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Linux Setup Guide

Print Server Setup Guide — Linux

Follow these steps to set up your booth printer on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 with the Skreen app.

1

Install Gutenprint

Gutenprint is the open-source printer driver that enables DS-RX1 / DS-RX1HS support on Ubuntu Linux together with CUPS.

  1. 1Open a terminal on the booth computer. On Linux, Gutenprint provides the DS-RX1 driver — you install it from Ubuntu repositories rather than a separate vendor download.
  2. 2Run the commands below to install printer-driver-gutenprint and CUPS, then enable the CUPS service.
  3. 3Gutenprint 5.3.3 or newer is recommended for DNP 2-inch cut support. Check your installed version, or visit the Gutenprint project page if you need a newer release.
  4. 4Optionally enable the CUPS web interface with the command below. At http://localhost:631, sign in with your Linux username and password when prompted. If login fails, add your user to the printer admin group with the second command, then log out and back in.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y printer-driver-gutenprint cups
sudo systemctl enable --now cups
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dpkg -l | grep gutenprint
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sudo cupsctl WebInterface=yes
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sudo usermod -aG lpadmin $USER
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2

Add your printer

Connect and configure the photo printer through CUPS or system settings.

  1. 1Connect the DS-RX1 via USB and power it on.
  2. 2Add the printer via Settings → Printers → Add Printer (recommended), or through the CUPS web interface at http://localhost:631 using your Linux username and password.
  3. 3Select the DS-RX1 / CUPS+Gutenprint driver when prompted.
  4. 4Note the queue name (e.g. DS-RX1) and verify the printer appears in the list.
lpstat -a
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3

Configure 2-inch cut (optional)

The app sends cut options per job, but verifying CUPS defaults helps with strip prints.

  1. 1Open http://localhost:631 and sign in with your Linux username and password → your printer → Administration → Set Default Options.
  2. 2Set Media Size to 6x4 (or w288h432) and Cutter to 2-Inch Cut / 2inch.
  3. 3Confirm the cut option is available for your queue.
lpoptions -p "DS-RX1" -l | grep -i cut
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4

Download and launch the print server app

SkreenPrintServer is a desktop GUI application — the same graphical app as on Windows, packaged for Linux.

  1. 1Download SkreenPrintServer from the download page on this site.
  2. 2Move the file to your booth computer if you downloaded it elsewhere.
  3. 3Make the binary executable, then launch it — the Skreen Print Server GUI window opens. You can double-click the file in your file manager or run it from a terminal.
chmod +x SkreenPrintServer
./SkreenPrintServer
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5

Configure and start the server in the GUI

Use the Skreen Print Server desktop app to choose your printer and start printing — no further terminal commands are required for normal use.

  1. 1In the Skreen Print Server window, select your printer from the dropdown.
  2. 2Keep the default server name PhotoboothPrinter so the mobile app can discover it on the network.
  3. 3Click Start Server — the app listens on port 5001 and shows connection status in the log panel.
  4. 4Optional: turn on Strip mode (2×6) to automatically duplicate a strip and apply a 2-inch cut.
  5. 5Leave the GUI open while the booth is running — closing the window stops the server.
6

Find the computer's IP address

The mobile app connects to the print server over your local Wi-Fi network.

  1. 1Make sure the booth computer and the iPad or phone running the Skreen app are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. 2Run ip addr or ip a in the terminal and note the IPv4 address on your Wi-Fi interface (e.g. 192.168.1.45). You can also find it under Settings → Network.
7

Connect the mobile app

Pair the print server with your event in the Skreen app.

  1. 1Open your event, go to the Overview tab, scroll to Configuration, and tap Configure printer.
  2. 2Select OS / AirPrint — the first connection type in the list.
  3. 3Tap Discover OS printers and wait a few seconds for the scan to finish.
  4. 4Under AVAILABLE PRINTERS, select PhotoboothPrinter — the print server entry that appears.
  5. 5Wait until the status shows Online, then tap Test print to confirm everything works.
  6. 6Tap Save printer to finish pairing.

Manual setup fallback

If PhotoboothPrinter does not appear after discovery, switch to Print Server (HTTP), tap Add Mac print server, enter the booth computer's IP in Mac server IP / host, then run Test print and Save printer.

8

Verify the server

Confirm the print server is running — the GUI log panel shows incoming jobs; the commands below are optional checks from a terminal.

  1. 1In the GUI log panel, confirm the server started and shows your local IP address.
  2. 2Optionally run the commands below to check the health endpoint or send a test print.
curl http://localhost:5001/health
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curl -X POST -F "photo=@testprint.jpg" http://localhost:5001/print
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9

Enable printing for guests

Turn on guest printing before starting the kiosk.

  1. 1In your event, open the Kiosk settings tab.
  2. 2Under Sharing options, turn on Print. Optionally set the print limit and default copies, then tap Save settings.
  3. 3Tap Start kiosk. After guests take a photo, they can tap Print Photo → Print Now.
10

Stop and restart services

How to shut down the Skreen print server and manage the CUPS printing service on Linux.

  1. 1Stop Skreen Print Server: click Stop Server in the GUI, or close the window. If you started it from a terminal, press Ctrl+C in that terminal.
  2. 2Check whether CUPS is running before changing printer settings or troubleshooting.
  3. 3Stop CUPS when you need to reset the print queue, re-plug the USB printer, or free the printer for maintenance.
  4. 4Start or restart CUPS when you are ready to print again — restart is the usual fix after driver or queue changes.
  5. 5If port 5001 is still in use after closing the GUI, find the process with the command below and close the old Skreen Print Server window or terminal session.
  6. 6Only disable CUPS on boot if you are removing booth printing entirely — the Skreen print server needs CUPS to send jobs to the printer.
# Check CUPS status
sudo systemctl status cups

# Stop CUPS
sudo systemctl stop cups

# Start CUPS
sudo systemctl start cups

# Restart CUPS (after printer or driver changes)
sudo systemctl restart cups

# Optional: stop CUPS starting on boot (only if removing printing)
sudo systemctl disable cups
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ss -lntp | grep 5001
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Troubleshooting

Common issues and how to fix them.

  • Printer not in the list — run lpstat -a, check the USB cable, then restart CUPS with sudo systemctl restart cups.
  • Cut not working — use Gutenprint 5.3.3+, set media size to 6x4, and verify cut options with lpoptions -p NAME -l | grep -i cut.
  • Port 5001 already in use — close any old copy of the print server: ss -lntp | grep 5001.
  • Mobile app cannot find the printer — confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi and allow port 5001 plus mDNS (UDP 5353) through the firewall.
  • lp: Unknown error — install CUPS (sudo apt install cups) and verify the queue name in the print server dropdown.
  • CUPS web login fails — use your Linux username and password (not your Skreen account). If it still fails, run sudo usermod -aG lpadmin $USER, log out and back in, or add the printer via Settings → Printers instead.

Haven't downloaded the Linux print server yet?

DownloadSetting up on Windows instead? View the Windows setup guide