Hewlett-Packard DeskJet 970Cse under a Free Unix OS

Here's how I got my HP dj970Cse working under Linux (and this worked for my friend Ben under FreeBSD too).

Make /etc/printcap look like this:

   lp|Generic dot-matrix printer entry
           :lp=/dev/lp0
           :sd=/var/spool/lpd/lp
           :af=/var/log/lp-acct
           :lf=/var/log/lp-errs
           :if=/usr/local/bin/hp-dj970Cse-printfilter.sh
           :pl#66
           :pw#80
           :pc#150
           :mx#0
           :sh

Make /usr/local/bin/hp-dj970Cse-printfilter.sh look like this:

   #!/bin/sh
   /usr/local/bin/gs -q -sDEVICE=cdj550 -sOutputFile=- - -c quit

Make sure /usr/local/bin/gs is GhostScript version 5.50 or higher.

As for double-sided printing, I haven't gotten that working yet. I'm hopeful, but this post I saw on http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-hardware%40senator-bedfellow.mit.edu/msg02371.html gives me pause:

   From: Grant Taylor 
   Crossposted-To: comp.periphs.printers
   Subject: Re: HP970 printer on Linux, double-sided?
   Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2000 21:13:35 GMT
   
   Ren-Chieh Lien  writes:
   
   > I am considering of purchasing HP970 cse or cxi (what's the
   > difference?), but am wondering whether it will give me a good output
   > from my linux.
   
   The Cse/Cxi difference is in the bundled software or 220v/110v; I
   forget which.  They're the same printer.
   
   Under Linux, the best print modes of the 970 are not supported; HP
   will not document this device's flavor of PCL.
   
   Under Linux, the duplexing feature is also not supported.  From what I
   understand, the latest theory about it involves the driver sending
   scan lines from the bottom up for the back of each page.  It'll take a
   little coding work, once the proper codes are figured out, to do this
   under Linux.
   
   In any case, the 970 is a poor choice for Linux use at this time.
   
   Consider the Epson Stylus line (see http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/
   for Epson support status), or for typical home use the Lexmark Optra
   40 (a Postscript inkjet which now goes for $79 at Egghead).
   
   > I had HP870 and 890 before. When I used cdj550, output image color
   > plots are pretty bad. When I used cdj870, the printouts are much
   > better. What driver may I use in HP970? 
   
   There's no hand-tuned driver for the 970 like there is for the 870.
   You can try various cdj drivers, but none supports the variable drop
   sizes of the latest "PhotoRET" scheme used, IIRC, on the 970.
   
   > Double sided will be nice, but not cruicial. Thanks.
   
   Unfortunately I don't think any of these does duplex.  I'm not aware
   of any duplexing inkjets that are fully supported by the usual free
   software.
   
   See the Printing HOWTO support database more information on printers
   to use with Linux.  http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/pht/printer_list.cgi
   
   -- 
   Grant Taylor - gtaylor@picantecom - http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/
   Linux Printing HOWTO:  http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/pht/

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