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Advances in Windows Printing

Advances in Windows Printing. Daniel Emerson Program Manager Digital Documents Platform and Solutions Microsoft Corporation. Session Outline. Tenets of Windows Printing Improvements Rich end-to-end document and color printing Address technical limitations Windows Longhorn/WinFX Print Paths

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Advances in Windows Printing

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  1. Advances in Windows Printing Daniel Emerson Program ManagerDigital Documents Platform and SolutionsMicrosoft Corporation

  2. Session Outline • Tenets of Windows Printing Improvements • Rich end-to-end document and color printing • Address technical limitations • Windows Longhorn/WinFX Print Paths • Business impact • Development requirements • Call to Action

  3. Session Goals • Ensure understanding of Longhorn Printing Landscape • End to End Data flow • Enabling vendor innovation • Provide details on technologies contributing to keynote demonstration

  4. Metro: The Keystone of Windows Printing Print to Metro spool file Word Document (.doc) “Metro” is a document format, a spool file and a PDL Publish as Metro document • New format, code-named “Metro”, is the foundational building block for Longhorn document and printing improvements • Enabler for core Windows Printing tenets • OS will continue to support today’s drivers and application to enable innovation on new technology

  5. Tenet: Enable Document Workflow Innovation • New print spool file is open and extensible • Well-defined container format and XML content markup • Enables vendor innovation • New applications and new spool file share content markup • Save Format = Print Format • Preserves application content and user intent • Spool file viewable using platform services • Spool file can be reintroduced into document workflows

  6. Tenet: Enable Color Workflow Innovation • Color data can be reliably persisted from the application to the driver • Color profiles and processing instructions can be directly embedded in the spool file • New spool file supports representation greater than 8 bpc color • Improved communication of color capabilities and settings • Applications can control color processing • “Turn-off” system color management in the new print path • Drivers can more completely express color capabilities

  7. Tenet: Realizing WYSIWYG • Maintain the contract between screen and print • Consistent format for electronic publishing and print publishing ensures fidelity • Support Enterprise printing trends • In-house printing enabled through improved output fidelity • Print on Demand requires alignment of producer and consumer

  8. Architecture Impacts of Tenets • Improve abstraction of hardware from software • Built on a rich content spool file format • Native support for transparency and gradients • Enable applications to print to any device without unnecessary “workarounds” • Provide new opportunities for print driver innovation • Enable modular, extensible framework • Eliminate spool file size limitations • Facilitate advanced graphics printing for large format media • Eliminate content bloat from format translation • Remove infrastructure limits on maximum spool file size

  9. Windows Longhorn Print Paths

  10. Architecture Overview: Simplified View Win32 App WinFX App Print Subsystem Metro to GDI PP GDI to Metro PP GDI Print Path Metro Print Path GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV New driver model extension, code-named “MetroDrv” IHV

  11. Architecture Overview Win32 App WinFX App Print Subsystem Metro to GDI Conversion EMF Metro GDI to Metro Conversion GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV New spool file format, code-named “Metro” IHV

  12. Beneficial for Applications • Print path selection automatic for both GDI and MetroDrv driver and devices • Print Subsystem handles conversion paths • Conversions preserve and optimize original content within the bounds of the print path • Delivers the value of Metro drivers and devices to Win32 applications • Win32 application can be optimized for conversion path for additional improvements

  13. Beneficial for Drivers • Print path selection automatic for both Win32 and WinFX applications • Print Subsystem handles conversion paths • Enables “scalable consumption” • IHV can optimize driver to complement device functionality • Enhanced Version 3 driver model: MetroDrv • MetroDrv offers better flexibility • Extensible filter pipeline, filter reuse, rich spool file format • MetroDrv offers better fidelity • WYSWYG preservation of application content

  14. Beneficial for Devices • Allows direct consumption of the spool file in the device • Enables PCs, mobile devices and removable storage to directly print to supporting devices • Multi-function devices become active workflow participants • Devices are both sources and destinations for document content

  15. Print Path Components: Metro Spool File Format Print to printer (Metro spool file) Word Document (.doc) Metro is a document format, a spool file and a PDL Consumein driver or directly in printer as a PDL Publish as Metro document • Open, extensible format for fixed layout, paginated content • Better integrates printing into document and color workflows

  16. Print Path Components: MetroDrv Driver • Extends the existing Version 3 print driver model • Works with Point and Print downlevel to Windows XP • Consumes the Metro spool file format • Enables vendor innovation through a filter pipeline • Designed for print processing, rendering, and post-processing functionality • MS provides the infrastructure and DDK samples • Enable application compatibility through built-in GDI to Metro conversion • Attend “Foundation Technologies for the Document Life Cycle” presentation for more information on Metro consumption

  17. WinFX Content Production WinFX App Print Subsystem Metro to GDI Conversion EMF Metro GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  18. Metro Print Path WinFX App Print Subsystem Metro MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  19. Metro Print Path Details • Optimal printing path for fidelity and performance • Metro content from application (production) to driver/device (consumption) – end to end support • Spooler is “Metro-aware” • Native spool file • Direct spooling path • Components • WinFX application • MetroDrv driver

  20. Metro to GDI Conversion Print Path WinFX App Print Subsystem Metro to GDI Conversion EMF GDI/DDI Driver Provided by: Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  21. Metro to GDI Conversion Print Path Details • Ensures WinFX applications can print to existing drivers • Print Subsystem intelligently converts content within the capabilities of GDI • Transparency is flattened • Gradients are simulated • Complexity gradient and transparency interaction may be rasterized for performance • WinFX printing infrastructure simulates a Win32 application printing • Components • WinFX Application • GDI/DDI Driver

  22. Win32 Content Production Win32 App Print Subsystem EMF Metro GDI to Metro Conversion GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  23. GDI to Metro Conversion Print Path Win32 App Print Subsystem Metro GDI to Metro Conversion MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  24. GDI to Metro Conversion Print Path Details • Enables Win32 applications to print to MetroDrv drivers • Conversion is bundled in MetroDrv driver package • Conversion optimizes for Metro benefits • Resource reuse • Font subsetting • Transparency and gradient optimizations • Components • Win32 Application • MetroDrv Driver

  25. GDI Print Path Win32 App Print Subsystem EMF GDI/DDI Driver Provided by: Existing PDL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  26. GDI Print Path Details • Existing GDI Printing still available for Windows Longhorn • Components • Win32 Application • GDI/DDI Driver

  27. Print Paths Comparisons: Quality Win32 App WinFX App Good. Optimizations for transparencies and gradients, post GDI/GDI+. Better. Flattening filters applied to improve fidelity of transparency and gradients, converted to GDI. Metro to GDI PP GDI to Metro PP GDI Print Path Metro Print Path Baseline quality. Today’s print path Best. Transparencies and gradients are graphics primitive attributes and natively consumed by devices/drivers. GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device PS/PCL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  28. Print Paths Comparisons: Performance Win32 App WinFX App Better. Graphics optimizations, font subsetting and resource reuse support in conversion reduce spool file size Good. Intelligent flattening reduces rasterization. Metro to GDI PP GDI to Metro PP Best. Native graphical primitives, resource management, and native spool file support result in highest performance. GDI Print Path Metro Print Path Baseline quality. Today’s print path GDI/DDI Driver MetroDrv Driver Provided by: Metro Device PS/PCL Device Microsoft ISV IHV

  29. Call to Action • Understand Longhorn Print Architecture • Identify strategic devices to target the Metro Print Path • Identify extension scenarios • Understand the Windows Color System • Review the Metro v.7 specification and provide feedback to prninfo @ microsoft.com • http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/print/metro.mspx • Start implementation with Beta 1 • Convert GDI/DDI based drivers to MetroDrv drivers • Explore the sample filters in Longhorn Beta 1 WDK • Consider on-device rendering with a RIP implementation • A reference implementation is planned for Longhorn Beta 1 tools • Visit the WinHEC Hardware Showcase and vendor booths in the exhibition

  30. Community Resources • Community Sites • http://www.microsoft.com/communities/default.mspx • List of Newsgroups • http://communities2.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx • Attend a free chat or webcast • http://www.microsoft.com/communities/chats/default.mspx • http://www.microsoft.com/seminar/events/webcasts/default.mspx • Locate a local user group(s) • http://www.microsoft.com/communities/usergroups/default.mspx • Non-Microsoft Community Sites • http://www.microsoft.com/communities/related/default.mspx

  31. Additional Resources • MSDN Developer Community Chats: • Printer Drivers -- Ask the Experts Online http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/windows/windows_102402.asp • Windows Drivers: Printer Drivers http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/windows/windows_101602.asp • Windows Drivers Printing and Networking http://msdn.microsoft.com/chats/windows/windows_022002.asp • Web resources • WS-Devices Profile: http://msdn.microsoft.com/webservices/understanding/specs/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnglobspec/html/devprof.asp • Printer Working Group http://www.pwg.org • WHDC Printing home page: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/print/default.mspx • WHDC Still Imaging / WIA home page: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/stillimage/default.mspx • Color Use Caseshttp://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/display/color/WCS_cases.mspx • “Writing Effective Use Cases”, Alistair Cockburn, ISBN 0201702258

  32. Additional Resources • E-mail • For developer print questions: prninfo @ microsoft.com • For developer scan questions: wiainfo @ microsoft.com • For developer color questions: mscolor @ microsoft.com • Developer kit references: • SDK for Print Schema User Manual and Keywords: http://winfx.msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/printschema/PrintSchema/Overviews/PrintSchema_entry.asp • WDK for PT/PC interfaces: Reference\Printer Driver and Spooler Component Interfaces\Printer Driver Functions and Structures\Unidrv and Pscript Interfaces\Methods for PrintTicket Providers and Consumers • WinFX Print System Object • Documentation available in WinFX Beta 1 SDK

  33. Related Sessions: WinHEC 2005 • April 25: • Foundation Technologies for the Document Life Cycle • Windows Color System Overview • Ask the Experts: • Windows Color • Windows Printing • Windows Document Technology • Avalon • April 27: • Avalon Imaging Codec Architecture: Overview • Web Services for Devices: the .NET Vision Realized • New Document Life Cycle Opportunities

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