UbuntuHandbook

For security reason, user may disable printing of documents & files in Linux to prevent them from being photocopied and then shared. Here’s how to do the trick in Ubuntu or other Linux with GNOME desktop.

NOTE: after running steps below ALL applications’ “Print” dialog will no longer accessible either via keyboard shortcut or menu button. Though, this ONLY affect the current user in system!

After this tutorial, ‘Print’ dialog no longer available

Option 1: Single command to disable printing:

A single command is always the most efficient way to toggle a hidden option in Linux.

Firstly, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open a terminal window. When it opens, run command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-printing true

That’s it. The change takes effect immediately!

At any time, you may re-enable the ‘Print’ function by running command in terminal:

gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.lockdown disable-printing

Option 2: Disable printing via Dconf Editor:

For those hate Linux commands, the advanced ‘Dconf Editor’ offers an option to toggle on/off the feature.

Firstly, search for and install ‘Dconf Editor‘ from Ubuntu Software:

Next, launch the tool and then navigate to ‘org/gnome/desktop/lockdown‘. Scroll down and find out the key “disable-printing“.

Finally TURN ON the slider for this key will disable printing for all apps for this user! As you see, there’s another key ‘disable-print-setup‘. With it enabled, print settings is no longer available for this user.

In this tutorial I’ll show you how to install official drivers of commonly used Canon Printers on Ubuntu 13.04, 12.10, 12.04, and Linux Mint.

There’s a ppa repository that provides the official drivers of Canon printers and multifunction devices which are not available on Canon’s website.

The supported Canon printers include:

bjf9000, bjf900, bjs300, bjs500, bjs700 series
e500, e510, e600, e610 series
i250, i255, i550, i560, i850, i860, i950, i990 series
ip100, ip1800, ip1900, ip2200, ip2500, ip2600, ip2700, ip3000, ip3300, ip3500, ip3600, ip4000, ip4200, ip4300, ip4500, ip4600, ip4700, ip4800, ip4900, ip5000, ip5200, ip6600, ip7200, ip7500, ip8500, ip90 series
ix6500 series
mg2100, mg2200, mg3100, mg3200, mg4100, mg4200, mg5100, mg5200, mg5300, mg5400, mg6100, mg6200, mg6300, mg8100, mg8200 series.
mp140, mp160, mp190, mp210, mp230, mp240, mp250, mp270, mp280, mp490, mp495, mp500, mp510, mp520, mp540, mp550, mp560, mp600, mp610, mp620, mp630, mp640, mp750, mp780 series.
mx320, mx330, mx340, mx350, mx360, mx370, mx390, mx410, mx420, mx430, mx450, mx510, mx520, mx710, mx720, mx860, mx870, mx880, mx890, mx920 series.
pixmaip1000, pixmaip1500 series.
pixus250, pixus255, pixus550, pixus560, pixus850, pixus860, pixus950, pixus990 series
pixusip3100, pixusip4100, pixusip8600 series

To install the drivers:

Make sure to disconnect the Canon printer from your computer first. Press Ctrl+Alt+T to open terminal, copy and paste this command and run to add the ppa:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:michael-gruz/canon-stable

update: For Ubuntu 14.04 and Ubuntu 13.10, please use the daily PPA (only cnijfilter-xxxseries packages available):

update 2: For Ubuntu 14.04 users, below PPA miss the packages for ScanGear MP, see this guide.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:michael-gruz/canon-trunk

Then update:

sudo apt-get update

Install Synaptic Package Manager from Ubuntu Software Center, then open it.

Then search for and install cndrvcups-common to install Common Modules, search cnijfilter and find your driver to install. Also search and install scangearmp to install ScanGear MP.