Comparison between IronPrint and IronPDF

Introduction

This article provides a comprehensive comparison between IronPrint and IronPDF, two powerful libraries developed by Iron Software. Understanding the differences between these libraries is essential for developers seeking to incorporate print functionality into their software applications.

IronPDF Overview

IronPDF is a versatile solution designed for creating, manipulating, and rendering PDF documents. It excels in tasks such as HTML to PDF conversion, merging, splitting, and rendering existing PDF files. Noteworthy features include cross-platform support for Windows and macOS, compatibility with various .NET versions, and easy integration through a NuGet package. Additionally, It is also available for Java, Python, and Node.js making it a top choice for developers across the different programming environments.

Printing Capabilities in IronPDF

A significant aspect of IronPDF is its ability to programmatically print PDF files to physical printers. This feature is facilitated through the Print method, allowing for the quick and efficient printing of multiple PDFs. IronPDF offers options to specify printer names, set printer resolution (DPI), and utilize Microsoft PrinterSettings, providing developers with fine-grained control over the PDF printing process.

IronPrint Overview

IronPrint, on the other hand, is a specialized library designed specifically for printing capabilities. It distinguishes itself with a dedicated set of classes and methods for print-related functionalities. Particularly, it offers clear and detailed print settings, empowering developers to customize various aspects of the printing process to meet their specific requirements.

Print Settings in IronPrint

IronPrint excels in its comprehensive customization of print settings. Developers can specify paper size, orientation, DPI, number of copies, printer name, margins, and grayscale printing options. Additionally, the library offers asynchronous functions, preventing print operations from blocking threads, and thereby enhancing overall performance.

Why did we create IronPrint?

While IronPDF provides a solid foundation for PDF manipulation and basic printing functionalities, IronPrint takes it a step further by offering enhanced printing features and broader platform support. Below, we will outline the primary distinctions between the capabilities of IronPDF and IronPrint, and how IronPrint augments IronPDF's functionalities to cater to the diverse requirements of developers on a global scale.

IronPrint Printing Capabilities

Versatile Printing with Printer Class

IronPrint introduces the Printer class, providing a comprehensive set of methods for printing various file types, including images and PDF documents.

Print Preview and Asynchronous Printing

IronPrint includes methods like ShowPrintDialog and asynchronous equivalents to facilitate print operations, preventing blocking of threads.

Platform Support

Broad OS Compatibility: IronPrint supports printing across multiple platforms, including Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS.

Print Settings

IronPrint employs the PrintSettings class, allowing developers to customize print settings. These settings may be overridden by settings in the print dialog.

To obtain the available printer names, you can use GetPrinterNames() to fetch the printer name list.

Resolution and Color Options

Developers can control the print resolution (DPI) and choose grayscale printing using properties like Dpi and Grayscale in the PrintSettings class.

Number of Copies and Margins

IronPrint allows developers to specify the number of copies and paper margins through properties like NumberOfCopies and PaperMargins in the PrintSettings class.

IronPDF Printing Capabilities

Print Document Handling

IronPDF offers the Print() method within the PdfDocument class, allowing developers to print PDFs by sending them directly to the computer's printer.

Advanced Printing Options

IronPDF provides overloads of the Print method, including options for print preview dialogs and advanced real-world printing settings.

The GetPrintDocument(PrinterSettings, PrintController) method is available for developers who require granular control over sending PDFs to a printer.

Platform Support

Limited to Windows: The print functionality is explicitly mentioned to be supported only on Windows.

Resolution Control

Developers can set the horizontal and vertical PDF resolutions using parameters in the Print method.

Conclusion

IronPDF specializes in PDF handling and printing exclusively on Windows. In contrast, IronPrint is a more versatile library, extending its support to a broader array of platforms. IronPrint offers features like asynchronous printing, a dedicated Printer class, and platform-specific considerations, making it suitable for diverse application scenarios beyond the scope of IronPDF.