Mac Integration Basics v10.7 - Apple

Working with PPD files
A PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file contains specialized information about a
specific printer model. You need the PPD file to take advantage of a printer’s special
features and capabilities. Without the correct PPD file, you can’t do things such as
choose from multiple paper trays, use special paper sizes, or print on both sides of the
page. OS X comes with PPD files already installed for most popular printers.
When you add a printer, OS X chooses a PPD file for the printer automatically. You can
change the PPD file to one that you believe better describes your printer. You can use
a PPD that came with OS X or download a PPD from the Internet.
Change the PPD file for a printer you’ve already added:
1. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and click Print & Scan.
2. Select the printer from the list at the left, click Options & Supplies, and then click
Driver.
3. From the Print Using pop-up menu, choose one of the following:
Other, to choose a PPD file that you downloaded.
Select Printer Software, to choose a PPD file that came with OS X.
4. Choose the PPD file and click OK or Open.
5. Make sure the options under the Print Using pop-up menu match the printer’s
features, and then click OK.
Summary
In this chapter you’ve learned the different ways you can use a Mac with local and
network printers. OS X includes full support for most popular printers. You can usually
add a USB printer just by connecting it to your Mac. Connecting to shared network
printers, including Windows printers, is also simple and intuitive. Windows users can
print to a USB printer shared over a network by a Mac using the built-in printer sharing
capabilities of OS X. Based on what you’ve learned, you should be able to perform the
following tasks:
• Configure a Mac to print to a USB printer.
• Share a local printer with network and Windows users.
• Configure a Mac to print to a network or Windows printer.
• Configure a PPD file for use with a network printer.
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