PostScript Printer PPD Issue

[tsaronian]

An issue selecting a printer PPD in Illustrator is preventing PostScript printing. The printer is a Ricoh IM C4500 with PostScript Level 3 RIP built-in. macOS Monterey with Ricoh drivers install and print correctly except from within Illustrator (26.0.1).

PPD is not selectable and Print as Bitmap is selected and deselecting does not change the setting.

Choosing Adobe PostScript file activates the PPD

Illustrator is not seeing the Ricoh as a PostScript printer and I haven't figured out a workaround.

I know this is most likely a Ricoh/Monterey issue but I appreciate any suggestions.

[tsaronian]

Update -

An office MacBook Pro with macOS 11.6 has both old (1.2) and new (3.0) versions of the Ricoh driver. Illustrator can see the PPD with 1.2 and can not see the PPD with 3.0. I think this isolates the issue to the latest Ricoh driver.

[tsaronian · Accepted solution]

Solving my own problem. Did a little reworking of the CUPS driver in order to activate Adobe PostScript and set it to the default. The bug is actually in the way Apple installs the CUPS driver ro the Ricoh.

[bradboutwell]

Tsaronian,

Could you please share your solution in a bit more detail? I am having the exact same problem with a Ricoh M3002 and Illustrator.

[tsaronian]

Here are the steps:

Use Terminal command to enable CUPS web interface
cupsctl WebInterface=yes

Go to CUPS URL for local installed printers and select Printers tab
http://localhost:631/
Username & Password are those for the computer

Choose Ricoh printer
RICOH_IM_C4500__PS_

Select Modify Printer - Then Continue
Then click on Continue again
Select RICOH IM C4500 PS (en,...)

Click on Modify Printer

Set Default Options
Change PostScript to Adobe PostScript

Click on Set Default Options

[bradboutwell]

You are a lifesaver. I have been having to create PDFs and print from Acrobat. Thanks 🙂

[bradboutwell]

Again, thank you. I would not have even know to enable the CUPS GUI. It works like a charm!

[alastairplattSF]

This is great, thank you

[tsaronian]

Glad I was able to create a searchable solution for a bug which, although simple, is 100% immobilizing to our PostScript printing. We have three large corporations to point the finger at for leaving us this issue. They should be asshamed at their lack of response.

[ski_8442]

I am having the same problem - what did you do to the cups file to get out to work?

[tsaronian]

The solution is listed above in this thread. Be aware that some items may have changed over the last 3 years, but you should be able to work your way through any variations.

Good luck!

Here are the steps:

Use Terminal command to enable CUPS web interface
cupsctl WebInterface=yes

Go to CUPS URL for local installed printers and select Printers tab
http://localhost:631/
Username & Password are those for the computer

Choose Ricoh printer
RICOH_IM_C4500__PS_

Select Modify Printer - Then Continue
Then click on Continue again
Select RICOH IM C4500 PS (en,...)

Click on Modify Printer

Set Default Options
Change PostScript to Adobe PostScript

Click on Set Default Options

[Y8eebtBS]

I had a similar issue with a Ricoh IM C2500 on my M2 Max MBP running macOS Sequioa (15.6). The cups options where slightly different.

1. Use Terminal command to enable CUPS web interface

cupsctl WebInterface=yes

2. Go to CUPS URL for local installed printers and select Printers tab

http://localhost:631/

3. Choose Ricoh printer

4. Select "Modify Printer" from the Dropdown from the "Administration" dropdown

5. Enter your computer admin username & password

6. Click "Continue" on the first 2 "Modify Printer" Pages. No changes needed

7. Select the matching PPD file for your printer and then click "Modify Printer"

- For myself it was "RICOH IM C2500 PS…"

8. Quit and re-open Illustrator. You should now see a PPD option.