Text is pixelated when printing

[Romeo Dragnea]

Hello evryone,
I have this issue with a Cannon BJC 210, LPT printer. I have attached a scaned page, printed with arial and ubuntu default font. I used the default printer driver for BJC 210 from Lubuntu. I use LUBUNTU.
Used the comands from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingPrintingProblems to generate some reports for you.

edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep lp
drm_kms_helper 45466 1 i915
drm 197692 3 i915,drm_kms_helper
lp 17455 0
parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep ppdev
ppdev 12849 0
parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep parapot_pc
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep paraport_pc
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep parport_pc
parport_pc 32114 1
parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ dmesg | grep par
[ 0.000000] Booting paravirtualized kernel on bare hardware
[ 0.000000] vt handoff: transparent VT on vt#7
[ 0.048073] no APIC, boot with the "lapic" boot parameter to force-enable it.
[ 0.490987] pci_bus 0000:03: [bus 03-06] partially hidden behind transparent bridge 0000:02 [bus 02-02]
[ 22.530237] parport_pc 00:08: reported by Plug and Play ACPI
[ 22.530294] parport0: PC-style at 0x378, irq 7 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
[ 22.575869] ppdev: user-space parallel port driver
[ 22.625118] parport0: Printer, Canon BJC-210
[ 22.627979] lp0: using parport0 (interrupt-driven).
[ 22.955787] type=1400 audit(1343212299.686:2): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/cups/backend/cups-pdf" pid=501 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 22.956891] type=1400 audit(1343212299.690:3): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/cupsd" pid=501 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.563803] type=1400 audit(1343212300.294:4): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/sbin/dhclient" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.566718] type=1400 audit(1343212300.298:5): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.567210] type=1400 audit(1343212300.298:6): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/connman/scripts/dhclient-script" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.569284] pci_bus 0000:02: Raising subordinate bus# of parent bus (#02) from #02 to #06
[ 23.569301] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [io 0x3000-0x3fff]
[ 23.580079] type=1400 audit(1343212300.310:7): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/ntpd" pid=559 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.660371] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0xe0200000-0xe02fffff]
[ 23.660398] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0x24000000-0x29ffffff pref]
[ 24.334577] type=1400 audit(1343212301.066:8): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm/lightdm-guest-session-wrapper" pid=707 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.346679] type=1400 audit(1343212301.078:9): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/sbin/dhclient" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.368755] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:10): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.369254] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:11): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/connman/scripts/dhclient-script" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /dev/lp* /dev/parport*
crw-rw---- 1 root lp 6, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/lp0
crw-rw---- 1 root lp 99, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/parport0
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe0
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe1
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe2
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe3
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ sudo cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
[sudo] password for edo:
CLASS:PRINTER;
MODEL:BJC-210;
MANUFACTURER:Canon;
DESCRIPTION:Canon BJC-210;
COMMAND SET:BJ,LQ,BJL,BJRaster;
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ $ lpinfo -v
$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lpinfo -v
WARNING: gnome-keyring:: couldn't connect to: /tmp/keyring-ISHVxe/pkcs11: No such file or directory
network socket
network ipps
network https
network lpd
network ipp
network http
direct parallel:/dev/lp0
network beh
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lpinfo -v
WARNING: gnome-keyring:: couldn't connect to: /tmp/keyring-ISHVxe/pkcs11: No such file or directory
network ipps
network socket
network ipp
network http
network https
network beh
network lpd
direct parallel:/dev/lp0
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ /usr/lib/cups/backend/parallel
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ sudo /usr/lib/cups/backend/parallel
direct parallel:/dev/lp0 "Canon BJC-210" "Canon BJC-210 LPT #1" "MANUFACTURER:Canon;COMMAND SET:BJ,LQ,BJL,BJRaster;MODEL:BJC-210;CLASS:PRINTER;DESCRIPTION:Canon BJC-210;" ""

edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep lp
2 to #06
[ 23.569301] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [io 0x3000-0x3fff]
[ 23.580079] type=1400 audit(1343212300.310:7): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/ntpd" pid=559 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 23.660371] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0xe0200000-0xe02fffff]
[ 23.660398] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0x24000000-0x29ffffff pref]
[ 24.334577] type=1400 audit(1343212301.066:8): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm/lightdm-guest-session-wrapper" pid=707 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.346679] type=1400 audit(1343212301.078:9): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/sbin/dhclient" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.368755] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:10): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
[ 24.369254] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:11): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/connman/scripts/dhclient-script" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /dev/lp* /dev/parport*
crw-rw---- 1 root lp 6, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/lp0
crw-rw---- 1 root lp 99, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/parport0
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe0
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe1
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe2
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe3
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ sudo cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
[sudo] password for edo:
CLASS:PRINTER;
MODEL:BJC-210;
MANUFACTURER:Canon;
DESCRIPTION:Canon BJC-210;
COMMAND SET:BJ,LQ,BJL,BJRaster;
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ $ lpinfo -v
$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lpinfo -v
WARNING: gnome-keyring:: coedo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ drm_kms_helper 45466 1 i915

drm_kms_helper: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ drm 197692 3 i915,drm_kms_helper

No command 'drm' found, did you mean:
 Command 'dpm' from package 'dpm-server-postgres' (universe)
 Command 'dpm' from package 'dpm-server-mysql' (universe)
 Command 'crm' from package 'pacemaker' (main)
 Command 'crm' from package 'crm114' (universe)
 Command 'arm' from package 'tor-arm' (universe)
 Command 'rm' from package 'coreutils' (main)
 Command 'rm' from package 'safe-rm' (universe)
 Command 'vrm' from package 'atfs' (universe)
 Command 'srm' from package 'secure-delete' (universe)
 Command 'drc' from package 'drc' (universe)
 Command 'frm' from package 'mailutils' (universe)
 Command 'drr' from package 'plastimatch' (universe)
 Command 'dwm' from package 'dwm' (universe)
drm: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lp 17455 0

lp: Error - unable to access "17455" - No such file or directory
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp

parport: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep ppdev

edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ppdev 12849 0

No command 'ppdev' found, did you mean:
 Command 'ppdep' from package 'fp-utils-2.4.4' (universe)
ppdev: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp

parport: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep parapot_pc

edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep paraport_pc

edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lsmod | grep parport_pc

edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ parport_pc 32114 1
parport_pc: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ parport 40930 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
parport: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ dmesg | grep par
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 0.000000] Booting paravirtualized kernel on bare hardware
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 0.000000] vt handoff: transparent VT on vt#7
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 0.048073] no APIC, boot with the "lapic" boot parameter to force-enable it.
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 0.490987] pci_bus 0000:03: [bus 03-06] partially hidden behind transparent bridge 0000:02 [bus 02-02]
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.530237] parport_pc 00:08: reported by Plug and Play ACPIbash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.530294] parport0: PC-style at 0x378, irq 7 [PCSPP,TRISTATE]
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.575869] ppdev: user-space parallel port driver
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.625118] parport0: Printer, Canon BJC-210
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.627979] lp0: using parport0 (interrupt-driven).
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.955787] type=1400 audit(1343212299.686:2): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/cups/backend/cups-pdf" pid=501 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 22.956891] type=1400 audit(1343212299.690:3): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/cupsd" pid=501 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.563803] type=1400 audit(1343212300.294:4): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/sbin/dhclient" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.566718] type=1400 audit(1343212300.298:5): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.567210] type=1400 audit(1343212300.298:6): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/connman/scripts/dhclient-script" pid=558 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.569284] pci_bus 0000:02: Raising subordinate bus# of parent bus (#02) from #02 to #06
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.569301] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [io 0x3000-0x3fff]
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.580079] type=1400 audit(1343212300.310:7): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/sbin/ntpd" pid=559 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.660371] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0xe0200000-0xe02fffff]
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 23.660398] yenta_cardbus 0000:02:09.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0x24000000-0x29ffffff pref]
bash: [: missing `]'
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 24.334577] type=1400 audit(1343212301.066:8): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_load" name="/usr/lib/lightdm/lightdm/lightdm-guest-session-wrapper" pid=707 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 24.346679] type=1400 audit(1343212301.078:9): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/sbin/dhclient" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 24.368755] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:10): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/NetworkManager/nm-dhcp-client.action" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [ 24.369254] type=1400 audit(1343212301.102:11): apparmor="STATUS" operation="profile_replace" name="/usr/lib/connman/scripts/dhclient-script" pid=709 comm="apparmor_parser"
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /dev/lp* /dev/parport*
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ crw-rw---- 1 root lp 6, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/lp0
crw-rw----: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ crw-rw---- 1 root lp 99, 0 Jul 25 13:31 /dev/parport0
crw-rw----: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ ls -l /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ -r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe
-r--r--r--: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ -r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe0
-r--r--r--: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ -r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe1
-r--r--r--: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ -r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe2
-r--r--r--: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ -r--r--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 25 13:37 /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport0/autoprobe3
-r--r--r--: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ sudo cat /proc/sys/dev/parport/parport*/autoprobe*
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ [sudo] password for edo:
[sudo]: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ CLASS:PRINTER;
CLASS:PRINTER: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ MODEL:BJC-210;
MODEL:BJC-210: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ MANUFACTURER:Canon;
MANUFACTURER:Canon: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ DESCRIPTION:Canon BJC-210;
DESCRIPTION:Canon: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ COMMAND SET:BJ,LQ,BJL,BJRaster;
COMMAND: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ $ lpinfo -v
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ $: command not found
$:: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lpinfo -v
edo@edo-AMILO:~$: command not found
edo@edo-AMILO:~$ WARNING: gnome-keyring:: couldn't connect to: /tmp/keyring-ISHVx
> network socket
> network ipps
> network https
> network l
> network ipp
> network http
> direct
> network beh
> edo@edo-AMILO:~$ $ lpinfo -v
> $: command
> edo@edo-AMILO:~$ lpinfo -v
> WARNING
> network ipps
> network socket
> netw
> network http
> network https
> network beh
> network lpd
>
> edo@edo-AMILO:~$ /usr/lib/cups/backend/p
> edo@edo-AMILO:~$ sudo /usr/lib/cups/backe
> direct parallel:/dev/lp0 "Canon BJC-210"

Thanks you :)

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Welp! :)

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Romeo, the pixelated output has nothing to do with the parallel port connection. The connection works absolutely correct according to your supplied information. Important is to investigate the print filter chain. For that please follow the instructions of the sections "CUPS error_log" and "Capturing print job data" on https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingPrintingProblems. Thanks.

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

 Here they are CUPS error_log (atached) & Captured print job data

cups.upstart.debug
1/2
# cups - CUPS Printing spooler and server
description "CUPS printing spooler/server"
author
"Michael Sweet <email address hidden>"
start on (Þlesystem
and (started dbus or runlevel [2345])
and stopped udevtrigger)
stop on runlevel [016]
respawn
pre-start script
set -x
exec 2>/tmp/log
[ -x /usr/sbin/cupsd ]
# load modules for parallel port support
if [ -r /etc/default/cups ]; then
. /etc/default/cups
Þ
if [ "$LOAD_LP_MODULE" = "yes" -a -f /usr/lib/cups/backend/parallel \
-a -f /proc/modules -a -x /sbin/modprobe ]; then
modprobe -q -b lp || true
modprobe -q -b ppdev || true
modprobe -q -b parport_pc || true
Þ
mkdir -p /var/run/cups/certs
if [ -x /lib/init/apparmor-proÞle-load ]; then
/lib/init/apparmor-proÞle-load usr.sbin.cupsd
Þ
end script
exec /usr/sbin/cupsd -F
post-start script
set -x
exec 2>>/tmp/log
# wait until daemon is ready
timeout=10
while [ ! -e /var/run/cups/cups.sock ]; do
sleep 0.5
timeout=$((timeout-1))
if [ "$timeout" -eq 0 ]; then
echo "cupsd failed to create /var/run/cups/cups.sock, skipping automatic printer
conÞguration" >&2
exit 0
Þ
done
# coldplug USB printers
if ! /lib/udev/udev-conÞgure-printer enumerate 2>/dev/null; then
if type udevadm > /dev/null 2>&1 && [ -x /lib/udev/udev-conÞgure-printer ]; then
for printer in `udevadm trigger --verbose --dry-run --subsystem-match=usb \
--attr-match=bInterfaceClass=07 --attr-match=bInterfaceSubClass=01 2>/dev/null || true; \
udevadm trigger --verbose --dry-run --subsystem-match=usb \
--sysname-match='lp[0-9]*' 2>/dev/null || true`; do
/lib/udev/udev-conÞgure-printer add "${printer#/sys}"
cups.upstart.debug
Þ
done
Þ
end script
2/2

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Thank you for the error_log, but the captured print job data is missing. Please follow the instructions of the section "Capturing print job data" on https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingPrintingProblems. You had followed the instructions of the section "Problems installing the CUPS package", which is not needed here.

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Thank you,
much appreciated :)

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Attached file is the scanned print.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

The problem is that the driver settings for your printer set a ridiculously low resolution of 90 dpi. Typical printing resolutions are in the order of 600 dpi nowadays. For normal printing you should use at least 300 dpi with your printer, 90 dpi is intended as a super-fast draft mode.

To work around the problem choose a higher resolution by changing the default settings with system-config-printer ("Printers" entry of the "Off button" menu at the upper right of the Unity desktop). Right-click the printer's icon, choose "Properties" in the pop-up menu and then choose "Printer Options" at the left side of the pop-up dialog. Scroll through the options and take care that "Resolution" is not set to "Automatic" and not to something lower than 300 dpi. Click OK or Apply and all future jobs should come out in a good quality.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

Problem reported on the upstream mailing list.

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Thank you!
I tried with 360X360 and it is printing in the same way, text is pixaleted. Tried with 720X360 now the font is distorted, big and pixelated.

[Till Kamppeter (till-kamppeter)]

This means that using a higher resolution setting does not improve the situation?

Can you attach an error_log for 360x360 dpi and for 720x360 dpi?

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Attached/ error log 360 dpi

[Romeo Dragnea (clickromeo)]

Attached/ error log 720 dpi

Thank you :)