Slow PDF printing in Linux

I've struggled with slow printing of PDF files in Linux recently. It's only been in recent months though. I do not recall having this problem before.

I finally realized that it was only a problem to print PDF files that are scanned images. The solution was buried in this thread:

http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1073942.html

I set up a second printer. It is parallel, so (in Gnome) I went to System > Administration > Add

I selected "Other". I needed a Device URI. A google search suggested for parallel printers that parallel:/dev/lp0 might work. I tried it, used "Generic" for the manufacturer, and chose PCL 5e as the driver.

Works great. All PDF images print fast if I remember to choose the Generic printer rather than the HP.