 per set of four cartridges, and am now very happy with much better quality rebuilt cartridges that WORK, at $160 per four cartridges.  There's definitely a sweet spot there, between the cheapest low quality refills, and the $640 set of HP cartridges.

The duplexer is a bit slower on the HP than the big mono Lexmark, but it's simpler and more reliable.  It's also up front and super easy to clear if there is a jam.  The Lexmark duplexer was in the back of the printer where it's hard to get to, and the paper needs to take a taxi, a bus and a subway ride to get there and back.  I'm not in that much of a hurry when I'm printing, but I do need good print quality, low operating costs, reliability and maintainability.  So far, the HP 4600 has been good in those areas, but it and to a lesser extent the Zebra label printer have resulted in almost all of the PCLinuxOS problems I have, and I certainly don't blame the PCLinuxOS team for the proprietary HP drivers... or Ghostscript bugs, if that's what the current problem turns out to be.

[wedgetail]

blayne

Any particular reason you run via parallel port? Have you considered running it on a LAN network? I think I read it had embedded webs server could save you getting out of the chair when managing it?

The amount of memory I think must be enough even for a color print in 600x600 dpi, I will keep that in mind though.

Working temporarily gray scale is an option fine, not sure now it will be needed. I understand your need for the colour.

Most interesting the problems you have with colour printing and it is my first real topic where I have to twist my brain to colour.  Though at this stage I would say install the driver you prefer, just tell me which one as I think I have them all here. The generic one I have received is a very nice and clean however internally it seems it only supports GhostScript up to 8.7 (I don't think that makes much difference, but if you have a later we will look at using that)

Can I assume you are comfortable with running multiple printer queues via CUPS web interface? ie That installing other test versions should have no influence on you using the default printer you have now. Using the CUPS webinterface while it is a little bit slow it is rather safe. I am not going to look at the PCC printer install way but if you are happy with that by all means, what works for you is the best. I don't think your problem has anything to do with PCC either.

I have had a quick look at the printers available on your system before going to bed. I will look a closer in the morning and sort out what is there but you certainly have pretty full install. Most likely I will recommend later to toss out a lot if you are happy just to use good looking HP version? That means that for example Gutenprint versions can go? Anyway that is for later.

At this stage I think I agree with you, there may be something in GhostScript that fails only under certain conditions, and as such this will not be a simple thing to get fixed. Keep your fingers crossed.  I am inclined to think you have hit a problem with complex colour printing where GhosScript fail to parse the supplied postscript output from your application.

A picture is forming in my mind and it is looking more and more interesting.  I think I may need a slightly different attack. I am struggling a bit with figuring out how it is easiest to just solve your problem the easiest way as I fail to see it as a 'complex task' and that was the way I was aiming.

Let that rest for the moment.

Can you elaborate a bit on the colour test print you carried out.

If it printed at 600 dpi, I expected it would print at 150 dpi, and it did.  The color was fine, but it looked slightly more grainy.  It generated the following output:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ lp -d ColorLaser /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
request id is ColorLaser-273 (1 file(s))

Did you set the 150x150dpi ?   The information I have from you says the default for the printer is 600x600dpi who changed it to 150x150dpi  I must be misunderstanding something here.  

I have not forgotten the rest of your post will make a cup of coffee and ponder that.

Added:
I have analysed your printers and I think it may be worth just trying to add another printer queue, install one of the following, they are basically the same.

Color LaserJet 4600 pcl3, hpcups 3. 11. 10
Color LaserJet 4600 Series, hpcups 3. 11. 10

Do a quick check and see if any difference, leave the queue installed, I may want the ppd file.  Post the new value of lpstat -t only.

[blayne]

Any particular reason you run via parallel port? Have you considered running it on a LAN network? I think I read it had embedded webs server could save you getting out of the chair when managing it?

My computer's internet connection is WiFi.  There is no ethernet in my office.  I didn't see the value in buying a WiFi print server when I could just plug in a parallel cable.  I wish the printer had a USB 2.0 port, but the slowness of parallel communications for large print jobs isn't too much of an inconvenience.

Working temporarily gray scale is an option fine, not sure now it will be needed. I understand your need for the colour.

I assume the reason you'd want to run gray scale tests would be to eliminate the issue of not having enough printer memory to print the color images?  If so... the printer was printing the same documents before the PCLinuxOS upgrade, and Okular currently prints the Postscript file generated by Firefox with full color, while printing the same document directly from Firefox prints the color graphics as solid black boxes.  The printer has 192 MB of memory.  It'll print a hundred copies of multipage documents from LibreOffice at full print engine speed once they've downloaded to the printer, but I get black boxes for both of the tiny color logo images on the one page packing slips printed from Firefox.

Though at this stage I would say install the driver you prefer, just tell me which one as I think I have them all here.

Since my last post, I once again deleted all of the printers using the graphical printer configuration that's included with PCLinuxOS.
PC - More Applications - Configuration - Configure Your Printer

I reinstalled the HP 4600 and chose the default HP 4600 driver.  I also installed the Zebra LP2844 thermal label printer.  Here is my current configuration:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ lpstat -t
scheduler is running
system default destination: ColorLaser
device for ColorLaser: hp:/par/hp_color_LaserJet_4600?device=/dev/parport0
device for LabelPrinter: usb://Zebra/LP2844
ColorLaser accepting requests since Fri 23 Mar 2012 06:23:44 PM EDT
LabelPrinter accepting requests since Fri 23 Mar 2012 04:40:16 PM EDT
printer ColorLaser is idle.  enabled since Fri 23 Mar 2012 06:23:44 PM EDT
        ready to print
printer LabelPrinter is idle.  enabled since Fri 23 Mar 2012 04:40:16 PM EDT
        Ready to print.

Everything is working well, except graphic printing from Firefox.  When I need to do that, I print to a Postscript file and print that file via Okular.  It's a lot of extra mouse clicking, but it's not killing me.

At this stage I think I agree with you, there may be something in GhostScript that fails only under certain conditions, and as such this will not be a simple thing to get fixed. Keep your fingers crossed.

My problem seems to be exactly the same as the bug report for the other distro, and their problem was cured when someone fixed a bug in the version of Ghostscript after the one currently used by PCLinuxOS.

I'm thinking I should inquire about that in the PCLinuxOS forum that deals with package versions.

Can you elaborate a bit on the colour test print you carried out.

If it printed at 600 dpi, I expected it would print at 150 dpi, and it did.  The color was fine, but it looked slightly more grainy.  It generated the following output:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ lp -d ColorLaser /usr/share/ghostscript/9.02/examples/colorcir.ps
request id is ColorLaser-273 (1 file(s))

Did you set the 150x150dpi ?   The information I have from you says the default for the printer is 600x600dpi who changed it to 150x150dpi

I did the color test print at the default 600 DPI.  Then I used the printer configuration utility I mentioned earlier in this post to limit the resolution to 150 DPI and repeated the color test print.



As always, thank you for your effort to help me with my printer problem.

BTW - There was a benefit from spending a week in printer hell.  I bought my Zebra label printer used, and it had no manual.  I was assuming that there was a bug in the printer driver that caused it to hang up after every page.  I accidentally discovered that pulling up on the label caused the next label to be printed.  I did a little searching online, and whoa!  That's not a bug!  That's a feature!  The printer has a Label Taken sensor at the output.  In many applications, one label is printed at a time, and the backing paper is removed to expose the adhesive, so the label can be plucked from the printer without peeling it off the backing material.  In that application, if it printed multiple labels, they'd fall onto the floor or they'd stick to each other.  I flipped the little slider switch next to the sensor to disable it and I can now print as many labels as I want.  I printed an entire roll of peel and stick targets for shooting, and each one costs 1.3 cents.  Sweet.  I shouldn't have assumed it was Linux or the driver.  I should have RTFM. 

[blayne]

PS - Here's the current HP 4600 configuration that's working well except for printing graphics directly from Firefox:

[bruce@localhost ~]$ lpoptions -p ColorLaser
auth-info-required=none copies=1 device-uri=hp:/par/hp_color_LaserJet_4600?device=/dev/parport0 finishings=3 job-hold-until=no-hold job-priority=50 job-sheets=none,none marker-change-time=0 number-up=1 printer-commands=AutoConfigure,Clean,PrintSelfTestPage printer-info='HP LaserJet 4600' printer-is-accepting-jobs=true printer-is-shared=true printer-location=bruce printer-make-and-model='HP Color LaserJet 4600 v3010.107 Postscript (recommended)' printer-state=3 printer-state-change-time=1332541424 printer-state-reasons=none printer-type=8425692 printer-uri-supported=ipp://localhost/printers/ColorLaser

[wedgetail]

blayne
I did wonder if there was no LAN available, that is fine. Parallel cable is fine.

Gray scale, you were partly right in that it would probably give indication if memory was a problem. I was also thinking that if you tried to print in gray scales that this might tell if the structure of the file content is still there or is it a massive failure (which ought to have produce and error code from GS I hope)

Can you email a copy of a FF ps output, probably easiest for me to look inside that.

In the directory /ect/cups/ppd you should have a file ColorLaser.ppd send me copy of that

I am assuming that the driver you are now using is the one that came with the printer?  I just want to compare content with the latest I got from HP.

Can you add another "printer" and name it ColorLaser-cups and use the driver I mentioned above  Color LaserJet 4600 pcl3, hpcups 3. 11. 10

We have better start looking at the CUPS error_log in some detail, since you have not mentioned this I will assume you have not turned debug level on. You can check as follows:

Code: [Select]

[root@localhost gert]# cat /etc/cups/cupsd.conf |grep LogLevel
LogLevel warn
[root@localhost gert]#
Here is how to set the the debug level

[root@localhost gert]# cupsctl LogLevel=debug
[root@localhost gert]#

Now lots of lines will be generated in the /var/log/cups/error_log so if I forget to tell you to reset the level to warning here is how you do that

[root@localhost gert]# cupsctl LogLevel=warn
[root@localhost gert]#

Open a konsole to view the error_log in real time, the log keeps giving output even when you are not printing, you will soon get the hang of it.

Code: [Select]

tail -f /var/log/cups/error_log
Now when you print a file that fails, copy the last say 25 lines and post the result, you could have another konsole ready with following content to run

tail -25 /var/log/cups/error_log

The 25 lines is enough for a successful print operation but if there are many more errors, then email approx 200 lines or more if you think that is needed. I don't think there is any educational merit to clog the forum with big logs nobody reads.

Regarding the user manuals, well by universal law, to the initiated, that has to be the last thing we read, in real desperation maybe. Followed by firm commitment to always do that in the future. 

I am happy on your behalf you have you label printer back.

Not printing from FF directly to the printer is pain and not good for the reputation either no matter where the problem is. Is the problem also evident from other browsers  ( yeah I can hear you groan, do I not read what you write  , actually I do)

[blayne]

I'll get to your other helpful inquiries very soon, but first, I'd like to jump to your last question and turn it inside out to hopefully provide a useful insight.

Is the problem also evident from other browsers?

Tonight, I just learned that directly printing from Firefox to an HP 2175 inkjet printer/scanner/copier produces exactly the same solid black box graphics.  This problem is not a function of the HP 4600 color laser printer.

On a whim, I just printed to the thermal label printer directly from Firefox, and it prints the solid black boxes.

On both the HP inkjet and the thermal label printer, having Firefox print to a Postscript file and then opening that file in Okular and printing from there printed the graphics properly.

I can't believe that nobody else is trying to print from Firefox.  If this is a problem for any printer when printing from Firefox, why isn't everyone upset about it?  Printing from Firefox is common.  People pay bills online and want a receipt.  People print coupons from websites.  Want to dispute a charge in PayPal?  They require a form be printed from your browser to be signed and mailed.  Those were just my examples from today.  I can't believe other people wouldn't be asking for a fix for this problem.

And yes, I verified the media before installing the latest version of PCLinuxOS, and I've been installing all of the upgrades from the default repository using Synaptic.  I've reproduced this problem on two different notebook PCs (both Dell M90) and three different printers.  In every case, printing directly from Firefox produced solid black boxes for the graphics, and printing a Postscript file from Firefox and using Okular to print that file printed the graphic images, although in gray scale on the monochrome label printer, of course.

 

[wedgetail]

blayne
This seems to confirm one of my thoughts that Okular seems to do a filtering job, I thought I was getting onto something in your ColorLaser.ppd but that is now totally out the window with all your printers doing the job.

We may have to stop cups and trap some files the last step before going to the printers.  I will however wait and see if the error_log will show any tips.

[wedgetail]

TBercaht
I see some educational benefit at least for myself to explore your system a bit more, so if it is ok by you can I suggest that you start a new thread and post the results there. then I will analyse the information and ask for more info, this would clutter here as some may be repeat.

Leave link pointer back to this thread in you new post.

Leave your post here as well but modify it with a link to your new post then anybody interested can jump easily.   

[wedgetail]

blayne
I have been working hard on a recalcitrant problem but as a side effect I did get a reminder of something I have read long ago.
Print from FF to the printer while all printers are turned off, this is just an easy way to disable cups for a while, not needed for this. The job will then go into the relevant queue and end up in the spooler ready to go to the printer when available.

Clear all print queues, doing this in root konsole

cancel -a

Print from FireFox to any of your printers the PClinuxOS ref-homepage   http://www.pclinuxos.com/

The result is sitting in the spooler (now stuck as printers not on)

In the spooler directory you will find something like

Code: [Select]

[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]# ls -1 /var/spool/cups
00000044
.................
............
........
c00---
d00059-001  <--- the ones starting with d....
tmp/
[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]#
A quick check of the first few lines, well the first line actually is enough, it is a pdf

[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]# head -5 /var/spool/cups/d00059-001
%PDF-1.5
%����
3 0 obj
<< /Length 4 0 R
   /Filter /FlateDecode
[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]#

I thought standard output from linux applications printing was in Adobe Page Layout or postscript and yes I should have remembered that FireFox I believe sneaked this one in  

In general it makes not much difference, well you may now beg to differ.

When you print the same page from FF as postscript file and print from Okular this is two different treatments the ref-page will receive.  

There is a bit more to it which should have been on your side I think but I am in hurry.  Look at the spooler documents with Okular quite interesting.  

Just for my own record I have also printed from :

Opera

[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]# head -5 /var/spool/cups/d00060-001
%!PS-Adobe-3.0
..............

Konqueror web browser and Kwrite

[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]# head -5 /var/spool/cups/d00061-001
%PDF-1.4
....................
[root@KDE-mini-kernel3x ~]#

Should be mentioned printing to a HP Laserjet 2300dn, selected in the applications and set to a parallel port at the time.  At this stage I have not checked the filters that may have been applied to this exercise.

[blayne]

UPDATE

Sorry to bring this thread back to life, but I wanted to post an update, in case it might somehow help others who search with this same problem.

A couple of weeks ago, the problem with black boxes printing from Firefox went away.  I had been doing regular Synaptic upgrades to keep my PCLinux installation up to date, and I'd always check after each update, particularly those that upgraded any software that seemed to be possibly related to the problem, but I was always disappointed.  Then, one day, out of the blue, for no apparent reason, the black boxes disappeared and were replaced by the graphics that should have been printed.

Perversely, I had just decided that I didn't want the PayPal logo on my packing slips anymore and was going to allow them to print as a black box, and manually add my company logo next to it, so the black box might look like an accent bar or something.  As soon as I wanted it to print as a black bar, it started printing as a graphic again.  My wife's PC (same as mine, same operating system) started printing graphics from Firefox at the same time.  I postponed this update post to make sure the fix wasn't a one-time fluke, but it's been consistent ever since.

Again, to be clear, this was apparently NOT the result of any software upgrades in PCLinuxOS.  I have no idea why the problem suddenly went away, but I thought I'd post my results in case someone might be able to figure out what happened, so developers can prevent the problem in the future and other users might be able to fix it if it does happen again.

Thunderbird had been printing black boxes for the graphics as well, but a long time ago it started crashing whenever I print a page with graphics on it, and it still does.  For the rare times I want to print from Thunderbird, I print to a Postscript file, click on the file in the Dolphin file manager to open it in Okular, and print from Okular.  I'm glad I don't need to do that for every packing slip anymore (about ten a day).

Sorry I'm not much help with the cause and solution.  It's a mystery to me.

It's still a lot better than Windows.   

[wedgetail]

blayne
Congratulations having recovered your picture from the black areas. The feedback most appreciated.

I had been wondering how you went with the black spots, and again only few days ago when I was struggling with GhostScript again.  I almost accidently started testing KDE64-test05 which was doing really well for all I was doing, then I started using it for a bit of CUPS testing.

Now I have some unexplained problems I am trying to diagnose.  I will keep in mind you had something happen right now it seems to be my install to hard disk as I get different result when using liveCD.