Working around the HP RIP problem in Mac OS X

As previously noted, Mac OS X 10.2.5 and Mac OS X 10.2.6 appear to have completely disabled the ability to make the RIP (raster image processor) software work without booting into Mac OS 9. In house, our PostScript Hewlett Packard Business DeskJet 2280 has serious printing problems with both Mac OS X 10.2.5 and Mac OS X 10.2.6. Files must first be saved as PDFs and then printed from Adobe Reader 6.0 or Preview; otherwise garbled text appears on all of the printed pages.

The open-source set of drivers gimp-print will provide a baseline solution for most HP printer owners. While stable and generally reliable, these drivers still do not offer the full spectrum of functionality (purportedly) offered by HP's drivers.

MacFixIt reader David Cargill offers a workable, if somewhat tedious solution for getting RIP functionality without using gimp-print:

1. "First, boot into Mac OS 9 (not Classic) to increase the amount of RAM allocated to the HP RIP via Get Info>Memory. I set mine to 144Mb. I have 1.5 Gb and at 144MB dedicated to the RIP, you can move the 'PS Complexity' slider all the way to the right.
2. Restart/Reboot into OS X.
3. Create artwork in a vector graphics app (I use Illustrator 10) and ALWAYS outline all fonts. If your piece has photos, save them as PICT files. (I've used TIFFs and JPGs, but had more success with PICTs). Avoid using any special effects that use Level 3 PostScript, like drop shadows in Illustrator 10. (Try to do the trick stuff in PhotoShop)
4. Save file as .EPS.
5. Launch PageMaker (I've been using PM since v.1.0) and you are now in Classic. Launch HP RIP. Go to Preference menu and select your HP DesignJet. Next, go to Chooser and select your HP DJ printer, click on Setup and configure the correct PPD for your printer. This will give you all of the size options for your page setup.
6. For a 24" x 36" poster, the page setup is letter (8.5 x 11). For an Arch E (34" x 48") I use a Tabloid page size. Then there are Custom sizes.
7. Go to the Print Menu, verify correct PPD is chosen. Click on Paper button, select Size, locate Arch C, and Scale to 200%. Click on Options and select Write to Postscript File. Give it a real name and don't forget the .ps
8. Save to Spool Folder in the HP RIP.
9. Go to back to the HP RIP and hit the blue (+) button and find your file. I always render a Preview to verify that it looks right and its proper orientation.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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