# Networked Thermal Printer using Raspberry Pi and CUPS ## Overview **CUPS** — the _Common Unix Printing System_ — is an open source print spooling and scheduling system. One of the interesting aspects of CUPS is its _filtering_ system, which can reconstitute print job data between formats. For example, rasterizing PDF graphics for output on non-PostScript printers. Turns out **there’s a CUPS filter for thermal printers** similar to those Adafruit offers. With a little setup, it’s possible to have these producing razor-sharp graphics unlike anything I’ve seen from a thermal receipt printer before. _Much_ nicer than our improvised Python library! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/031/839/medium800/raspberry_pi_testprints.jpg?1461037881) **This guide is based on a [tutorial by Stewart Russell](http://scruss.com/blog/2015/07/12/thermal-printer-driver-for-cups-linux-and-raspberry-pi-zj-58/)**, with some changes and additions to work with Adafruit’s various thermal printers. **Required items:** - Raspberry Pi computer (any model or version) - Adafruit Mini Thermal Receipt Printer (any model, though the “Tiny” model with USB is easiest to interface) - Thermal paper roll(s) — the smaller printer models require special smaller rolls — and you may want at least one spare to run through while experimenting with settings - 5V power supply (2A or larger) - DC jack adapter and perhaps some breadboard jumper wires - Latest “full” version of Raspbian or Raspberry Pi OS from Raspberry Pi web site (_not_ the “Lite” version) - 8 GB or larger SD/microSD card as appropriate - Monitor, keyboard and mouse - Network connection — Ethernet or WiFi **Some prior Raspberry Pi experience is assumed** — downloading the OS, writing an SD card, basic system and network configuration, etc. You can search the Adafruit Learning System for related guides if any of this is unfamiliar. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/networked-thermal-printer-using-cups-and-raspberry-pi/first-time-system-setup.md) ## Featured Products ### Mini Thermal Receipt Printer [Mini Thermal Receipt Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/product/597) Add a mini printer to any microcontroller project with this very cute thermal printer. Thermal printers are also known as receipt printers, they're what you get when you go to the ATM or grocery store. Now you can embed a little printer of your own into an enclosure. This printer is ideal... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/597) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/597/guides) ### Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer - TTL Serial / USB [Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer - TTL Serial / USB](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2751) Add a _really small_ printer to any microcontroller project with this very cute thermal printer. Thermal printers are also known as receipt printers, they're what you get when you go to the ATM or grocery store. Now you can embed a little printer of your own into an enclosure. This... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2751) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2751/guides) ### Nano Thermal Receipt Printer - TTL Serial [Nano Thermal Receipt Printer - TTL Serial](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2752) Add a _really really small_ printer to any microcontroller project with this very cute thermal printer. Thermal printers are also known as receipt printers, they're what you get when you go to the ATM or grocery store. Now you can embed a little printer of your own into an... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2752) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2752/guides) ### Thermal Receipt Printer Guts [Thermal Receipt Printer Guts](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2753) Add printing capability to any microcontroller project with **just the innards of a thermal printer.** Thermal printers are also known as receipt printers, they're what you get when you go to the ATM or grocery store. Now you can embed a little printer of your own into a... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2753) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2753/guides) ### Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Starter Pack [Mini Thermal Receipt Printer Starter Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/600) Hit the ground running (and printing!) with this starter pack that includes a thermal printer and all the extras and save a few dollars while you're at it. Includes: - [A mini thermal receipt printer](http://www.adafruit.com/products/597) - with cables and... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/600) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/600/guides) ### Thermal paper roll - 50' long, 2.25" wide [Thermal paper roll - 50' long, 2.25" wide](https://www.adafruit.com/product/599) A mini roll of thermal paper, this fits very nicely into our mini thermal printer. 2.25" wide (about 57mm) and 50 feet long (15 meters). BPA-free. [Perfect for use with our mini thermal printer!](http://www.adafruit.com/products/597) No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/599) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/599/guides) ### Thermal Paper Roll - 33' long, 2.25" [Thermal Paper Roll - 33' long, 2.25"](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2754) A little roll of thermal paper! This fits very nicely into our [Tiny Thermal Receipt Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2751). It's ~2.25" wide (about 57mm) and 33 feet long or about 10 meters. No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2754) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2754/guides) ### Thermal Paper Roll - 16' long, 2.25" [Thermal Paper Roll - 16' long, 2.25"](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2755) A little roll of thermal paper! This fits very nicely into our [Nano Thermal Receipt Printer](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2752). It's ~2.25" wide (about 57mm) and 16 feet long or about 5 meters. No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2755) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2755/guides) ## Related Guides - [Adafruit's Raspberry Pi Lesson 12. Sensing Movement](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-raspberry-pi-lesson-12-sensing-movement.md) - [Node.js Embedded Development on the Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/node-embedded-development.md) - [Touch Pi: Portable Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/touch-pi-portable-raspberry-pi.md) - [Raspberry Pi Pokemon Finder](https://learn.adafruit.com/pi-zero-pokemon-lure-module.md) - [MCP4725 12-Bit DAC with Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/mcp4725-12-bit-dac-with-raspberry-pi.md) - [Portable 5in Monitor with HDMI](https://learn.adafruit.com/portable-5in-monitor-with-hdmi.md) - [Getting Started With Windows IoT Core on Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-windows-iot-on-raspberry-pi.md) - [Pi Box](https://learn.adafruit.com/pi-box.md) - [How we designed an injection-molded case](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-we-designed-an-injection-molded-case-for-raspberry-pi.md) - [Raspberry Pi Video Looper](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-video-looper.md) - [Pocket PiGRRL](https://learn.adafruit.com/pocket-pigrrl.md) - [FONA Tethering to Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black](https://learn.adafruit.com/fona-tethering-to-raspberry-pi-or-beaglebone-black.md) - [Using a Mini PAL/NTSC Display with a Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-a-mini-pal-ntsc-display-with-a-raspberry-pi.md) - [Wood Case for Raspberry Pi 3](https://learn.adafruit.com/wood-case-for-raspberry-pi-3.md) - [Adding Basic Audio Ouput to Raspberry Pi Zero](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-basic-audio-ouput-to-raspberry-pi-zero.md)