The most significant addition to the latest version of LaserWriter 8 (version 8.3) is support for ColorSync 2.0. For most applications this means immediate benefits when printing documents that contain color images, graphics and text. The following notes provide some information about the implementation of ColorSync 2.0 support in the LaserWriter 8 driver.
The user interface changes affect only the Print Options dialog. The Print popup menu now contains items for ColorSync Color Matching and PostScript Color Matching. In addition, there is a Printer Profile popup menu which displays a list of available ColorSync printer profiles. These new settings are remembered on a printer by printer basis.
When the user selects ColorSync Color Matching, the driver calls upon ColorSync to convert source color data to destination color data. The result of this conversion, based on the destination profile’s dataType field, is a color in the printer’s device color space. Since the PostScript generated by the driver contains color specifications in a device color space, the actual colors seen on output are device dependent.
When PostScript Color Matching is selected, LaserWriter 8 takes advantage of the color matching capabilities in PostScript Level 2. In this mode, the driver asks ColorSync to convert source profiles to PostScript color spaces. The driver also uses ColorSync to build a set of Color Rendering Dictionaries, from the selected destination profile; these are downloaded to the printer. As an alternative, the user can select the Printer’s Default in the Profile popup menu, which allows the printer to use its own Color Rendering Dictionary instead of the one created by ColorSync. Note that the PostScript Color Matching method is not appropriate when printing to a Level 1 printer.
If ColorSync is not installed, the PostScript Color Matching feature is still available, but the only profile that can be selected is “Printer’s Default”. Matching in this way is equivalent to “Calibrated Color Matching” on earlier versions of LaserWriter 8.
LaserWriter 8 and QuickTime JPEG images
In the new release of LaserWriter 8 (version 8.3) documents containing both 8-bit grayscale and 24-bit color images, compressed by QuickTime’s JPEG codec, are printed much faster. Instead of decompressing these images on the Macintosh, the driver sends them directly to the printer where they are decompressed by PostScript’s DCTDecode filter. The driver respects the image’s transformation matrix, so applications can specify image translation, skewing and rotation.
Because QuickTime’s JPEG data is hidden inside of a PICT, applications do not need to change to take advantage of compressed JPEG data; they need only use DrawPicture() to print embedded pictures. Applications that have raw JPEG data that needs to be printed can use QuickTime’s FDecompress() call to wrap the data in a recognizable way for LaserWriter 8. LaserWriter 8 will then send the compressed data to a level 2 printer but will decompress the data on the Mac before sending it to a level 1 printer.
Desktop PrintMonitor
The best news in a long time is that PrintMonitor has been completely rewritten and replaced by a background print monitor which is really useful. The new software, called Desktop PrintMonitor, uses an interface very similar to that provided by QuickDraw GX. The user experience for Macintosh printing is now easier and more powerful - for all users, whether or not they have installed GX.
The key features of Desktop PrintMonitor compared to the old PrintMonitor are:
• A better User Interface (GX desktop printer metaphor)
• No need to use the Chooser to switch between printers.
• Jobs can be moved from one printer to another of the same type.
• Documents can be printed to multiple printers at the same time.
• An error on one printer does not hold up processing of jobs on other printers.
• Jobs can be placed on hold.
• Jobs can be assigned priorities.
Desktop PrintMonitor runs on all Macintoshes with System 7.1, Finder (7.1.3) and Thread Manager (1.2) or later. The recommended memory partition for Desktop PrintMonitor is 160K, plus 200K for each Desktop Printer Spooler. The amount of memory required for an individual Desktop Printer can be adjusted up or down through its Get Info window. Desktop PrintMonitor uses the same spool file format as the old PrintMonitor which means that it is compatible with LaserWriter drivers (7.x and 8.x) and Apple’s QuickDraw LaserWriter and Inkjet (StyleWriter) drivers.
Tidbits
The LaserWriter 8 driver contains a 'PRFS' resource and a ResEdit template that can be used to control some of the driver's operation. Below is a description of the controls available in the resource:
Full PPD Dialog Defaults to Off.
When this setting is enabled, LaserWriter 8 will provide detailed error dialogs about problems it encounters when parsing a PPD file. It is useful for those creating PPDs.
Never Send Binary Data Defaults to Off.
In normal operation, LaserWriter 8 sends data that uses the entire 256 character byte range. Enabling this option causes LaserWriter 8 to send only 7 bit ASCII when connected to a printer. This setting does not effect data saved to disk.
Don't Frame N-up pages Defaults to Off
Setting this option causes the borders surrounding n-up pages to be suppressed.
Create papToDisk Defaults to Off.
When this setting is enabled, LaserWriter 8 writes a complete transaction of it communications with the printer into a file named papToDisk01 on the root of the boot volume. This file can be useful when tracking down PostScript errors.
Enable PostScript Fax Defaults to On.
Turning off this setting prevents the driver from showing a 'Fax' destination in the print dialog box.
Spool In Output Folder Defaults to Off.
If this option is enabled, and the user is saving a PostScript file to disk, then the driver's spool file is created in the same directory as the created PostScript file. This can be useful when creating large PostScript files but the boot volume is full.
Sticky Destination Defaults to Off.
When enabled, the print dialog's file destination will be sticky between jobs. This is useful when a user is creating many PostScript files.
LaserWriter 8 now supports (i.e. downloads) GX TrueType fonts. LaserWriter 8 has also added the •Archived Type 1 Fonts• folder to its search list for fonts.
In LaserWriter 8 versions 8.2.2 and later, there is no more accidental faxing when applications carelessly set the “send to fax” bit in the print record. In addition, fax support is no longer dependent on a special version of the PPD file. For example, the latest PPD file for the LaserWriter Select 360 supports the printer with or without its optional fax card installed.
If you use LaserWriter 8 with WorldScript I or II, please make sure to use the latest versions (8.3 and 7.5.1 respectively). Several line layout problems have been fixed.
Q&A
• When will LaserWriter 8 run native on PowerMacs?
The port has been started and we will ship a native version of LaserWriter 8 later this year.
• When is LaserWriter 8 going to implement single-pass foreground printing like LaserWriter version 7?
We hear you and we are going to provide a single-pass printing path in the next major release of LaserWriter 8. Not only that, we expect to significantly improve the performance of the current two-pass printing path giving you the best PostScript printing performance you’ve seen to-date.
• Why does Apple continue to develop both LaserWriter 8 and GX?
QuickDraw GX provides a very powerful and extensible architecture for graphics and printing on the Macintosh platform. As developers, there are many exciting benefits to be gained by supporting GX from within your applications. However, we recognize that there is a large user base which will likely never upgrade to GX. For this reason, we continue to support LaserWriter 8 for their PostScript printing needs.
• LaserWriter 8 supports PAP only. Will it ever support serial-connect printers or non-AppleTalk networks?
The answer lies with Open Transport. The next major release of LaserWriter 8 will use Open Transport for its connection and communication needs, opening up the possibilities of printing over many different media and different network protocols.
• Will LaserWriter 8 run on Copland?
The plan of record is that QuickDraw GX will be standard on Copland. We are very interested to hear from developers your requirements for printing on Copland. Your input to Developer Services will help us understand your needs and concerns.
