What are the differences between the various printing APIs I see in the JDK?
A. These are the printing APIs in the JDK: 1.1 (aka AWT) printing – java.awt.PrintJob • A UI component-oriented printing API • Can print only the 1.1 “Graphics” API, not “Graphics2D” extensions 2D printing – java.awt.print.PrinterJob • A more flexible API for printing documents • Can print all of Java 2D. • Callback printing model • Integrates with javax.print Java Printing Service – javax.print packages • Adds discovery of printers and capabilities • Adds ability to specify job behaviour through attributes • Adds ability to install custom print services In summary 1.1/AWT printing can be used for many basic cases but has largely been superseded by 2D printing (as of J2SE 1.2), and when the javax.print package was added in J2SE 1.4 it was made largely complementary to 2D printing and integrated with it for ease of us. So most applications which are focused on rendering to a printer will find it more natural to centre around PrinterJob.
