In this post, I will show you how to set up the Google Cloud Print service on Windows 10. This is the most quick way printing your documents, especially if you don’t want to set up a network printer, and you decide to use a connection to your friend’s printer via Google Print. In fact, you can print files from Kyiv to Paris if you have access to a printer or if you have been granted this access.

Cloud Print is one of those software technologies which make you ask yourself the question: “Why didn’t this happen many years ago?” This technology helps me print documents from home on my work printer in case I need to do so. Or I don't have to bother with connecting network printer, and just ask a colleague or friend to give access to the printer via Google Print.

How to set up Google Cloud Print?

For this you will need Windows computer, Account Google, Google Chrome, download Google Cloud Print Service and Google Cloud Print Driver (a driver that will help you add a cloud printer to the list Windows printers default).

1. Install Google Cloud Print Service

This is the first step to make sure that the service works on Windows 10. Let's go to the download page and run the installation kit. After which the program will be automatically installed and all the files necessary for the cloud printing system will be located on your PC.

2. Launch Google Cloud Print Service

This step looks simple, but it actually gave me a bit of a headache with the login process.

first of all you need to find recently installed service V start menu V Recently in the added section.

Once you run the application you will get the following window where you have to login but for your computer account not in your Google account .

If you can't log in, you should be aware of what password to enter... This is the password you enter when logging into Windows 10. Some users use an account Microsoft entry To log in, other users create an offline (local) user account.

3. Add local printers

Next, you need to log into your Google account which you will use for service, and after that you will receive a message in the Chrome browser asking for addition local printers on Google Cloud.

That's about it for connecting your standard printers to your Google account.

Now if you are on another computer and logged into Chrome, you need to log into your Google account, you can print the file directly from Chrome as in the image below.

The only thing to note is that if the device that is used to add local Cloud Print printers does not have power supply and is not connected to a PC with the Internet, you will not be able to print, in which case the device will appear in offline mode.

Now if you want to use Google Cloud Print service as a native printer in Windows 10 not just from chrome browser you need to download and install Google Cloud Print Driver

This driver makes life much easier as it allows you to print from any program directly to a cloud printer.

First, you need to say that google cloud print, released by the world famous Google corporation, is new software, through which printing devices connect to the World Wide Web.

Thus, if other similar programs allow you to save certain text documents to formats various types, then Google makes it possible to provide access to your device to other users. This is very convenient, for example, if one of your employees is on a business trip, he can directly send necessary files to your printer, which will print them right away. To print using a virtual Google printer, you can use not only a PC, but also any gadget that has an Internet connection, for example, a regular smartphone.

Thus, correctly installed and properly configured google cloud print is an excellent assistant not only for home use, but also for various organizations. In addition, Google Virtual Printer has excellent compatibility with any modern models of printing office equipment. But to make the work more efficient, it is recommended to use models that support such printing.

So, to install Google printer you need a printing device that supports printing from the cloud. Such devices are an ideal choice for working with Google Virtual Printer. To configure them, you do not need to have personal computer. Such printers connect to the World Wide Web and link to a Google account in a matter of seconds.

If you have a regular printer model connected via USB to a PC, and you decide to install google cloud print on it, then first create an account with Google and download the browser of this corporation. After that, do all of the following:

  • To solve the problem of how to set up google cloud printer, open Chrome browser and go through the main menu to the browser settings.
  • Find the login section and log in, then click on “Show all settings” at the bottom of the window.
  • In the drop-down list, find the section associated with Google Cloud Print and click on “Configure”.
  • Once on the page called “Devices”, click on “Add Printers”.
  • In the window that opens, you will be asked to add all the physical printers connected to your PC to Google.
  • If necessary, you can configure access settings for your printer by going to the page “www.google.com/cloudprint#printers” in your browser. There you can delete, rename, add and view the print queue.

Some applications supported by Google Printer

If you have already installed google cloud print and it is working normally for you, then please note that the list of applications it currently supports consists of several dozen. One of the most popular among them is the Chrome browser. If you are interested in the answer to a question like “how to use Google Virtual Printer,” then simply launch this browser and, by pressing the Ctrl+P key combination, select printing from the “Target Printer” list google help cloud print.

Among devices running Android OS, we can highlight a special Cloud Print application. Using it, you can send commands to print certain documents directly from your smartphone, as well as attached files, e-mail messages, etc. In addition, Google Cloud Print is compatible with Easy Print, Cloud Printer, PrinterShareTM Mobile Print and some other Android applications.

Among iOS devices, Google's printer is supported on PrintCentral Pro. This application designed specifically for printing applications various services. It will allow you to print attached files, e-mails, SMS messages, etc.

Printers that support cloud printing

The list of devices that support Google Printer is quite large. For example, this includes about two hundred models of printing devices that have the HP ePrint function. Therefore, if when you purchase a printer you notice the Google or ePrint logo on it, then it is compatible with this service.

In addition, all Kodak Verite devices support Google Print. There are several Epson models that support cloud printing - they connect to Google Virtual Device automatically. This can also include printers that support Google printer. In general, the list of devices designed for printing that are compatible with Google is quite extensive.

In this article I want to tell you how you can use Google Cloud Print without Google installations Chrome. The purpose of the article will be to configure the machine for Ubuntu management Server as a print server, as well as setting up clients for Windows control, Mac OS and Linux (using Ubuntu as an example). In general, any machine running the GNU/Linux family of operating systems, including a router with a print server function, can act as a server.

1. Print server setup

Let's assume we have a machine with OS installed Ubuntu Server(in the example, version 12.04 is used) and a correctly configured printer. Let's use the guide.

Let's install Git in order to clone the CloudPrint project repository. The project is written in python and use the module python-cups, we will install them too. To build the project we also need a module python-setuptools.

Sudo apt-get install git-core python python-cups python-setuptools

Let's clone the repository, go to the project folder and make the build script executable.

Git clone git://github.com/armooo/cloudprint.git cd ~/cloudprint chmod +x setup.py

Let's assemble and install the project.

Python setup.py build sudo python setup.py install

Let's run the application for the first time.

/usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cloudprint-0.5-py2.7.egg/cloudprint/cloudprint.py

Specify the username and password of the Google account to which you want to link the printer. Please note that if enabled two-factor authentication, as the password you must specify the application password generated on the account settings page. If everything is configured correctly, the screen will display something like: " Updated Printer HP_LaserJet_1018". You can terminate the application (Ctrl + C).

Now let's add the script automatic start using upstart. To do this, we will create a cloudprint.conf file.

Sudo nano /etc/init/cloudprint.conf

Below is the contents of this file. $RUN_AS_USER must be replaced with the name of the user under which the program will be run.

Start on (started cups and local-filesystems and t-device-up IFACE=eth0) stop on runlevel respawn console none script chdir /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cloudprint-0.5-py2.7. egg/cloudprint/ exec su -c /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/cloudprint-0.5-py2.7.egg/cloudprint/cloudprint.py - $RUN_AS_USER end script

Let's launch the program.

Sudo add-apt-repository ppa:simon-cadman/cups-cloud-print sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install cupscloudprint sudo /usr/lib/cloudprint-cups/setupcloudprint.py

In the process of tuning to the question Add all Google Cloud Print printers to local CUPS install? need to answer" yes".

Working with a cloud printer in Ubuntu should not be difficult.

5. Instead of a conclusion

The goal of the article can be considered achieved: we now have a server with a configured printer, as well as clients with the ability to print to it not from Google Chrome. However, this article should not be understood as a call to abandon this browser. We always have the opportunity to print an open page or Gmail letter directly from the browser to the home printer, wherever we are.

6. Links to sources of information

HOWTO: Use Google Cloud Print for Linux (print from Andriod device)
Cloud Printer (formerly, Cloud Print) for Mac OS X By Somasundaram M (2011)
CUPS Cloud Print (Installation)

P.S. Unfortunately, I don't have enough experience creating upstart scripts. I would be grateful if you could help me optimize the above script.

Among Google services There is a Virtual Printer (Google Cloud Print), which allows you to print documents from one computer to another via the Internet. Moreover, you don’t need to install complex software for this. A few are enough simple actions. Let's take a closer look at what it is and why it is needed.

The essence of the system is to use the devices under your control most efficiently, quickly accessing them via the Internet. This applies to any device that can be connected to a Google account: tablet, phone, computer, laptop, and even a camera on the operating room Android system. At the same time, your territorial location does not matter at all. The only and main condition is the availability of Internet access.

Imagine that you are in a park and take pictures with your communicator. Then you look through them and notice a few particularly good shots. I don't want to lose them. You simply take them and send them for printing in the office or at home (depending on where you have a color printer).

Such a “printer” can be another communicator or tablet, where the sent frame will open in the corresponding application. If you work in a cafe or are away from the office, and you need to send a document to your colleagues, then there is nothing easier than sending it to the office for printing. Colleagues will immediately notice the printed document.

It is very important that the device to which the document is sent for printing is turned on, active and has access to the Internet. Otherwise, this device will not even know that they want something from it.

How to connect your printer to Google Cloud Print

If you already have a Google account, you will need to use it to log into your browser and open settings. In the Google Cloud Print section (located under the Show additional settings") click on the "Add Printers" button. After that in Google system Cloud Print will add all printers that are available for the selected PC. And now the setup is complete.

You can manage printers through service page on Google. In the “Printers” section a list of active devices is available, and in the “Print Jobs” section there is a list of files that are or have been sent for printing.

A very important and interesting button called “Share” is available in the list of printers, which allows you to give access to a particular printer to another Google user, even if he doesn't have direct access to it. It is very convenient to share access to printers with colleagues and family members in this way. This will make it possible to use cloud service printing for document transfer. For example, my wife wants me to stop by the bank on the way home and hand in the form she filled out. In a normal situation, she could have sent me this form by email and then I would have printed it out. But in the case of using cloud printing, it simply prints it on my printer in the office, and on the way home I simply take the paper from the printer and go towards the bank with the finished document.

How to print a document via Google Cloud Print

To get started, you need to install a special application ().

After that, we simply share the document, as you usually do when sharing links in in social networks. Among the available programs, Google Cloud Print appears in the list. After logging in, a list of available devices appears, where you need to select the device, set printing parameters (number of copies, etc.) and send the whole thing for printing.

You can also open Google app Cloud Print and through it send a document or photo for printing to specified printer. To do this, click on the printer image at the top right, select a source, select a file and set print settings.

Since in recent years there has been rapid computerization of almost all sectors of industry and the national economy, problems that almost no one had thought about until now are increasingly appearing on the scene. In particular, the issue of printing documents becomes crucial.

And the problem here is often that you would like to send photographs and graphics, text documents and tables for printing from all your devices, and not just from your computer. It’s even better when you can do this even while away from your main workplace. A virtual printer will help you.

Difference from network devices

If you have ever encountered network devices, then you already know about this. Not only a printer, but also a scanner, as well as other office equipment can be networked. An entire work department can use just one scanner connected to shared network enterprises!

What is so unique about a virtual printer? As we have already said, the fast pace of modern life implies the ability to access a device from anywhere, not only from a specific building, but even from a city, or even the whole world. Unfortunately, a regular local network will not help you with this.

As in many other cases, the pioneer in this matter was Google Corporation. Thus, Google Virtual Print was the first to allow users to use their printing devices while being millions of kilometers away.

What it is?

Essentially, it is a printer connected to the Internet. If everything is in order with the connection, you will be able to print documents and photos at any time of the day or night. By the way, about the pictures. You can print them not only from a computer or laptop, but even directly from your smartphone. While on vacation in another country, you can easily send photos for printing in order to please your household with them.

Business benefits

Think for yourself: you don’t have to waste time and money on gaskets. local network in the office itself, there will be no need to configure capricious network devices. All you need is an Internet connection.

In addition, such a solution allows you to increase productivity, since employees can send you important documents, even while on a business trip around the city, or even across the country.

General setup information

Before you can access the full benefits of this technology, you need to link your physical printer to its cloud counterpart. Let's consider this procedure using the same technology from Google as an example, since we touched on this topic earlier.

Before installing a virtual printer, make sure that the real device is connected to a specific computer or local network. Of course, you need to install everything in advance necessary drivers, since the performance of all equipment largely depends on them.

It’s easiest for owners of Chromebooks of various modifications, since Google Virtual Print is natively supported in Chrome OS, and therefore does not require any configuration. However, it’s better to talk about regular computers And operating systems, since in our country these products from the search giant have very dim prospects.

Important! Must be installed on your computer Google browser Chrome, since it is its API that is used by this technology.

Connection procedure

Once you install the browser, you can connect the virtual printer connector. This is not difficult to do.

  • First you need to turn on the physical printer.
  • Start your computer and wait for the operating system to load.
  • Launch the Google Chrome browser.
  • Click on the icon in the form of three horizontal lines in the upper right corner of the program, after which the settings will open.
  • Select "Settings".
  • Then click on the “Show advanced settings” link.
  • Look for the Google Cloud Print section. It contains the “Add Printer” item, which you need to left-click on.
  • If you are asked to do so, you must also sign in to your Google account, or create one (if you don't have one).

After this, you should find your printer in the list that appears, select it with the left mouse button, and then click on the “Add device” button. After this, the procedure can be considered complete. Your virtual printer is ready to use. To verify this, try sending a test document for printing.

Another variant

However, by this concept, many of our users understand the technology that allows you to “print” PDF documents. By the way, in our country until recently this was completely irrelevant, but in Lately The popularity of this is growing at an alarming rate. What is the reason for such “people's love”?

The point is that PDF is a standard. A standard that implies the absolute immutability of a document, on whatever machine and in whatever program it is opened. If you have ever come across a blurry table in a .doc file, then you yourself will be able to understand all the magnificence of this characteristic. In addition, a huge amount of multimedia information can be embedded in such documents, which will not look like a “foreign body”.

Remember how ridiculous the pictures look in Word, and you will understand what we are talking about.

How to create?

Oddly enough, a free virtual printer of this class is rare, and therefore you have to spend a lot of time choosing the right program. Professional applications of this quality rarely amaze the imagination with a modest price, but in recent years you can find many virtual PDF printers whose developers do not suffer from greed.

By the way, what does the concept of “virtual printer” mean in this case? Word is a wonderful program, and in latest versions the creators from Microsoft finally taught it to save documents in PDF format. The only problem is that you cannot configure their default settings.

This is precisely why it is needed. It displays the text on a virtual “print”. And at the end you get a document with professional formatting. By the way, why is such a “printer” better than numerous specialized applications for creating PDF documents?

Firstly, almost all of them are completely free. Secondly, their interface is as simple as possible, but the functionality is very high. This allows even beginners to create documents with complex formatting and accurately given parameters. Let's look at a few of these utilities.

"PDFCreator"

In fact, in its segment, this particular program is the standard both in functionality and ease of use. The good news is that all the “goodies” fit into just 15 MB. The program is completely free, so domestic users will certainly like it. The installation process is as simple as possible: you only need to click on the “Next” button a couple of times.

Attention! Before installing a virtual printer, select the “Advanced Users” option in the main dialog box. This way you can prevent the installation of all sorts of “Yandex browsers” and additional panels in the browser.

How to use the application correctly? There is not the slightest difficulty here: as soon as you install the program, in all text editors The “PDFCreator” printer will appear in the print menu. As in the case of physical printing, you can set the basic parameters of the document (DPI, margin size, etc.).

"Adobe PDF"

The Adobe Corporation is not known only to those people who have not had anything to do with a computer. The legendary “Photoshop” alone is worth it! No less useful is its virtual JPG printer.

The program has a huge number of various settings. There are so many of them that you can easily create a professional-quality document or image. As one might assume, the program is paid, so it can only be recommended to those who are truly interested in first-class work tools.

"Cute PDF 2.7"

In this case, they will not require money from you. In addition, the size of the program is 1.5 MB, which is ridiculous in our times. But without the “Ghostscript” add-on, the utility will work in a reduced mode, and its size is five megabytes. However, the final 6.5 MB will be quite manageable for owners of even a GPRS modem.

Unfortunately, the program's capabilities are also very modest. In particular, the “printing” itself occurs immediately, without the appearance of any dialog boxes settings. In defense of the utility, we can only say that it provides excellent compatibility with all existing this moment PDF standards.

"doPDF 6.0"

This free virtual printer offers a great balance of functionality and simplicity. It's no joke - the entire installation package takes up a measly 1.5 MB, without any additional elements! This volume contains an excellent application that allows you to create beautiful, high-quality and standardized documents.

Before setting up a virtual printer, you should familiarize yourself with its basic capabilities. In particular (as we have already talked about), you can adjust the size of the fields, change the DPI of the pages, and set certain standards for the PDF format itself.

Important Note

Whatever virtual printer program you use, you should know something important. Even in the FAQ of the most popular (and paid ones, too) software products It is extremely rare to find clear technical specifications for a specific PDF standard and its compatibility, so you often have to look for relevant information on thematic forums (or in the English version of the help, where this data is often available).

Also, don't get carried away high resolution: Set exactly the DPI value at which the document is comfortable to read. If you set the percentage too high, then on tablets and others mobile devices the file will be difficult to open. This is even truer the more widely such gadgets become common in everyday life.

That's what a virtual printer is. We hope that you have learned about all its advantages and applications.

Such technologies have been very relevant in recent years, as businesses and ordinary users increasingly need not only widespread access to printers, but also maximum standardization of the formats used.