Apsfilter is a leading printing solution designed for Unix environments. This powerful magic filter is highly regarded for its performance and functionality.
Apsfilter runs on all Unix flavors with the original BSD compatible lpd(8) or LPRng installed as a line printer scheduler. It supports Postscript printers and non-PS capable printers by using Ghostscript as a PS emulator. This means users can enhance the capabilities of their non-expensive color DeskJet printers, effectively turning them into Color Postscript Printers for free! Additionally, Apsfilter supports printing on locally connected (serial, parallel, USB) and network printers, such as Unix-, Windows-, Novell-, and AppleTalk remote printers.
Another great ability of Apsfilter is its audio processing capabilities. The latest version can play different audio file formats, and the line printer scheduler acts as a local or remote music jukebox. Users have full control over the printing process with easy-to-guess command line options. They can mix different file types on the command line, whether compressed or not.
Apsfilter also offers a variety of helpful new tools. For example, aps2file allows users to print to a file via apsfilter; apspreview previews files as generated by apsfilter using gv, kghostview, or ghostview, and apsfilter-bug assists users in doing bug- and problem reports. Furthermore, Apsfilter is easily integrated into applications because lpr can be executed with a lot of options that influence the quality, style, and layout of the printing process.
Apsfilter supports 11 archive formats and generates a list of contents, along with six compression types that it automatically unpacks to autodetect the file type. Additionally, Apsfilter recognizes 34 file types automatically, even if compressed, including ASCII, BMP, DVI, FBM, FIG, FITS, GIF, G3FAX, HTML, IFF, ILBM, JPEG, Kodak photo, MGR, MIFF, PAM, PGM, PBM, PNM, PPM, PDF, PNG, PS, RLE, SGI, Sketch, SunRaster, Targa, TIFF, Roff, Windows WMF, Word Perfect graphics, XCF, XPM, XWD. Finally, Apsfilter supports audio file formats MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and Wave.
Apsfilter offers many outstanding capabilities, such as duplex printing capabilities with PS printers, printers driven by Ghostscript (if supported by the gs driver), and a pseudo-duplex mode that works with all printers. Users receive a magic cookie via email that allows them to quickly restart the printing process after turning the paper around.
Over 40 Apsfilter (lpr -C/Z) command-line options are available for users. They can adjust Quality (draft, low, medium, high, photo, uni | bi (-directional sweeps)), Paper (plain, coated, glossy, premium, trans), Color (color, gray, mono), Method (auto, ascii (force text mode), raw (uninterpreted)), Paper size (a
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