Fast print BITMAP to printer (which can do bitblt) from win GDI C/C++

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I'd like to completely control modern color laser printer (which supports BitBlt) -
to be able to print at any point=dot (say 600DPI) any of only 8 really available colors:
Cyan Magenta Yellow blacK C+M=Blue C+Y=Green M+Y=Red (8th - white),

bypassing both color-conversion and dithering blocks of both Windows and printer driver?

Would be most gratefull for some working code example

What I have tried:

DDB with only those 8 colors & BitBlt

Posted 26-Sep-19 18:47pm

Member 14605311

Updated 27-Sep-19 4:02am

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Stefan_Lang 27-Sep-19 3:54am

IMHO both the operating systems and printer functionality have gotten so complex over the past decades that it is no longer possible to write a reliable printer driver all by yourself, even if you're an expert at the field - much less if you need to ask for code.

AFAIK, printer drivers do offer the ability to control pretty much everything already through the printer API provided by the printer producer. It may be hidden by the driver that Windows automatically installs however.

The real problem is to write a driver - any driver - that doesn't automatically get overriden by the next forced Windows update. Or being kicked out for being potentially harmful according to the Windows Updater.

That said, if your printer understands Postscript, maybe that could give you all the functionality you need.

Member 14605311 27-Sep-19 8:12am

Thanks. I've suspected exactly this, but still hoped for miracle.
I'll try Postscript. Haw would I send a PS block to printer from inside of my C program? Can you help me with that code?

Richard MacCutchan 27-Sep-19 4:41am

Maybe you should talk to the printer manufacturer to see if they have an SDK kit which will help. AFAIK the only way to control a printer directly would be to connect it somehow without using PNP.

Member 14605311 27-Sep-19 8:18am

Thanks. Yes, I've suspected exactly this, but still hoped for miracle.
I'll try Postscript. Haw would I send s PS block to printer from inside my C program? Can you help me with that code?

Richard MacCutchan 27-Sep-19 8:57am

I have never tried it, but take a look at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/138594/howto-send-raw-data-to-a-printer-by-using-the-win32-api[^].

Member 14605311 29-Sep-19 11:35am

Thanks a lot. It definitely solves half of the problem: bypassing OS.

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steveb · Answer 1 · 2019-09-27T04:02:00

Printer has been abstracted away into the device context decades ago. So you write/draw to the printer in the exact same manner as you do it to the screen. You just use the 'Printer HDC' instead of 'Display HDC'. All the rectangles and coordinates will be that of the printer HDC.

Just look up how to obtain Printer DC and its a good starting place