Printer drivers - whats the difference? (PCL5e, PCL6, Postscript)

mrbios

mrbios

mrbios

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i want to know what the difference is between the 3 different types of printer drivers

at work ive always just downloaded the PCL6 drivers (HP printers im talking about here incase its different for others) but what the difference between them?

Cheers
 
Unless you are working with a large network print server or in a high quality graphics shop I would suggest go with PCL. It's a simpler printer language and more programs support PCL.

PS is 'better' for specialised colour prints (I've no experience of this because we don't print images really) and also if you are printing a lot of postscript files (PDF/PS etc) because no conversion is required, so network traffic is reduced. Check your printer supports postscript otherwise you will just get aload of rubbish come out.

If you are really worried install both, but for home use I'd just recommended PCL.
 
Cheers dude,

I have a hp laserjet 4350n at home in the study/office. been using posscript with it, but its taking ages when i click print before anything spools out. The printer is directly attached to my network so will see if the pcl6 drivers make any difference
 
Yup, PostScript drivers includes all the bells and whistles to enable advanced printing features. We use PS drivers on our big copiers and use PCL5e/PCL6 drivers on printers which don't really do anything other than print basic documents.
 
so hybrid,

would you say stick with the postscript drivers? Or go with pcl?

My other half does a lot of printing, she runs the local brat/brownie's pack.
 
Go with PCL unless she has a specific printer which can take advantage of the extra features or she is printing loads of PDF/PS documents.
 
PostScript is pretty much a requirement at the production level. All our Xerox machines support it natively, and using the PS drivers reduces the RIP time significantly.
 
I've got an old HP Laserjet 4m+ and always use the standard PCL drivers as using the postscript drivers means for me and this printer it takes longer for prints to come out.
 
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