About using printer drivers

A printer driver is the device that communicates between your software program and your printer. When you create a publication in Microsoft Publisher, the printer driver tells Microsoft Windows how to translate the publication so that the printer understands it. For the best printing results, you need to install the printer driver that corresponds to the printer you're using for your publication.

Desktop printer drivers

If you're printing on a desktop printer, you're probably already using  the correct driver. When you used the Add Printer Wizard in Windows or Windows NT, you specified which printers you’d be using, and your Windows operating system installed the appropriate drivers.

Commercial (PostScript) printer drivers

Commercial printing services often use PostScript printers. PostScript is simply a printing language used to print high-resolution images of your publication.

If your printing service accepts Publisher 2000 files, you won't need to save your publication as a PostScript file. In some cases, (for example, if your printing service uses only Macintosh processors, or if your printing service does not accept Publisher 2000 files), you might need to prepare a PostScript file.

When you create a PostScript file, everything in your publication — including layout, pictures, and fonts — is translated into PostScript. To create the file, you will need to install a PostScript driver that is compatible with the printer used by your printing service.

Publisher includes two printer drivers that work with nearly all PostScript printers used by commercial printing services. The following is a list of the commercial printers that Publisher’s printer drivers support. It is not comprehensive; other printers may also be compatible with Publisher's commercial printer drivers. You can install either driver included with Publisher through the Add Printer Wizard.

The Microsoft Publisher Imagesetter printer driver

The Imagesetter driver supports the following printers (for printing spot-color or black and white publications):

• Agfa ProSet 9550 
• Agfa SelectSet 5000
• Linotronics 330
• Linotronics 530
• Linotronics Herkules 50
• Scitex Dolev 200 PS/M
• Varityper 4000
• Varityper VT-800
• Xante PS 1200 

The Microsoft Publisher color printer driver

The Publisher color Printer Driver supports the following printers (for printing color or black and white publications):

• Canon CLC 500 with Efi Fiery RIP
• Compaq PageMarq 20
• Hewlett-Packard LaserJet 4MV
• Indigo E Print 1000
• Tektronix Phaser 300I
• Tektronix Phaser 340I
• Tektronix Phaser IIId
• Xerox Docutech