I even tried to create a new ppd, using the print tool call by kpdf, but 
at click on print, error instead.

This may indicate there is a filter problem, as ALL the color/density 
info is stripped from the streams delivered to the printer, resulting in 
extremely pale color output, as if every option in the ppd was 
permanently set to -20.

This has been a problem since I bought this printer, a huge thing with an 
adf scanner, capable of 11x17 tabloid output.  Using the brother 
supplied drivers, all they have ever said was to install their drivers, 
which I have several times to zero effect.

If you folks can find and solve this problem, I'd be most appreciative.
I've removed the true filter, leaving enscript, but that also pops up 
this error:

The MIME type application/postscript is not supported as input of the 
filter chain (this may happen with non-CUPS spoolers when performing 
page selection on a non-PostScript file). Do you want TDE to convert the 
file to a supported format?

None of the other filter selections materially change this error message.
 
The file in question is rendered on screen perfectly in evince, okular gv 
and kpdf. xpdf also works mostly. kpdf's properties claims its PDF-1.4.

Will the conversion wreck it?, I can download another copy from the card 
vendors web site. My guess is yes since it does not show a pdf output 
format in the selection list.

Help appreciated.

Cheers, Gene Heskett
-- 
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>