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Andreas F
Asked: 2020-05-19 10:19:58 +0800 CST

Install printer Canon MP280 on ubuntu 20.04

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I am trying to install my Canon MP280 printer to my recently upgraded Ubuntu focal 20.04. This printer worked out-of-the-box with Ubuntu 18.04 on same hardware (HP Folio 1040), so I am surprised to find it does not work quite so well.

I've tried two paths:

  1. system-config-printer: This leads me to either install a generic text-only driver, or a list of non-matching Canon printers. Either way I cannot actually print anything.

  2. install proprietary driver as described here. This ultimately fails due to a dependency to an arcane version of libtiff4 whereas libtiff5 is the only available on 20.04.

Did Ubuntu leave my printer behind?

install printer

printer detected

gutenberg driver recommended

list of supported printers

drivers printing canon libtiff 20.04

2 Answers

  1. To resolve:

    sudo apt install printer-driver-gutenprint
system-config-printer
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  2. There is a PPA for Canon printer drivers. MP280 is listed in this Ubuntu Handbook article among devices covered. This worked for me in Ubuntu 20.04:

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:thierry-f/fork-michael-gruz
sudo apt update
sudo apt install cnijfilter2 scangearmp2 cndrvcups-utility

    After this, you should be able to use apt search mp280 (replace mp280 as needed for other devices) to find the correct driver, or install Synaptic Package Manager (sudo apt install synaptic) for a nice GUI search.

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