[GLLUG] PDF Files

[Sean O'Malley]

On Thu, 26 Apr 2007, Richard Houser wrote:

> Umm, a postscript file is a native printing format.  lpr filename.pdf
> and it's over.

I wish it was that simple. :) printing is a magical art. essentially you
lpr a printjob. Then the file program looks at the printjob and determines
how to convert it to a language the printer actually understands which is
usually, ps/pcl/pjl/text for laser printers, inkjet printers are usually a
whole other ballgame as far as what language they support. then lpd
actually sends the converted (if needed) data to the actual printer.
The point being, you don't actually even have to send it to lpr, you can
just do the conversions by hand..

I may have run it through illustrator after the initial conversion too.
I'm kind of picky about filesize and keeping vector image formats in
tact.).  I really don't recall exactly =how= I did it, but it was a
multi-step process. I may have used pdf2ps or ps2pdf (which would
essentially be a pdf file wrapped in a pdf file.) or just converted
the file to EPS which illustrator supported. I just remember
it was a multi-step process and it didnt actually require hacking a
password out of it and ended up with an editable pdf document.