Strange text printing when using RICOH Aficio printers with a Mac


Symptoms

When using a Mac with a RICOH printer, the printer prints gibberish.

Cause

RICOH postscript print driver is installed, but the printer does not have postscript enabled.

Resolution

Install the printer with LPD (Line Printer Daemon) protocol using the generic PCL driver.

Some RICOH printers do not have postscript enabled. If the printer is printing strange text, uninstall the printer and reinstall it using the LPD (Line Printer Daemon) protocol and the generic PCL driver.

To install the printer:

1) Click on the System Preferences icon in the Dock.

2) Click on the Print & Fax icon.

3) Click the plus (+) icon to add a new printer.

4) Click the IP icon to add the printer by IP address.

5) Change the protocol to Line Printer Daemon - LPD.

6) Type IP address, printer name, and location into the appropriate boxes.

7) Set 'print using' to Generic PCL Laser Printer.

8) Click Add.

9) You will be prompted to install other options such as Duplexing; Select all that apply, and then click Continue.

Outcome

The printer is now added. The RICOH printer should now be printing text correctly.