DRV_Z42
=======


What is it?
-----------
This project is a driver / configuration program for the Lexmark Z42 printer.
The printer driver was reported to work with the Lexmark Z43, and the Compaq
IJ1200 also (which is basically a relabeled Z42). 
The configuration program should work with these printers, and
also with the Lexmark Z52.

I think the Z42 is a very nice printer. Unfortunately Lexmark
did not make a Linux driver for the Z42, so I had to write my own. It's a
strange thing: hardware manufactorers not releasing protocols: you do want to
sell as much devices as possible? Also I read there are some problems with
recent distributions: the other Lexmark drivers for Linux won't link with some
dynamic libraries...



Who did it?
-----------
Reverse engineering and programming: Alwin Stolk.



Disclaimer
----------
This program is not guaranteed to do anything. If if destroys your printer,
burns down your house, kills your cat or does something else wrong, I am not
responsible. The driver works ok for me though.



How
---
Lexmark has not released their printer protocol. It was reverse-engineered by
letting the original lexmark driver print to a file. The commands for changing
and aligning the cartridges were snooped from the USB.



Status
------
At the moment this project is considered stable.
It can print BLACK, CMY and CMYK. The supported resolutions are: 300dpi,
600dpi & 1200 dpi (horizontal). The driver supports a few ghostscript
paper sizes. The vertical resolution is always 600dpi.
The driver was tested with both USB and the parallel printer port. I used
Linux 2.4.0-test11 for USB printing, but I got reports it also runs on
Linux 2.2.16 (SuSE 7.0).

This driver is now integrated in gimp-print, to make use of the excellent
dithering code and colour correction. Get the latest gimp-print 4.2 from CVS.
And last but not least: the gimp-print version supports photo cartridges and
2400 dpi!.
( http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net )
 


Printing
--------
gs -dSAFER -r300x600 -sPAPERSIZE=a4 -q -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH \
        -sDEVICE=bitcmyk -sOutputFile=output.cmyk nicepicture.ps

	z42_cmyk size=a4 hdpi=300 bidi=1 mode=cmyk <output.cmyk >/dev/printer 

Parameters:

	size (Paper size)
	Supported sizes, default=a4: 
		a4, a5, a6, legal, letter, isob5, isob6
		jisb5, jisb6, c5, c6, flsa, flse, halfletter

	hdpi (Horizontal DPI)
	Possible values (default=600): 300, 600, 1200

	bidi (Bidirectional printing)
	Boolean, default=1. Almost twice as fast at 300 DPI.
	 
	mode (Printing mode, default=k)
	Possible values:
		k 	= black only.
		cmy 	= colour cartridge only, 'fake' black.
		cmyk	= colour and black cartridges.

Or you change your printer filter accordingly.
Keep a border of 1mm at the top, left, and right. Keep a border of 14.5 mm
at the bottom. 



Contact
-------
If you can't get your printer to work I suggest you visit
"www.linuxprinting.org". They have _excellent_ documentation available.
If you have trouble with USB, then check out "www.linux-usb.org".

If you found a bug or made an enhancement: mail me.
You can mail me in English, Dutch or German. Replies will be in English or
Dutch.

pastolk at xs4all dot nl