Bump actions/setup-python from 5.6.0 to 6.0.0

Bumps [actions/setup-python](https://github.com/actions/setup-python) from 5.6.0 to 6.0.0. - [Release notes](https://github.com/actions/setup-python/releases) - [Commits](https://github.com/actions/setup-python/compare/v5.6.0...v6.0.0) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: actions/setup-python dependency-version: 6.0.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>
Make logging.basicConfig conditional (#670 )
2025-09-13 09:09:58 +00:00 · 2025-09-04 12:14:08 +00:00 · 2025-08-25 01:36:17 +02:00 · 2025-08-25 01:30:25 +02:00 · 2025-08-25 01:22:31 +02:00 · 2025-08-11 01:25:11 +02:00
68 changed files with 1105 additions and 549 deletions
--- a/.github/workflows/black.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/black.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ jobs:
  black-code-style:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
      - uses: psf/black@stable
        with:
-          version: "23.3.0"
+          version: "23.12.0"

--- a/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql-analysis.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:

    steps:
    - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      uses: actions/checkout@v5
      with:
        # We must fetch at least the immediate parents so that if this is
        # a pull request then we can checkout the head.
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:

    # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
    - name: Initialize CodeQL
-      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
      with:
        languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
        # If you wish to specify custom queries, you can do so here or in a config file.
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ jobs:
    # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, or Java).
    # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
    - name: Autobuild
-      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v3

    # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
    # 📚 https://git.io/JvXDl
@@ -63,4 +63,4 @@ jobs:
    #   make release

    - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3
--- a/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/documentation.yml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:

    # Steps represent a sequence of tasks that will be executed as part of the job
    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v5
        with:
          submodules: 'recursive'
      - name: Install packages
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ jobs:
          sudo apt-get update -y &&
          sudo apt-get install -y git python3-sphinx graphviz libenchant-2-2 &&
          sudo apt-get install -y gcc libcups2-dev python3-dev python3-setuptools &&
-          sudo pip install tox pycups
+          sudo pip install --ignore-installed tox pycups
      - name: Test doc build
        run: tox -e docs
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage-windows.yml
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: windows-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.11', '3.12']
+        python-version: ['3.11', '3.12', '3.13']

    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
      with:
        submodules: 'recursive'
    - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4.7.1
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
      with:
        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
    - name: Install dependencies
@@ -44,12 +44,14 @@ jobs:
      env:
        ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_FILE: D:\a\python-escpos\python-escpos\capabilities-data\dist\capabilities.json
    - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
-      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
+      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5
+      env:
+        CODECOV_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
      with:
-        directory: ./coverage/reports/
        env_vars: OS,PYTHON
        fail_ci_if_error: true
-        files: ./coverage.xml,!./cache
+        files: ./coverage.xml
+        exclude: "**/.mypy_cache"
        flags: unittests
        name: coverage-tox-${{ matrix.python-version }}
        verbose: true
--- a/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pythonpackage.yml
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
-        python-version: ['3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11', '3.12']
+        python-version: ['3.8', '3.9', '3.10', '3.11', '3.12', '3.13']

    steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v5
      with:
        submodules: 'recursive'
    - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v4.7.1
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v6.0.0
      with:
        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
    - name: Install dependencies
@@ -54,12 +54,14 @@ jobs:
      env:
        ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_FILE: /home/runner/work/python-escpos/python-escpos/capabilities-data/dist/capabilities.json
    - name: Upload coverage to Codecov
-      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v3
+      uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5
+      env:
+        CODECOV_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
      with:
-        directory: ./coverage/reports/
        env_vars: OS,PYTHON
        fail_ci_if_error: true
-        files: ./coverage.xml,!./cache
+        files: ./coverage.xml
+        exclude: "**/.mypy_cache"
        flags: unittests
        name: coverage-tox-${{ matrix.python-version }}
        verbose: true
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
  "editor.formatOnPaste": true,
  "python.formatting.provider": "black",
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": {
-    "source.organizeImports": true
+    "source.organizeImports": "explicit"
  },
+  "python.testing.unittestEnabled": false,
+  "python.testing.pytestEnabled": true,
 }
--- a/2
+++ b/2
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ Ahmed Tahri
 akeonly
 Alejandro Hernández
 Alexander Bougakov
+Alexandre Detiste
 Alex Debiasio
 Alfredo Orozco
 Asuki Kono
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ Sergio Pulgarin
 Stephan Sokolow
 Thijs Triemstra
 Thomas van den Berg
+tuxmaster
 vendryan
 Yaisel Hurtado
 ysuolmai
--- a/CHANGELOG.rst
+++ b/CHANGELOG.rst
@@ -1,6 +1,42 @@
 Changelog
 =========

+202x-xx-xx - Version 3.x - ""
+-------------------------------------------
+
+
+changes
+^^^^^^^
+
+
+contributors
+^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+
+2023-12-17 - Version 3.1 - "Rubric Of Ruin"
+-------------------------------------------
+This is the minor release of the new version 3.1.
+It adds a modification of the API of the qr-method,
+hence the minor release.
+
+changes
+^^^^^^^
+- extend API of the qr-method to allow passing image
+  parameters in non-native mode
+- use version 0.15 and upwards of python-barcode
+- fix an issue in the config provider that prevented
+  config files to be found when only a path was supplied
+- Improve type annotations, usage of six and other
+  packaging relevant parts.
+
+contributors
+^^^^^^^^^^^^
+- Patrick Kanzler
+- Alexandre Detiste
+- tuxmaster
+- belono
+
+
 2023-11-17 - Version 3.0 - "Quietly Confident"
 ----------------------------------------------
 This is the major release of the new version 3.0.
@@ -33,8 +69,8 @@ changes
 - change the project's license to MIT in accordance with the contributors (see python-escpos/python-escpos#171)
 - feature: add "capabilities" which are shared with escpos-php, capabilities are stored in
  `escpos-printer-db <https://github.com/receipt-print-hq/escpos-printer-db>`_
- feature: the driver tries now to guess the appropriate codepage and sets it automatically (called "magic encode")
- as an alternative you can force the codepage with the old API
+- feature: the driver tries now to guess the appropriate code page and sets it automatically (called "magic encode")
+- as an alternative you can force the code page with the old API
 - fix the encoding search so that lower encodings are found first
 - automatically handle cases where full cut or partial cut is not available
 - refactor of the set-method
@@ -299,14 +335,14 @@ changes
 - change the project's license to MIT in accordance with the contributors (see python-escpos/python-escpos#171)
 - feature: add "capabilities" which are shared with escpos-php, capabilities are stored in
  `escpos-printer-db <https://github.com/receipt-print-hq/escpos-printer-db>`_
- feature: the driver tries now to guess the appropriate codepage and sets it automatically (called "magic encode")
- as an alternative you can force the codepage with the old API
+- feature: the driver tries now to guess the appropriate code page and sets it automatically (called "magic encode")
+- as an alternative you can force the code page with the old API
 - updated and improved documentation
 - changed constructor of main class due to introduction of capabilities
 - changed interface of method `blocktext`, changed behavior of multiple methods, for details refer to the documentation
  on `python-escpos.readthedocs.io <https://python-escpos.readthedocs.io>`_
 - add support for custom cash drawer sequence
- enforce flake8 on the src-files, test py36 and py37 on travis
+- enforce flake8 on the src-files, test py36 and py37 on Travis

 contributors
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^
@@ -339,7 +375,7 @@ contributors

 changes
 ^^^^^^^
- configure readthedocs and travis
+- configure readthedocs and Travis
 - update doc with hint on image preprocessing
 - add fix for printing large images (by splitting them into multiple images)

@@ -404,8 +440,8 @@ changes
 - improve the documentation
 - extend support of barcode-codes to type B
 - add function to disable panel-buttons
- the text-functions are now intended for unicode, the driver will automatically encode the string based on the selected
-  codepage
+- the text-functions are now intended for Unicode, the driver will automatically encode the string based on the selected
+  code page
 - the image-functions are now much more flexible
 - added a CLI
 - restructured the constants
@@ -443,7 +479,7 @@ contributors
 --------------------------

 - Merge pull request #53 from ldos/master
-    - Extended params for serial printers
+    - Extended parameters for serial printers
    - Sent by ldos <cafeteria.ldosalzira@gmail.com>

 2015-04-21 - Version 1.0.5
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ Another example based on the Network printer class:

    from escpos.printer import Network

-    kitchen = Network("192.168.1.100") #Printer IP Address
+    kitchen = Network("192.168.1.100", profile="TM-T88III") #Printer IP Address
    kitchen.text("Hello World\n")
    kitchen.barcode('4006381333931', 'EAN13', 64, 2, '', '')
    kitchen.cut()
@@ -71,18 +71,22 @@ Another example based on the Serial printer class:
    from escpos.printer import Serial

    """ 9600 Baud, 8N1, Flow Control Enabled """
-    p = Serial(devfile='/dev/tty.usbserial',
-               baudrate=9600,
-               bytesize=8,
-               parity='N',
-               stopbits=1,
-               timeout=1.00,
-               dsrdtr=True)
+    p = Serial(
+        devfile='/dev/tty.usbserial',
+        baudrate=9600,
+        bytesize=8,
+        parity='N',
+        stopbits=1,
+        timeout=1.00,
+        dsrdtr=True,
+        profile="TM-T88III"
+    )

    p.text("Hello World\n")
    p.qr("You can readme from your smartphone")
    p.cut()

+.. note:: It is highly recommended to include a matching profile to inform python-escpos about the printer's capabilities.

 The full project-documentation is available on
 `Read the Docs <https://python-escpos.readthedocs.io>`_.
@@ -100,4 +104,4 @@ Disclaimer

 None of the vendors cited in this project agree or endorse any of the
 patterns or implementations.
-Its names are used only to maintain context.
+Their names are used only to maintain context.
--- a/2
+++ b/2
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ master_doc = "index"

 # General information about the project.
 project = "python-escpos"
-copyright = "2023, python-escpos developers"
+copyright = "2024, python-escpos developers"

 # The version info for the project you're documenting, acts as replacement for
 # |version| and |release|, also used in various other places throughout the
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ else:
        import sphinx_rtd_theme

        html_theme = "sphinx_rtd_theme"
-        html_theme_path = [sphinx_rtd_theme.get_html_theme_path()]
    except ImportError:
        print("no sphinx_rtd_theme found, switching to nature")
        html_theme = "default"
@@ -144,6 +143,14 @@ else:
 # documentation.
 # html_theme_options = {}

+# Show a 'Edit on GitHub' link instead of 'View page source'
+html_context = {
+    "display_github": True,
+    "github_user": "python-escpos",
+    "github_repo": "python-escpos",
+    "github_version": "master/doc/",
+}
+
 # Add any paths that contain custom themes here, relative to this directory.
 # html_theme_path = []

@@ -313,7 +320,7 @@ texinfo_documents = [
 # texinfo_no_detailmenu = False

 # spellchecker
-spelling_ignore_pypi_package_names = True
+spelling_ignore_pypi_package_names = False
 spelling_ignore_wiki_words = True
 spelling_ignore_python_builtins = True
 spelling_ignore_importable_modules = True
--- a/doc/dev/release-process.rst
+++ b/doc/dev/release-process.rst
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Release process

 * Update authors file
 * Update changelog
-* Set annotated tag for release and push to public github
+* Set annotated tag for release and push to public GitHub
 * Build wheel
 * Load wheel to PyPi
 * Prepare project for next release with an empty changelog entry
--- a/doc/requirements.txt
+++ b/doc/requirements.txt
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ pyusb
 Pillow>=2.0
 qrcode>=4.0
 pyserial
-sphinx-rtd-theme==1.3.0
+sphinx-rtd-theme==3.0.2
 setuptools
 setuptools-scm
 docutils>=0.12
-sphinxcontrib-spelling>=7.2.0
-python-barcode>=0.11.0,<1
+sphinxcontrib-spelling>=8.0.0
+python-barcode>=0.15.0,<1
 importlib-metadata
 importlib_resources
 sphinxcontrib.datatemplates
--- a/doc/spelling_wordlist.txt
+++ b/doc/spelling_wordlist.txt
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ Qian
 Lehtonen
 Kanzler
 Rotondo
+Alexandre
+Detiste

 barcode
 barcodes
@@ -85,13 +87,18 @@ config
 del
 dev
 dialout
+docstring
 docstrings
 ean
 Ean
 encodable
+Errno
 fff
+formatter
 fullimage
+hw
 io
+img
 json
 latin
 libusb
@@ -101,16 +108,23 @@ natively
 php
 pre
 prefilled
+preprocess
+preprocessing
 printcap
 programmatically
 py
 pypy
+pyserial
+pyusb
 pyyaml
+pywin
 px
 qrcode
 Raspbian
+readthedocs
 rebase
 rebased
+renderer
 resetted
 rst
 submodule
@@ -119,10 +133,13 @@ src
 testcases
 th
 Todo
+tox
 traceback
 udev
 usb
+USBTimeoutError
 usec
 virtualenvs
+viivakoodi
 whitespaces
 xml
--- a/doc/user/usage.rst
+++ b/doc/user/usage.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Usage
 =====

-:Last Reviewed: 2023-08-10
+:Last Reviewed: 2025-02-16

 Define your printer
 -------------------
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ on a USB interface.

    from escpos import *
    """ Seiko Epson Corp. Receipt Printer M129 Definitions (EPSON TM-T88IV) """
-    p = printer.Usb(0x04b8,0x0202)
+    p = printer.Usb(0x04b8,0x0202, profile="TM-T88IV")
    # Print text
    p.text("Hello World\n")
    # Print image
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ format. For windows it is probably at::

    %appdata%/python-escpos/config.yaml

-And for linux::
+And for Linux::

    $HOME/.config/python-escpos/config.yaml

@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ An example file printer::
    printer:
            type: File
            devfile: /dev/someprinter
+            profile: TM-U220

 And for a network printer::

@@ -187,6 +188,7 @@ And for a network printer::
            type: Network
            host: 127.0.0.1
            port: 9000
+            profile: TM-U220

 An USB-printer could be defined by::

@@ -196,23 +198,32 @@ An USB-printer could be defined by::
            idProduct: 0x5678
            in_ep: 0x66
            out_ep: 0x01
+            profile: TM-U220

 Printing text right
 -------------------

-Python-escpos is designed to accept unicode.
+Python-escpos is designed to accept Unicode.

 For normal usage you can simply pass your text to the printers ``text()``-function. It will automatically guess
-the right codepage and then send the encoded data to the printer. If this feature does not work, please try to
+the right code page and then send the encoded data to the printer. If this feature does not work, please try to
 isolate the error and then create an issue on the GitHub project page.

-If you want or need to you can manually set the codepage.
+If you want or need to you can manually set the code page.
 For this please use the ``charcode()``-function.
 You can set any key-value that is in ``CHARCODE``.
 If something is wrong, an ``CharCodeError`` will be raised.
-After you have manually set the codepage the printer won't change it anymore.
+After you have manually set the code page the printer won't change it anymore.
 You can revert to normal behavior by setting charcode to ``AUTO``.

+Resolving bus timeout issues during printing images
+---------------------------------------------------
+
+If an error message such as "USBTimeoutError: [Errno 110] Operation timed out" occurs,
+setting a sleep time between printing fragments can help.
+
+This can be done with the :meth:`.set_sleep_in_fragment()` method.
+
 Advanced Usage: Print from binary blob
 --------------------------------------

@@ -233,7 +244,7 @@ advantage of the fact that `_raw()` accepts binary strings.)
    p._raw(data)

 That's all, the printer should then print your data. You can also use this technique to let others reproduce an issue
-that you have found. (Just "print" your commands to a File-printer on your local filesystem.)
+that you have found. (Just "print" your commands to a File-printer on your local file system.)
 However, please keep in mind, that often it is easier and better to just supply the code that you are using.

 Here you can download an example, that will print a set of common barcodes:
@@ -242,8 +253,8 @@ Here you can download an example, that will print a set of common barcodes:

 .. _advanced-usage-change-capabilities-profile:

-Advanced Usage: change capabilities-profile
-------------------------------------------
+Advanced Usage: change where is the capabilities-profile
+--------------------------------------------------------

 Packaged together with the escpos-code is a capabilities-file. This file in
 JSON-format describes the capabilities of different printers. It is developed and hosted in
--- a/examples/codepage_tables.py
+++ b/examples/codepage_tables.py
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@

 import sys

-import six
-
 from escpos import printer
 from escpos.constants import (
    CODEPAGE_CHANGE,
@@ -35,10 +33,10 @@ def main():


 def print_codepage(printer, codepage):
-    """Print a codepage."""
+    """Print a code page."""
    if codepage.isdigit():
        codepage = int(codepage)
-        printer._raw(CODEPAGE_CHANGE + six.int2byte(codepage))
+        printer._raw(CODEPAGE_CHANGE + bytes((codepage,)))
        printer._raw("after")
    else:
        printer.charcode(codepage)
@@ -47,18 +45,20 @@ def print_codepage(printer, codepage):

    # Table header
    printer.set(font="b")
-    printer._raw("  {}\n".format(sep.join(map(lambda s: hex(s)[2:], range(0, 16)))))
+    printer._raw(f"  {sep.join(map(lambda s: hex(s)[2:], range(0, 16)))}\n")
    printer.set()

    # The table
    for x in range(0, 16):
        # First column
        printer.set(font="b")
-        printer._raw("{} ".format(hex(x)[2:]))
+        printer._raw(f"{hex(x)[2:]} ")
        printer.set()

        for y in range(0, 16):
-            byte = six.int2byte(x * 16 + y)
+            byte = bytes(
+                (x * 16 + y),
+            )

            if byte in (ESC, CTL_LF, CTL_FF, CTL_CR, CTL_HT, CTL_VT):
                byte = " "
--- a/examples/docker-flask/requirements.txt
+++ b/examples/docker-flask/requirements.txt
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
-appdirs==1.4.4
+platformdirs==4.3.8
 argcomplete==3.0.8
 blinker==1.6.2
 click==8.1.3
 Flask==2.3.2
 itsdangerous==2.1.2
-Jinja2==3.1.2
+Jinja2==3.1.6
 MarkupSafe==2.1.2
-Pillow==10.0.1
+Pillow==10.3.0
 pycups==2.0.1
 pypng==0.20220715.0
 pyserial==3.5
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@ PyYAML==6.0
 qrcode==7.4.2
 six==1.16.0
 typing_extensions==4.5.0
-Werkzeug==3.0.1
+Werkzeug==3.0.6
--- a/examples/software_columns.py
+++ b/examples/software_columns.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+""" Example for software_columns: Print text arranged into columns."""
+
+from escpos import printer
+
+p = printer.Dummy(profile="TM-U220")
+
+font = "a"
+p.set(font=font)
+
+# Default: Automatic column width given the characters per line of the printer.
+text_list = ["col1", "col2", "col3"]
+charsxline = p.profile.get_columns(font)
+p.software_columns(text_list=text_list, widths=charsxline, align="center")
+
+# Tuning some columns:
+text_list = ["col1", "col2", "col3"]
+widths = [5, 20]  # col1 = 5 chars width, col2 + col3 = 20 chars width
+align = ["left", "center"]  # col1 = left aligned, col2 + col3 = center aligned
+p.software_columns(text_list=text_list, widths=widths, align=align)
+
+# Tuning them all:
+text_list = ["col1", "col2", "col3"]
+widths = [5, 20, 15]
+align = ["left", "center", "right"]
+p.software_columns(text_list=text_list, widths=widths, align=align)
--- a/examples/weather.py
+++ b/examples/weather.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import calendar
 import json
 import os
 import time
-import urllib
 from datetime import datetime
+from urllib.request import urlopen

 from escpos.printer import Usb

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def forecast(idx):
    printer.text(" high " + str(hi))
    printer.text(deg)
    printer.text("\n")
-    # take care of pesky unicode dash
+    # take care of pesky Unicode dash
    printer.text(cond.replace("\u2013", "-").encode("utf-8"))
    printer.text("\n \n")

@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ url = (
    + LONG
    + "?exclude=[alerts,minutely,hourly,flags]&units=si"
 )  # change last bit to 'us' for Fahrenheit
-response = urllib.urlopen(url)
+response = urlopen(url)
 data = json.loads(response.read())

 printer.print_and_feed(n=1)
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ name = python-escpos
 url = https://github.com/python-escpos/python-escpos
 description = Python library to manipulate ESC/POS Printers
 long_description = file: README.rst
+long_description_content_type = text/x-rst
 license = MIT
 license_file = LICENSE
 author = python-escpos developers
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ classifiers =
    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11
    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12
+    Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13
    Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython
    Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules
    Topic :: Office/Business :: Financial :: Point-Of-Sale
@@ -38,12 +40,11 @@ include_package_data = true
 install_requires =
    Pillow>=2.0
    qrcode>=4.0
-    python-barcode>=0.9.1,<1
+    python-barcode>=0.15.0,<1
    setuptools
    six
-    appdirs
+    platformdirs
    PyYAML
-    argparse
    argcomplete
    importlib_resources
 setup_requires = setuptools_scm
@@ -75,6 +76,6 @@ all =
    pywin32; platform_system=='Windows'

 [flake8]
-exclude = .git,.tox,.github,.eggs,__pycache__,doc/conf.py,build,dist,capabilities-data,test,src/escpos/constants.py
+exclude = .git,.venv,.tox,.github,.eggs,__pycache__,doc/conf.py,build,dist,capabilities-data,test,src/escpos/constants.py
 max-line-length = 120
 extend-ignore = E203, W503
--- a/src/escpos/init.py
+++ b/src/escpos/init.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """python-escpos enables you to manipulate escpos-printers."""

-__all__ = ["constants", "escpos", "exceptions", "printer"]
+__all__ = ["constants", "escpos", "exceptions", "printer", "__version__"]

 try:
    from .version import version as __version__  # noqa
--- a/src/escpos/capabilities.py
+++ b/src/escpos/capabilities.py
@@ -11,16 +11,14 @@ from tempfile import mkdtemp
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Type

 import importlib_resources
-import six
 import yaml

-logging.basicConfig()
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+if environ.get("ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_DEBUG", 0):
+    logging.basicConfig()

+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 pickle_dir = environ.get("ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_PICKLE_DIR", mkdtemp())
-pickle_path = path.join(
-    pickle_dir, "{v}.capabilities.pickle".format(v=platform.python_version())
-)
+pickle_path = path.join(pickle_dir, f"{platform.python_version()}.capabilities.pickle")
 # get a temporary file from importlib_resources if no file is specified in env
 file_manager = ExitStack()
 atexit.register(file_manager.close)
@@ -94,7 +92,7 @@ class NotSupported(Exception):
 BARCODE_B = "barcodeB"


-class BaseProfile(object):
+class BaseProfile:
    """This represents a printer profile.

    A printer profile knows about the number of columns, supported
@@ -113,22 +111,22 @@ class BaseProfile(object):
        Makes sure that the requested `font` is valid.
        """
        font = {"a": 0, "b": 1}.get(font, font)
-        if not six.text_type(font) in self.fonts:
-            raise NotSupported(
-                '"{}" is not a valid font in the current profile'.format(font)
-            )
+        if not str(font) in self.fonts:
+            raise NotSupported(f'"{font}" is not a valid font in the current profile')
        return font

-    def get_columns(self, font):
+    def get_columns(self, font) -> int:
        """Return the number of columns for the given font."""
        font = self.get_font(font)
-        return self.fonts[six.text_type(font)]["columns"]
+        columns = self.fonts[str(font)]["columns"]
+        assert type(columns) is int
+        return columns

-    def supports(self, feature):
+    def supports(self, feature) -> bool:
        """Return true/false for the given feature."""
        return self.features.get(feature)

-    def get_code_pages(self):
+    def get_code_pages(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
        """Return the support code pages as a ``{name: index}`` dict."""
        return {v: k for k, v in self.codePages.items()}

@@ -158,14 +156,14 @@ def get_profile_class(name: str) -> Type[BaseProfile]:
        profiles: Dict[str, Any] = CAPABILITIES["profiles"]
        profile_data = profiles[name]
        profile_name = clean(name)
-        class_name = "{}{}Profile".format(profile_name[0].upper(), profile_name[1:])
+        class_name = f"{profile_name[0].upper()}{profile_name[1:]}Profile"
        new_class = type(class_name, (BaseProfile,), {"profile_data": profile_data})
        CLASS_CACHE[name] = new_class

    return CLASS_CACHE[name]


-def clean(s):
+def clean(s: str) -> str:
    """Clean profile name."""
    # Remove invalid characters
    s = re.sub("[^0-9a-zA-Z_]", "", s)
@@ -184,14 +182,14 @@ class Profile(ProfileBaseClass):
    For users, who want to provide their own profile.
    """

-    def __init__(self, columns=None, features=None):
+    def __init__(self, columns: Optional[int] = None, features=None) -> None:
        """Initialize profile."""
        super(Profile, self).__init__()

        self.columns = columns
        self.features = features or {}

-    def get_columns(self, font):
+    def get_columns(self, font) -> int:
        """Get column count of printer."""
        if self.columns is not None:
            return self.columns
--- a/src/escpos/cli.py
+++ b/src/escpos/cli.py
@@ -20,15 +20,13 @@ except ImportError:
    pass  # noqa
 import sys

-import six
-
-from . import config
+from . import config, escpos
 from . import printer as escpos_printer_module
 from . import version


 # Must be defined before it's used in DEMO_FUNCTIONS
-def str_to_bool(string):
+def str_to_bool(string: str) -> bool:
    """Convert string to bool.

    Used as a type in argparse so that we get back a proper
@@ -211,6 +209,38 @@ ESCPOS_COMMANDS: List[Dict[str, Any]] = [
            },
        ],
    },
+    {
+        "parser": {
+            "name": "software_columns",
+            "help": "Print a list of texts arranged into columns",
+        },
+        "defaults": {
+            "func": "software_columns",
+        },
+        "arguments": [
+            {
+                "option_strings": ("--text_list",),
+                "help": "list of texts to print",
+                "nargs": "+",
+                "type": str,
+                "required": True,
+            },
+            {
+                "option_strings": ("--widths",),
+                "help": "list of column widths",
+                "nargs": "+",
+                "type": int,
+                "required": True,
+            },
+            {
+                "option_strings": ("--align",),
+                "help": "list of column alignments",
+                "nargs": "+",
+                "type": str,
+                "required": True,
+            },
+        ],
+    },
    {
        "parser": {
            "name": "cut",
@@ -343,7 +373,7 @@ ESCPOS_COMMANDS: List[Dict[str, Any]] = [
            {
                "option_strings": ("--font",),
                "help": "Font choice",
-                "choices": ["left", "center", "right"],
+                "choices": ["A", "B"],
            },
            {
                "option_strings": ("--text_type",),
@@ -492,7 +522,7 @@ def generate_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
    """Generate an argparse parser."""
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
        description="CLI for python-escpos",
-        epilog="Printer configuration is defined in the python-escpos config"
+        epilog="Printer configuration is defined in the python-escpos configuration "
        "file. See documentation for details.",
    )

@@ -563,7 +593,7 @@ def generate_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
    return parser


-def main():
+def main() -> None:
    """Handle main entry point of CLI script.

    Handles loading of configuration and creating and processing of command
@@ -580,9 +610,7 @@ def main():
    if not args_dict:
        parser.print_help()
        sys.exit()
-    command_arguments = dict(
-        [k, v] for k, v in six.iteritems(args_dict) if v is not None
-    )
+    command_arguments = dict([k, v] for k, v in args_dict.items() if v is not None)

    # If version should be printed, do this, then exit
    print_version = command_arguments.pop("version", None)
@@ -621,7 +649,7 @@ def main():
        globals()[target_command](**command_arguments)


-def demo(printer, **kwargs):
+def demo(printer: escpos.Escpos, **kwargs) -> None:
    """Print demos.

    Called when CLI is passed `demo`. This function
--- a/src/escpos/codepages.py
+++ b/src/escpos/codepages.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""Helper module for codepage handling."""
+"""Helper module for code page handling."""
 from .capabilities import CAPABILITIES


@@ -9,13 +9,9 @@ class CodePageManager:
    """

    def __init__(self, data):
-        """Initialize codepage manager."""
+        """Initialize code page manager."""
        self.data = data

-    def get_all(self):
-        """Get list of all codepages."""
-        return self.data.values()
-
    @staticmethod
    def get_encoding_name(encoding):
        """Get encoding name.
--- a/src/escpos/config.py
+++ b/src/escpos/config.py
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@
 This module contains the implementations of abstract base class :py:class:`Config`.
 """
 import os
+import pathlib

-import appdirs
+import platformdirs
 import yaml

 from . import exceptions, printer


-class Config(object):
+class Config:
    """Configuration handler class.

    This class loads configuration from a default or specified directory. It
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ class Config(object):
    _app_name = "python-escpos"
    _config_file = "config.yaml"

-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
        """Initialize configuration.

        Remember to add anything that needs to be reset between configurations
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ class Config(object):
        self._printer_name = None
        self._printer_config = None

-    def _reset_config(self):
+    def _reset_config(self) -> None:
        """Clear the loaded configuration.

        If we are loading a changed config, we don't want to have leftover
@@ -54,38 +55,43 @@ class Config(object):

        if not config_path:
            config_path = os.path.join(
-                appdirs.user_config_dir(self._app_name), self._config_file
+                platformdirs.user_config_dir(self._app_name), self._config_file
            )
+        if isinstance(config_path, pathlib.Path):
+            # store string if posixpath
+            config_path = config_path.as_posix()
+        if not os.path.isfile(config_path):
+            # supplied path is not a file --> assume default file
+            config_path = os.path.join(config_path, self._config_file)

        try:
-            # First check if it's file like. If it is, pyyaml can load it.
-            # I'm checking type instead of catching exceptions to keep the
-            # exception handling simple
-            if hasattr(config_path, "read"):
-                config = yaml.safe_load(config_path)
-            else:
-                # If it isn't, it's a path. We have to open it first, otherwise
-                # pyyaml will try to read it as yaml
-                with open(config_path, "rb") as config_file:
-                    config = yaml.safe_load(config_file)
+            with open(config_path, "rb") as config_file:
+                config = yaml.safe_load(config_file)
        except EnvironmentError:
            raise exceptions.ConfigNotFoundError(
-                "Couldn't read config at {config_path}".format(
-                    config_path=str(config_path),
-                )
+                f"Couldn't read config at {config_path}"
            )
        except yaml.YAMLError:
            raise exceptions.ConfigSyntaxError("Error parsing YAML")

        if "printer" in config:
            self._printer_config = config["printer"]
-            self._printer_name = self._printer_config.pop("type").title()
+            printer_name = self._printer_config.pop("type")
+            class_names = {
+                "usb": "Usb",
+                "serial": "Serial",
+                "network": "Network",
+                "file": "File",
+                "dummy": "Dummy",
+                "cupsprinter": "CupsPrinter",
+                "lp": "LP",
+                "win32raw": "Win32Raw",
+            }
+            self._printer_name = class_names.get(printer_name.lower(), printer_name)

            if not self._printer_name or not hasattr(printer, self._printer_name):
                raise exceptions.ConfigSyntaxError(
-                    'Printer type "{printer_name}" is invalid'.format(
-                        printer_name=self._printer_name,
-                    )
+                    f'Printer type "{self._printer_name}" is invalid'
                )

        self._has_loaded = True
--- a/src/escpos/constants.py
+++ b/src/escpos/constants.py
@@ -46,9 +46,7 @@ HW_RESET: bytes = ESC + b"\x3f\x0a\x00"  # Reset printer hardware
 # (TODO: Where is this specified?)

 # Cash Drawer (ESC p <pin> <on time: 2*ms> <off time: 2*ms>)
-_CASH_DRAWER = (
-    lambda m, t1="", t2="": ESC + b"p" + m + six.int2byte(t1) + six.int2byte(t2)
-)
+_CASH_DRAWER = lambda m, t1="", t2="": ESC + b"p" + m + bytes((t1, t2))

 #: decimal cash drawer kick sequence
 CD_KICK_DEC_SEQUENCE = (
@@ -190,8 +188,8 @@ LINESPACING_FUNCS: Dict[int, bytes] = {
    180: ESC + b"3",  # line_spacing/180 of an inch, 0 <= line_spacing <= 255
 }

-#: Prefix to change the codepage. You need to attach a byte to indicate
-#: the codepage to use. We use escpos-printer-db as the data source.
+#: Prefix to change the code page. You need to attach a byte to indicate
+#: the code page to use. We use escpos-printer-db as the data source.
 CODEPAGE_CHANGE: bytes = ESC + b"\x74"

 # Barcode format
--- a/src/escpos/escpos.py
+++ b/src/escpos/escpos.py
@@ -9,12 +9,16 @@ This module contains the abstract base class :py:class:`Escpos`.
 :copyright: Copyright (c) 2012-2017 Bashlinux and python-escpos
 :license: MIT
 """
+from __future__ import annotations

-
+import re
 import textwrap
+import time
+import warnings
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod  # abstract base class support
 from re import match as re_match
-from typing import List, Literal, Optional, Union
+from types import TracebackType
+from typing import Any, Literal, Optional, Union

 import barcode
 import qrcode
@@ -105,9 +109,10 @@ SW_BARCODE_NAMES = {
    for name in barcode.PROVIDED_BARCODES
 }

+Alignment = Union[Literal["center", "left", "right", "justify"], str]

-@six.add_metaclass(ABCMeta)
-class Escpos(object):
+
+class Escpos(object, metaclass=ABCMeta):
    """ESC/POS Printer object.

    This class is the abstract base class for an Esc/Pos-printer. The printer implementations are children of this
@@ -120,6 +125,9 @@ class Escpos(object):
    #   object -> The connection object (Usb(), Serial(), Network(), etc.)
    _device: Union[Literal[False], Literal[None], object] = False

+    # sleep time in fragments:
+    _sleep_in_fragment_ms: int = 0
+
    def __init__(self, profile=None, magic_encode_args=None, **kwargs) -> None:
        """Initialize ESCPOS Printer.

@@ -153,6 +161,10 @@ class Escpos(object):
        """Open a printer device/connection."""
        pass

+    def close(self):
+        """Close a printer device/connection."""
+        pass
+
    @abstractmethod
    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Send raw data to the printer.
@@ -163,7 +175,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
        """
        pass

-    def _read(self):
+    def _read(self) -> bytes:
        """Read from printer.

        Returns a NotImplementedError if the instance of the class doesn't override this method.
@@ -171,14 +183,29 @@ class Escpos(object):
        """
        raise NotImplementedError()

+    def set_sleep_in_fragment(self, sleep_time_ms: int) -> None:
+        """Configures the currently active sleep time after sending a fragment.
+
+        If during printing an image an issue like "USBTimeoutError: [Errno 110]
+        Operation timed out" occurs, setting this value to roughly 300
+        milliseconds can help resolve the issue.
+
+        :param sleep_time_ms: sleep time in milliseconds
+        """
+        self._sleep_in_fragment_ms = sleep_time_ms
+
+    def _sleep_in_fragment(self) -> None:
+        """Sleeps the preconfigured time after sending a fragment."""
+        time.sleep(self._sleep_in_fragment_ms / 1000)
+
    def image(
        self,
        img_source,
-        high_density_vertical=True,
-        high_density_horizontal=True,
-        impl="bitImageRaster",
-        fragment_height=960,
-        center=False,
+        high_density_vertical: bool = True,
+        high_density_horizontal: bool = True,
+        impl: str = "bitImageRaster",
+        fragment_height: int = 960,
+        center: bool = False,
    ) -> None:
        """Print an image.

@@ -218,7 +245,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
            max_width = int(self.profile.profile_data["media"]["width"]["pixels"])

            if im.width > max_width:
-                raise ImageWidthError("{} > {}".format(im.width, max_width))
+                raise ImageWidthError(f"{im.width} > {max_width}")

            if center:
                im.center(max_width)
@@ -239,6 +266,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
                    impl=impl,
                    fragment_height=fragment_height,
                )
+                self._sleep_in_fragment()
            return

        if impl == "bitImageRaster":
@@ -249,7 +277,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
            header = (
                GS
                + b"v0"
-                + six.int2byte(density_byte)
+                + bytes((density_byte,))
                + self._int_low_high(im.width_bytes, 2)
                + self._int_low_high(im.height, 2)
            )
@@ -262,8 +290,8 @@ class Escpos(object):
            )
            tone = b"0"
            colors = b"1"
-            ym = six.int2byte(1 if high_density_vertical else 2)
-            xm = six.int2byte(1 if high_density_horizontal else 2)
+            ym = b"\x01" if high_density_vertical else b"\x02"
+            xm = b"\x01" if high_density_horizontal else b"\x02"
            header = tone + xm + ym + colors + img_header
            raster_data = im.to_raster_format()
            self._image_send_graphics_data(b"0", b"p", header + raster_data)
@@ -304,7 +332,8 @@ class Escpos(object):
        model=QR_MODEL_2,
        native=False,
        center=False,
-        impl="bitImageRaster",
+        impl=None,
+        image_arguments: Optional[dict] = None,
    ) -> None:
        """Print QR Code for the provided string.

@@ -319,6 +348,8 @@ class Escpos(object):
            printer (Default)
        :param center: Centers the code *default:* False
        :param impl: Image-printing-implementation, refer to :meth:`.image()` for details
+        :param image_arguments: arguments passed to :meth:`.image()`.
+            Replaces `impl` and `center`. If `impl` or `center` are set, they will overwrite `image_arguments`.
        """
        # Basic validation
        if ec not in [QR_ECLEVEL_L, QR_ECLEVEL_M, QR_ECLEVEL_H, QR_ECLEVEL_Q]:
@@ -333,6 +364,19 @@ class Escpos(object):
            # Handle edge case by printing nothing.
            return
        if not native:
+            # impl is deprecated in favor of image_arguments
+            if impl:
+                warnings.warn(
+                    "Parameter impl is deprecated in favor of image_arguments and will be dropped in a future release.",
+                    DeprecationWarning,
+                )
+            # assemble arguments for image
+            if not image_arguments:
+                image_arguments = {}
+            if impl:
+                image_arguments["impl"] = impl
+            if "center" not in image_arguments:
+                image_arguments["center"] = center
            # Map ESC/POS error correction levels to python 'qrcode' library constant and render to an image
            if model != QR_MODEL_2:
                raise ValueError(
@@ -354,7 +398,7 @@ class Escpos(object):

            # Convert the RGB image in printable image
            self.text("\n")
-            self.image(im, center=center, impl=impl)
+            self.image(im, **image_arguments)
            self.text("\n")
            self.text("\n")
            return
@@ -403,9 +447,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
            raise ValueError("Can only output 1-4 bytes")
        if not 0 <= inp_number <= max_input:
            raise ValueError(
-                "Number too large. Can only output up to {0} in {1} bytes".format(
-                    max_input, out_bytes
-                )
+                f"Number too large. Can only output up to {max_input} in {out_bytes} bytes"
            )
        outp = b""
        for _ in range(0, out_bytes):
@@ -419,7 +461,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
        Sets the control sequence from ``CHARCODE`` in :py:mod:`escpos.constants` as active.
        It will be sent with the next text sequence.
        If you set the variable code to ``AUTO`` it will try to automatically guess the
-        right codepage.
+        right code page.
        (This is the standard behavior.)

        :param code: Name of CharCode
@@ -694,21 +736,15 @@ class Escpos(object):
        if not function_type or not BARCODE_TYPES.get(function_type.upper()):
            raise BarcodeTypeError(
                (
-                    "Barcode '{bc}' not valid for barcode function type "
-                    "{function_type}"
-                ).format(
-                    bc=bc,
-                    function_type=function_type,
+                    f"Barcode '{bc}' not valid for barcode function type "
+                    f"{function_type}"
                )
            )
        bc_types = BARCODE_TYPES[function_type.upper()]

        if check and not self.check_barcode(bc, code):
            raise BarcodeCodeError(
-                ("Barcode '{code}' not in a valid format for type '{bc}'").format(
-                    code=code,
-                    bc=bc,
-                )
+                f"Barcode '{code}' not in a valid format for type '{bc}'"
            )

        # Align Bar Code()
@@ -718,12 +754,12 @@ class Escpos(object):
        if 1 <= height <= 255:
            self._raw(BARCODE_HEIGHT + six.int2byte(height))
        else:
-            raise BarcodeSizeError("height = {height}".format(height=height))
+            raise BarcodeSizeError(f"height = {height}")
        # Width
        if 2 <= width <= 6:
            self._raw(BARCODE_WIDTH + six.int2byte(width))
        else:
-            raise BarcodeSizeError("width = {width}".format(width=width))
+            raise BarcodeSizeError(f"width = {width}")
        # Font
        if font.upper() == "B":
            self._raw(BARCODE_FONT_B)
@@ -816,9 +852,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
        # Check if barcode type exists
        if barcode_type not in barcode.PROVIDED_BARCODES:
            raise BarcodeTypeError(
-                "Barcode type {} not supported by software barcode renderer".format(
-                    barcode_type
-                )
+                f"Barcode type {barcode_type} not supported by software barcode renderer"
            )

        # Render the barcode
@@ -840,30 +874,29 @@ class Escpos(object):
        image = my_code.writer._image
        self.image(image, impl=impl, center=center)

-    def text(self, txt):
+    def text(self, txt: str) -> None:
        """Print alpha-numeric text.

-        The text has to be encoded in the currently selected codepage.
-        The input text has to be encoded in unicode.
+        The text has to be encoded in the currently selected code page.
+        The input text has to be encoded in Unicode.

        :param txt: text to be printed
        :raises: :py:exc:`~escpos.exceptions.TextError`
        """
-        txt = six.text_type(txt)
-        self.magic.write(txt)
+        self.magic.write(str(txt))

-    def textln(self, txt=""):
+    def textln(self, txt: str = "") -> None:
        """Print alpha-numeric text with a newline.

-        The text has to be encoded in the currently selected codepage.
-        The input text has to be encoded in unicode.
+        The text has to be encoded in the currently selected code page.
+        The input text has to be encoded in Unicode.

        :param txt: text to be printed with a newline
        :raises: :py:exc:`~escpos.exceptions.TextError`
        """
-        self.text("{}\n".format(txt))
+        self.text(f"{txt}\n")

-    def ln(self, count=1):
+    def ln(self, count: int = 1) -> None:
        """Print a newline or more.

        :param count: number of newlines to print
@@ -874,10 +907,10 @@ class Escpos(object):
        if count > 0:
            self.text("\n" * count)

-    def block_text(self, txt, font="0", columns=None):
+    def block_text(self, txt, font="0", columns=None) -> None:
        """Print text wrapped to specific columns.

-        Text has to be encoded in unicode.
+        Text has to be encoded in Unicode.

        :param txt: text to be printed
        :param font: font to be used, can be :code:`a` or :code:`b`
@@ -887,6 +920,136 @@ class Escpos(object):
        col_count = self.profile.get_columns(font) if columns is None else columns
        self.text(textwrap.fill(txt, col_count))

+    @staticmethod
+    def _justify(txt: str, width: int) -> str:
+        """Justify-text on left AND right sides by padding spaces.
+
+        code by: Georgina Skibinski https://stackoverflow.com/a/66087666
+        suggested by agordon @https://github.com/python-escpos/python-escpos/pull/652
+        """
+        prev_txt = txt
+        while (length := width - len(txt)) > 0:
+            txt = re.sub(r"(\s+)", r"\1 ", txt, count=length)
+            if txt == prev_txt:
+                break
+        return txt.rjust(width)
+
+    def _padding(
+        self,
+        text: str,
+        width: int,
+        align: Alignment = "center",
+    ) -> str:
+        """Add fill space to meet the width.
+
+        The align parameter sets the alignment of the text in space.
+        """
+        align = align.lower()
+        if align == "center":
+            text = f"{text:^{width}}"
+        elif align == "left":
+            text = f"{text:<{width}}"
+        elif align == "right":
+            text = f"{text:>{width}}"
+        elif align == "justify":
+            text = self._justify(text, width)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Expected a valid alignment: center|left|right|justify")
+
+        return text
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _truncate(text: str, width: int, placeholder: str = ".") -> str:
+        """Truncate an string at a max width or leave it untouched.
+
+        Add a placeholder at the end of the output text if it has been truncated.
+        """
+        ph_len = len(placeholder)
+        max_len = width - ph_len
+        return f"{text[:max_len]}{placeholder}" if len(text) > width else text
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _repeat_last(iterable, max_iterations: int = 1000):
+        """Iterate over the items of a list repeating the last one until max_iterations."""
+        i = 0
+        while i < max_iterations:
+            try:
+                yield iterable[i]
+            except IndexError:
+                yield iterable[-1]
+            i += 1
+
+    def _rearrange_into_cols(self, text_list: list, widths: list[int]) -> list:
+        """Wrap and convert a list of strings into an array of text columns.
+
+        Set the width of each column by passing a list of widths.
+        Wrap if possible and|or truncate strings longer than its column width.
+        Reorder the wrapped items into an array of text columns.
+        """
+        n_cols = len(text_list)
+        wrapped = [
+            textwrap.wrap(text, widths[i], break_long_words=False)
+            for i, text in enumerate(text_list)
+        ]
+        max_len = max(0, *[len(text_group) for text_group in wrapped])
+        text_colums = []
+        for i in range(max_len):
+            row = ["" for _ in range(n_cols)]
+            for j, item in enumerate(wrapped):
+                if i in range(len(item)):
+                    row[j] = self._truncate(item[i], widths[j])
+            text_colums.append(row)
+        return text_colums
+
+    def _add_padding_into_cols(
+        self,
+        text_list: list[str],
+        widths: list[int],
+        align: list[Alignment],
+    ) -> list:
+        """Add padding, width and alignment into the items of a list of strings."""
+        return [
+            self._padding(text, widths[i], align[i]) for i, text in enumerate(text_list)
+        ]
+
+    def software_columns(
+        self,
+        text_list: list,
+        widths: Union[list[int], int],
+        align: Union[list[Alignment], Alignment],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Print a list of strings arranged horizontally in columns.
+
+        :param text_list: list of strings, each item in the list will be printed as a column.
+
+        :param widths: width of each column by passing a list of widths,
+            or a single total width to arrange columns of the same size.
+            If the list of width items is shorter than the list of strings then
+            the last width of the list will be applied till the last string (column).
+
+        :param align: alignment of the text into each column by passing a list of alignments,
+            or a single alignment for all the columns.
+            If the list of alignment items is shorter than the list of strings then
+            the last alignment of the list will be applied till the last string (column).
+        """
+        if not all([text_list, widths, align]):
+            raise TypeError("Value can't be of type None")
+
+        n_cols = len(text_list)
+
+        if isinstance(widths, int):
+            widths = [round(widths / n_cols)]
+        widths = list(self._repeat_last(widths, max_iterations=n_cols))
+
+        if isinstance(align, str):
+            align = [align]
+        align = list(self._repeat_last(align, max_iterations=n_cols))
+
+        columns = self._rearrange_into_cols(text_list, widths)
+        for row in columns:
+            padded = self._add_padding_into_cols(row, widths, align)
+            self.textln("".join(padded))
+
    def set(
        self,
        align: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -924,8 +1087,8 @@ class Escpos(object):
        :param double_width: doubles the width of the text
        :param custom_size: uses custom size specified by width and height
            parameters. Cannot be used with double_width or double_height.
-        :param width: text width multiplier when custom_size is used, decimal range 1-8
-        :param height: text height multiplier when custom_size is used, decimal range 1-8
+        :param width: requires custom_size=True, text width multiplier when custom_size is used, decimal range 1-8
+        :param height: requires custom_size=True, text height multiplier when custom_size is used, decimal range 1-8
        :param density: print density, value from 0-8, if something else is supplied the density remains unchanged
        :param invert: True enables white on black printing
        :param smooth: True enables text smoothing. Effective on 4x4 size text and larger
@@ -1125,7 +1288,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
            try:
                self._raw(CD_KICK_DEC_SEQUENCE(*pin))
            except TypeError as err:
-                raise CashDrawerError(err)
+                raise CashDrawerError(str(err))

    def linedisplay_select(self, select_display: bool = False) -> None:
        """Select the line display or the printer.
@@ -1258,10 +1421,10 @@ class Escpos(object):
        else:
            self._raw(PANEL_BUTTON_OFF)

-    def query_status(self, mode: bytes) -> List[int]:
+    def query_status(self, mode: bytes) -> bytes:
        """Query the printer for its status.

-        Returns an array of integers containing it.
+        Returns byte array containing it.

        :param mode: Integer that sets the status mode queried to the printer.
            - RT_STATUS_ONLINE: Printer status.
@@ -1281,7 +1444,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
            return False
        return not (status[0] & RT_MASK_ONLINE)

-    def paper_status(self):
+    def paper_status(self) -> int:  # could be IntEnum
        """Query the paper status of the printer.

        Returns 2 if there is plenty of paper, 1 if the paper has arrived to
@@ -1298,6 +1461,8 @@ class Escpos(object):
            return 1
        if status[0] & RT_MASK_PAPER == RT_MASK_PAPER:
            return 2
+        # not reached
+        return 0

    def target(self, type: str = "ROLL") -> None:
        """Select where to print to.
@@ -1352,7 +1517,7 @@ class Escpos(object):
        self._raw(BUZZER + six.int2byte(times) + six.int2byte(duration))


-class EscposIO(object):
+class EscposIO:
    r"""ESC/POS Printer IO object.

    Allows the class to be used together with the `with`-statement. You have to define a printer instance
@@ -1398,41 +1563,40 @@ class EscposIO(object):
        """
        self.params.update(kwargs)

-    def writelines(self, text, **kwargs):
+    def writelines(self, text: str, **kwargs) -> None:
        """Print text."""
        params = dict(self.params)
        params.update(kwargs)

-        if isinstance(text, six.text_type):
+        if isinstance(text, str):
            lines = text.split("\n")
        elif isinstance(text, list) or isinstance(text, tuple):
            lines = text
        else:
            lines = [
-                "{0}".format(text),
+                f"{text}",
            ]

-        # TODO check unicode handling
+        # TODO check Unicode handling
        # TODO flush? or on print? (this should prob rather be handled by the _raw-method)
        for line in lines:
            self.printer.set(**params)
-            if isinstance(text, six.text_type):
-                self.printer.text("{0}\n".format(line))
-            else:
-                self.printer.text("{0}\n".format(line))
+            self.printer.text(f"{line}\n")

-    def close(self):
+    def close(self) -> None:
        """Close printer.

        Called upon closing the `with`-statement.
        """
        self.printer.close()

-    def __enter__(self, **kwargs):
+    def __enter__(self, **kwargs: Any) -> "EscposIO":
        """Enter context."""
        return self

-    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
+    def __exit__(
+        self, type: type[BaseException], value: BaseException, traceback: TracebackType
+    ) -> None:
        """Cut and close if configured.

        If :py:attr:`autocut <escpos.escpos.EscposIO.autocut>` is `True` (set by this class' constructor),
--- a/src/escpos/exceptions.py
+++ b/src/escpos/exceptions.py
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ Result/Exit codes:
 :license: MIT
 """

+from typing import Optional
+

 class Error(Exception):
    """Base class for ESC/POS errors.
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ class Error(Exception):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg, status=None):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str, status: Optional[int] = None) -> None:
        """Initialize Error object."""
        Exception.__init__(self)
        self.msg = msg
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ class Error(Exception):
        if status is not None:
            self.resultcode = status

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of Error."""
        return self.msg

@@ -64,15 +66,15 @@ class BarcodeTypeError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize BarcodeTypeError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 10

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of BarcodeTypeError."""
-        return "No Barcode type is defined ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"No Barcode type is defined ({self.msg})"


 class BarcodeSizeError(Error):
@@ -89,15 +91,15 @@ class BarcodeSizeError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize BarcodeSizeError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 20

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of BarcodeSizeError."""
-        return "Barcode size is out of range ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Barcode size is out of range ({self.msg})"


 class BarcodeCodeError(Error):
@@ -114,15 +116,15 @@ class BarcodeCodeError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize BarcodeCodeError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 30

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of BarcodeCodeError."""
-        return "No Barcode code was supplied ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"No Barcode code was supplied ({self.msg})"


 class ImageSizeError(Error):
@@ -137,17 +139,15 @@ class ImageSizeError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize ImageSizeError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 40

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of ImageSizeError."""
-        return "Image height is longer than 255px and can't be printed ({msg})".format(
-            msg=self.msg
-        )
+        return f"Image height is longer than 255px and can't be printed ({self.msg})"


 class ImageWidthError(Error):
@@ -162,15 +162,15 @@ class ImageWidthError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize ImageWidthError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 41

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of ImageWidthError."""
-        return "Image width is too large ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Image width is too large ({self.msg})"


 class TextError(Error):
@@ -186,17 +186,15 @@ class TextError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize TextError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 50

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of TextError."""
-        return "Text string must be supplied to the text() method ({msg})".format(
-            msg=self.msg
-        )
+        return f"Text string must be supplied to the text() method ({self.msg})"


 class CashDrawerError(Error):
@@ -212,15 +210,15 @@ class CashDrawerError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize CashDrawerError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 60

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of CashDrawerError."""
-        return "Valid pin must be set to send pulse ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Valid pin must be set to send pulse ({self.msg})"


 class TabPosError(Error):
@@ -239,17 +237,15 @@ class TabPosError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize TabPosError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 70

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of TabPosError."""
-        return "Valid tab positions must be in the range 0 to 16 ({msg})".format(
-            msg=self.msg
-        )
+        return f"Valid tab positions must be in the range 0 to 16 ({self.msg})"


 class CharCodeError(Error):
@@ -265,15 +261,15 @@ class CharCodeError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize CharCodeError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 80

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of CharCodeError."""
-        return "Valid char code must be set ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Valid char code must be set ({self.msg})"


 class DeviceNotFoundError(Error):
@@ -289,13 +285,13 @@ class DeviceNotFoundError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize DeviceNotFoundError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 90

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of DeviceNotFoundError."""
        return f"Device not found ({self.msg})"

@@ -313,13 +309,13 @@ class USBNotFoundError(DeviceNotFoundError):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize USBNotFoundError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 91

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of USBNotFoundError."""
        return f"USB device not found ({self.msg})"

@@ -337,15 +333,15 @@ class SetVariableError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize SetVariableError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 100

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of SetVariableError."""
-        return "Set variable out of range ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Set variable out of range ({self.msg})"


 # Configuration errors
@@ -364,15 +360,15 @@ class ConfigNotFoundError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize ConfigNotFoundError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 200

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of ConfigNotFoundError."""
-        return "Configuration not found ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Configuration not found ({self.msg})"


 class ConfigSyntaxError(Error):
@@ -388,15 +384,15 @@ class ConfigSyntaxError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize ConfigSyntaxError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 210

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of ConfigSyntaxError."""
-        return "Configuration syntax is invalid ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Configuration syntax is invalid ({self.msg})"


 class ConfigSectionMissingError(Error):
@@ -412,12 +408,12 @@ class ConfigSectionMissingError(Error):

    """

-    def __init__(self, msg=""):
+    def __init__(self, msg: str = "") -> None:
        """Initialize ConfigSectionMissingError object."""
        Error.__init__(self, msg)
        self.msg = msg
        self.resultcode = 220

-    def __str__(self):
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
        """Return string representation of ConfigSectionMissingError."""
-        return "Configuration section is missing ({msg})".format(msg=self.msg)
+        return f"Configuration section is missing ({self.msg})"
--- a/src/escpos/image.py
+++ b/src/escpos/image.py
@@ -10,11 +10,12 @@ This module contains the image format handler :py:class:`EscposImage`.


 import math
+from typing import Iterator, Union

 from PIL import Image, ImageOps


-class EscposImage(object):
+class EscposImage:
    """
    Load images in, and output ESC/POS formats.

@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ class EscposImage(object):
    PIL, rather than spend CPU cycles looping over pixels.
    """

-    def __init__(self, img_source):
+    def __init__(self, img_source: Union[Image.Image, str]) -> None:
        """Load in an image.

        :param img_source: PIL.Image, or filename to load one from.
@@ -48,23 +49,23 @@ class EscposImage(object):
        self._im = im.convert("1")

    @property
-    def width(self):
+    def width(self) -> int:
        """Return width of image in pixels."""
        width_pixels, _ = self._im.size
        return width_pixels

    @property
-    def width_bytes(self):
+    def width_bytes(self) -> int:
        """Return width of image if you use 8 pixels per byte and 0-pad at the end."""
        return (self.width + 7) >> 3

    @property
-    def height(self):
+    def height(self) -> int:
        """Height of image in pixels."""
        _, height_pixels = self._im.size
        return height_pixels

-    def to_column_format(self, high_density_vertical=True):
+    def to_column_format(self, high_density_vertical: bool = True) -> Iterator[bytes]:
        """Extract slices of an image as equal-sized blobs of column-format data.

        :param high_density_vertical: Printed line height in dots
@@ -81,11 +82,11 @@ class EscposImage(object):
            yield (im_bytes)
            left += line_height

-    def to_raster_format(self):
+    def to_raster_format(self) -> bytes:
        """Convert image to raster-format binary."""
        return self._im.tobytes()

-    def split(self, fragment_height):
+    def split(self, fragment_height: int):
        """Split an image into multiple fragments after fragment_height pixels.

        :param fragment_height: height of fragment
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ class EscposImage(object):
            fragments.append(self.img_original.crop(box))
        return fragments

-    def center(self, max_width):
+    def center(self, max_width: int) -> None:
        """Center image in place.

        :param: Maximum width in order to deduce x offset for centering
--- a/src/escpos/katakana.py
+++ b/src/escpos/katakana.py
@@ -4,14 +4,17 @@
 I doubt that this currently works correctly.
 """

+import types
+import typing

+jaconv: typing.Optional[types.ModuleType]
 try:
    import jaconv
 except ImportError:
    jaconv = None


-def encode_katakana(text):
+def encode_katakana(text: str) -> bytes:
    """I don't think this quite works yet."""
    encoded = []
    for char in text:
--- a/src/escpos/magicencode.py
+++ b/src/escpos/magicencode.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 """Magic Encode.

 This module tries to convert an UTF-8 string to an encoded string for the printer.
-It uses trial and error in order to guess the right codepage.
+It uses trial and error in order to guess the right code page.
 The code is based on the encoding-code in py-xml-escpos by @fvdsn.

 :author: `Patrick Kanzler <dev@pkanzler.de>`_
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from .constants import CODEPAGE_CHANGE
 from .exceptions import Error


-class Encoder(object):
+class Encoder:
    """Take available code spaces and pick the right one for a given character.

    Note: To determine the code page, it needs to do the conversion, and
@@ -57,19 +57,19 @@ class Encoder(object):
        if encoding not in self.codepages:
            raise ValueError(
                (
-                    'Encoding "{}" cannot be used for the current profile. '
-                    "Valid encodings are: {}"
-                ).format(encoding, ",".join(self.codepages.keys()))
+                    f'Encoding "{encoding}" cannot be used for the current profile. '
+                    f'Valid encodings are: {",".join(self.codepages.keys())}'
+                )
            )
        return encoding

    @staticmethod
    def _get_codepage_char_list(encoding):
-        """Get codepage character list.
+        """Get code page character list.

        Gets characters 128-255 for a given code page, as an array.

-        :param encoding: The name of the encoding. This must appear in the CodePage list
+        :param encoding: The name of the encoding. This must appear in the code page list
        """
        codepage = CodePages.get_encoding(encoding)
        if "data" in codepage:
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@ class Encoder(object):
                    # Non-encodable character, just skip it
                    pass
            return encodable_chars
-        raise LookupError("Can't find a known encoding for {}".format(encoding))
+        raise LookupError(f"Can't find a known encoding for {encoding}")

    def _get_codepage_char_map(self, encoding):
-        """Get codepage character map.
+        """Get code page character map.

        Process an encoding and return a map of UTF-characters to code points
        in this encoding.
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class Encoder(object):
        1. code pages that we already tried before; there is a good
           chance they might work again, reducing the search space,
           and by re-using already used encodings we might also
-           reduce the number of codepage change instruction we have
+           reduce the number of code page change instruction we have
           to send. Still, any performance gains will presumably be
           fairly minor.

@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ def split_writable_text(encoder, text, encoding):
    return text, None


-class MagicEncode(object):
+class MagicEncode:
    """Help switching to the right code page.

    A helper that helps us to automatically switch to the right
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class MagicEncode(object):
        :param encoding: If you know the current encoding of the printer
        when initializing this class, set it here. If the current
        encoding is unknown, the first character emitted will be a
-        codepage switch.
+        code page switch.
        :param disabled:
        :param defaultsymbol:
        :param encoder:
@@ -284,22 +284,20 @@ class MagicEncode(object):
    def _handle_character_failed(self, char):
        """Write a default symbol.

-        Called when no codepage was found to render a character.
+        Called when no code page was found to render a character.
        """
        # Writing the default symbol via write() allows us to avoid
-        # unnecesary codepage switches.
+        # unnecesary code page switches.
        self.write(self.defaultsymbol)

    def write_with_encoding(self, encoding, text):
-        """Write the text and inject necessary codepage switches."""
-        if text is not None and type(text) is not six.text_type:
+        """Write the text and inject necessary code page switches."""
+        if text is not None and type(text) is not str:
            raise Error(
-                "The supplied text has to be unicode, but is of type {type}.".format(
-                    type=type(text)
-                )
+                f"The supplied text has to be Unicode, but is of type {type(text)}."
            )

-        # We always know the current code page; if the new codepage
+        # We always know the current code page; if the new code page
        # is different, emit a change command.
        if encoding != self.encoding:
            self.encoding = encoding
--- a/src/escpos/printer/cups.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/cups.py
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ def dependency_pycups(func):
        """Throw a RuntimeError if pycups is not imported."""
        if not is_usable():
            raise RuntimeError(
-                "Printing with PyCups requires the pycups library to"
-                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on"
+                "Printing with PyCups requires the pycups library to "
+                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on "
                "what to install and install the dependencies for pycups."
            )
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class CupsPrinter(Escpos):
        return is_usable()

    @dependency_pycups
-    def __init__(self, printer_name: str = "", *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, printer_name: str = "", *args, **kwargs) -> None:
        """Class constructor for CupsPrinter.

        :param printer_name: CUPS printer name (Optional)
@@ -163,11 +163,10 @@ class CupsPrinter(Escpos):
                return
        logging.info("CupsPrinter printer enabled")

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Append any command sent in raw format to temporary file.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
        self.pending_job = True
        try:
@@ -176,8 +175,9 @@ class CupsPrinter(Escpos):
            self.pending_job = False
            raise TypeError("Bytes required. Printer job not opened")

-    def send(self):
+    def send(self) -> None:
        """Send the print job to the printer."""
+        assert self.device
        if self.pending_job:
            # Rewind tempfile
            self.tmpfile.seek(0)
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class CupsPrinter(Escpos):
            )
        self._clear()

-    def _clear(self):
+    def _clear(self) -> None:
        """Finish the print job.

        Remove temporary file.
@@ -198,18 +198,18 @@ class CupsPrinter(Escpos):
        self.tmpfile.close()
        self.pending_job = False

-    def _read(self):
+    def _read(self) -> bytes:
        """Return a single-item array with the accepting state of the print queue.

        states: idle = [3], printing a job = [4], stopped = [5]
        """
        printer = self.printers.get(self.printer_name, {})
        state = printer.get("printer-state")
-        if not state:
-            return []
-        return [state]
+        if not state or state in [4, 5]:
+            return b"8"  # offline
+        return b"0"  # online

-    def close(self):
+    def close(self) -> None:
        """Close CUPS connection.

        Send pending job to the printer if needed.
--- a/src/escpos/printer/dummy.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/dummy.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 :copyright: Copyright (c) 2012-2023 Bashlinux and python-escpos
 :license: MIT
 """
+from typing import List

 from ..escpos import Escpos

@@ -39,25 +40,24 @@ class Dummy(Escpos):
        """
        return is_usable()

-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs) -> None:
        """Init with empty output list."""
        Escpos.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
-        self._output_list = []
+        self._output_list: List[bytes] = []

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
        self._output_list.append(msg)

    @property
-    def output(self):
+    def output(self) -> bytes:
        """Get the data that was sent to this printer."""
        return b"".join(self._output_list)

-    def clear(self):
+    def clear(self) -> None:
        """Clear the buffer of the printer.

        This method can be called if you send the contents to a physical printer
@@ -65,6 +65,6 @@ class Dummy(Escpos):
        """
        del self._output_list[:]

-    def close(self):
+    def close(self) -> None:
        """Close not implemented for Dummy printer."""
        pass
--- a/src/escpos/printer/file.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/file.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def is_usable() -> bool:
 class File(Escpos):
    """Generic file printer.

-    This class is used for parallel port printer or other printers that are directly attached to the filesystem.
+    This class is used for parallel port printer or other printers that are directly attached to the file system.
    Note that you should stay away from using USB-to-Parallel-Adapter since they are unreliable
    and produce arbitrary errors.

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class File(Escpos):
    def __init__(self, devfile: str = "", auto_flush: bool = True, *args, **kwargs):
        """Initialize file printer with device file.

-        :param devfile: Device file under dev filesystem
+        :param devfile: Device file under dev file system
        :param auto_flush: automatically call flush after every call of _raw()
        """
        Escpos.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -88,12 +88,12 @@ class File(Escpos):
        if self.device:
            self.device.flush()

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
+        assert self.device
        self.device.write(msg)
        if self.auto_flush:
            self.flush()
--- a/src/escpos/printer/lp.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/lp.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def dependency_linux_lp(func):
        """Throw a RuntimeError if not on a non-Windows system."""
        if not is_usable():
            raise RuntimeError(
-                "This printer driver depends on LP which is not"
+                "This printer driver depends on LP which is not "
                "available on Windows systems."
            )
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -182,12 +182,13 @@ class LP(Escpos):
        if not self._is_closing:
            self.open(_close_opened=False)

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Write raw command(s) to the printer.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
+        assert self.device is not None
+        assert self.device.stdin is not None
        if self.device.stdin.writable():
            self.device.stdin.write(msg)
        else:
--- a/src/escpos/printer/network.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/network.py
@@ -110,16 +110,17 @@ class Network(Escpos):
                return
        logging.info("Network printer enabled")

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
+        assert self.device
        self.device.sendall(msg)

-    def _read(self):
+    def _read(self) -> bytes:
        """Read data from the TCP socket."""
+        assert self.device
        return self.device.recv(16)

    def close(self) -> None:
--- a/src/escpos/printer/serial.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/serial.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ def dependency_pyserial(func):
        """Throw a RuntimeError if pyserial not installed."""
        if not is_usable():
            raise RuntimeError(
-                "Printing with Serial requires the pyserial library to"
-                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on"
+                "Printing with Serial requires the pyserial library to "
+                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on "
                "what to install and install the dependencies for pyserial."
            )
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ class Serial(Escpos):
    ):
        """Initialize serial printer.

-        :param devfile:  Device file under dev filesystem
+        :param devfile:  Device file under dev file system
        :param baudrate: Baud rate for serial transmission
        :param bytesize: Serial buffer size
        :param timeout:  Read/Write timeout
@@ -155,16 +155,17 @@ class Serial(Escpos):
                return
        logging.info("Serial printer enabled")

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
+        assert self.device
        self.device.write(msg)

-    def _read(self):
+    def _read(self) -> bytes:
        """Read the data buffer and return it to the caller."""
+        assert self.device
        return self.device.read(16)

    def close(self) -> None:
--- a/src/escpos/printer/usb.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/usb.py
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ def dependency_usb(func):
        """Throw a RuntimeError if usb not installed."""
        if not is_usable():
            raise RuntimeError(
-                "Printing with USB connection requires a usb library to"
-                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on"
+                "Printing with USB connection requires a usb library to "
+                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on "
                "what to install and install the dependencies for USB."
            )
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ class Usb(Escpos):

    def __init__(
        self,
-        idVendor: str = "",
-        idProduct: str = "",
-        usb_args: Dict[str, str] = {},
+        idVendor: Optional[int] = None,
+        idProduct: Optional[int] = None,
+        usb_args: Dict[str, Union[str, int]] = {},
        timeout: Union[int, float] = 0,
        in_ep: int = 0x82,
        out_ep: int = 0x01,
@@ -181,16 +181,17 @@ class Usb(Escpos):
        except usb.core.USBError as e:
            logging.error("Could not set configuration: %s", str(e))

-    def _raw(self, msg):
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
+        assert self.device
        self.device.write(self.out_ep, msg, self.timeout)

-    def _read(self):
+    def _read(self) -> bytes:
        """Read a data buffer and return it to the caller."""
+        assert self.device
        return self.device.read(self.in_ep, 16)

    @dependency_usb
--- a/src/escpos/printer/win32raw.py
+++ b/src/escpos/printer/win32raw.py
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def dependency_win32print(func):
        """Throw a RuntimeError if win32print not installed."""
        if not is_usable():
            raise RuntimeError(
-                "Printing with Win32Raw requires a win32print library to"
-                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on"
+                "Printing with Win32Raw requires a win32print library to "
+                "be installed. Please refer to the documentation on "
                "what to install and install the dependencies for win32print."
            )
        return func(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class Win32Raw(Escpos):
        return is_usable()

    @dependency_win32print
-    def __init__(self, printer_name: str = "", *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, printer_name: str = "", *args, **kwargs) -> None:
        """Initialize default printer."""
        Escpos.__init__(self, *args, **kwargs)
        self.printer_name = printer_name
@@ -148,14 +148,17 @@ class Win32Raw(Escpos):
        win32print.ClosePrinter(self._device)
        self._device = False

-    def _raw(self, msg) -> None:
+    def _raw(self, msg: bytes) -> None:
        """Print any command sent in raw format.

        :param msg: arbitrary code to be printed
-        :type msg: bytes
        """
        if self.printer_name is None:
            raise DeviceNotFoundError("Printer not found")
        if not self.device:
            raise DeviceNotFoundError("Printer job not opened")
-        win32print.WritePrinter(self.device, msg)
+        win32print.WritePrinter(self.device, msg)  # type: ignore
+
+        # there is a bug in the typeshed
+        # https://github.com/mhammond/pywin32/blob/main/win32/src/win32print/win32print.cpp#L976
+        # https://github.com/python/typeshed/blob/main/stubs/pywin32/win32/win32print.pyi#L27C4-L27C4
--- a/test/conftest.py
+++ b/test/conftest.py
@@ -5,32 +5,32 @@ from escpos.printer import LP, CupsPrinter, Dummy, File, Network, Serial, Usb, W


@pytest.fixture
-def driver():
+def driver() -> Dummy:
    return Dummy()


@pytest.fixture
-def usbprinter():
+def usbprinter() -> Usb:
    return Usb()


@pytest.fixture
-def serialprinter():
+def serialprinter() -> Serial:
    return Serial()


@pytest.fixture
-def networkprinter():
+def networkprinter() -> Network:
    return Network()


@pytest.fixture
-def fileprinter():
+def fileprinter() -> File:
    return File()


@pytest.fixture
-def lpprinter():
+def lpprinter() -> LP:
    return LP()


--- a/test/test_abstract_base_class.py
+++ b/test/test_abstract_base_class.py
@@ -14,14 +14,14 @@ import pytest
 import escpos.escpos as escpos


-def test_abstract_base_class_raises():
+def test_abstract_base_class_raises() -> None:
    """test whether the abstract base class raises an exception for ESC/POS"""
    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
        # This call should raise TypeError because of abstractmethod _raw()
-        escpos.Escpos()
+        escpos.Escpos()  # type: ignore [abstract]


-def test_abstract_base_class():
+def test_abstract_base_class() -> None:
    """test whether Escpos has the metaclass ABCMeta"""
    assert issubclass(escpos.Escpos, object)
    assert type(escpos.Escpos) is ABCMeta
--- a/test/test_cli.py
+++ b/test/test_cli.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import tempfile

-import pytest
 from scripttest import TestFileEnvironment as TFE

 import escpos
@@ -31,22 +30,19 @@ class TestCLI:
    """Contains setups, teardowns, and tests for CLI"""

    @classmethod
-    def setup_class(cls):
+    def setup_class(cls) -> None:
        """Create a config file to read from"""
        with open(CONFIGFILE, "w") as config:
            config.write(CONFIG_YAML)

    @classmethod
-    def teardown_class(cls):
+    def teardown_class(cls) -> None:
        """Remove config file"""
        os.remove(CONFIGFILE)
        shutil.rmtree(TEST_DIR)

-    def setup_method(self):
+    def setup_method(self) -> None:
        """Create a file to print to and set up env"""
-        self.env = None
-        self.default_args = None
-
        self.env = TFE(
            base_path=TEST_DIR,
            cwd=os.getcwd(),
@@ -64,24 +60,24 @@ class TestCLI:
        finally:
            fhandle.close()

-    def teardown_method(self):
+    def teardown_method(self) -> None:
        """Destroy printer file and env"""
        os.remove(DEVFILE)
        self.env.clear()

-    def test_cli_help(self):
+    def test_cli_help(self) -> None:
        """Test getting help from cli"""
        result = self.env.run("python-escpos", "-h")
        assert not result.stderr
        assert "usage" in result.stdout

-    def test_cli_version(self):
+    def test_cli_version(self) -> None:
        """Test the version string"""
        result = self.env.run("python-escpos", "version")
        assert not result.stderr
        assert escpos.__version__ == result.stdout.strip()

-    def test_cli_version_extended(self):
+    def test_cli_version_extended(self) -> None:
        """Test the extended version information"""
        result = self.env.run("python-escpos", "version_extended")
        assert not result.stderr
@@ -89,10 +85,7 @@ class TestCLI:
        # test that additional information on e.g. Serial is printed
        assert "Serial" in result.stdout

-    @pytest.mark.skip(
-        reason="disable this test as it is not that easy anymore to predict the outcome of this call"
-    )
-    def test_cli_text(self):
+    def test_cli_text(self) -> None:
        """Make sure text returns what we sent it"""
        test_text = "this is some text"
        result = self.env.run(
@@ -107,9 +100,11 @@ class TestCLI:
        )
        assert not result.stderr
        assert DEVFILE_NAME in result.files_updated.keys()
-        assert result.files_updated[DEVFILE_NAME].bytes == test_text + "\n"
+        assert (
+            result.files_updated[DEVFILE_NAME].bytes == "\x1bt\x00" + test_text + "\n"
+        )

-    def test_cli_text_invalid_args(self):
+    def test_cli_text_invalid_args(self) -> None:
        """Test a failure to send valid arguments"""
        result = self.env.run(
            *(self.default_args + ("text", "--invalid-param", "some data")),
--- a/test/test_config.py
+++ b/test/test_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+"""tests for config module
+
+:author: `Patrick Kanzler <dev@pkanzler.de>`_
+:organization: `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:copyright: Copyright (c) 2023 `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:license: MIT
+"""
+import pathlib
+
+import platformdirs
+import pytest
+
+import escpos.exceptions
+
+
+def generate_dummy_config(path, content=None):
+    """Generate a dummy config in path"""
+    dummy_config_content = content
+    if not content:
+        dummy_config_content = "printer:\n   type: Dummy\n"
+    path.write_text(dummy_config_content)
+    assert path.read_text() == dummy_config_content
+
+
+def simple_printer_test(config):
+    """Simple test for the dummy printer."""
+    p = config.printer()
+    p._raw(b"1234")
+
+    assert p.output == b"1234"
+
+
+def test_config_load_with_invalid_config_yaml(tmp_path):
+    """Test the loading of a config with a invalid config file (yaml issue)."""
+    # generate a dummy config
+    config_file = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    generate_dummy_config(config_file, content="}invalid}yaml}")
+
+    # test the config loading
+    from escpos import config
+
+    c = config.Config()
+    with pytest.raises(escpos.exceptions.ConfigSyntaxError):
+        c.load(config_path=config_file)
+
+
+def test_config_load_with_invalid_config_content(tmp_path):
+    """Test the loading of a config with a invalid config file (content issue)."""
+    # generate a dummy config
+    config_file = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    generate_dummy_config(
+        config_file, content="printer:\n   type: NoPrinterWithThatName\n"
+    )
+
+    # test the config loading
+    from escpos import config
+
+    c = config.Config()
+    with pytest.raises(escpos.exceptions.ConfigSyntaxError):
+        c.load(config_path=config_file)
+
+
+def test_config_load_with_missing_config(tmp_path):
+    """Test the loading of a config that does not exist."""
+    # test the config loading
+    from escpos import config
+
+    c = config.Config()
+    with pytest.raises(escpos.exceptions.ConfigNotFoundError):
+        c.load(config_path=tmp_path)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skip(
+    "This test creates in the actual appdir files and is therefore skipped."
+)
+def test_config_load_from_appdir() -> None:
+    """Test the loading of a config in appdir."""
+    from escpos import config
+
+    # generate a dummy config
+    config_file = (
+        pathlib.Path(platformdirs.user_config_dir(config.Config._app_name))
+        / config.Config._config_file
+    )
+
+    generate_dummy_config(config_file)
+
+    # test the config loading
+    c = config.Config()
+    c.load()
+
+    # test the resulting printer object
+    simple_printer_test(c)
+
+
+def test_config_load_with_file(tmp_path):
+    """Test the loading of a config with a config file."""
+    # generate a dummy config
+    config_file = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    generate_dummy_config(config_file)
+
+    # test the config loading
+    from escpos import config
+
+    c = config.Config()
+    c.load(config_path=config_file)
+
+    # test the resulting printer object
+    simple_printer_test(c)
+
+
+def test_config_load_with_path(tmp_path):
+    """Test the loading of a config with a config path."""
+    # generate a dummy config
+    config_file = tmp_path / "config.yaml"
+    generate_dummy_config(config_file)
+
+    # test the config loading
+    from escpos import config
+
+    c = config.Config()
+    c.load(config_path=tmp_path)
+
+    # test the resulting printer object
+    simple_printer_test(c)
--- a/test/test_function_qr_non-native.py
+++ b/test/test_function_qr_non-native.py
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/python
-#  -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-"""tests for the non-native part of qr()
-
-:author: `Patrick Kanzler <dev@pkanzler.de>`_
-:organization: `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
-:copyright: Copyright (c) 2016 `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
-:license: MIT
-"""
-
-
-import mock
-import pytest
-from PIL import Image
-
-from escpos.printer import Dummy
-
-
-@mock.patch("escpos.printer.Dummy.image", spec=Dummy)
-def test_type_of_object_passed_to_image_function(img_function):
-    """
-    Test the type of object that is passed to the image function during non-native qr-printing.
-
-    The type should be PIL.Image
-    """
-    d = Dummy()
-    d.qr("LoremIpsum")
-    args, kwargs = img_function.call_args
-    assert isinstance(args[0], Image.Image)
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def instance():
-    return Dummy()
-
-
-def test_center(instance):
-    instance.qr("LoremIpsum", center=True)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_barcode.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_barcode.py
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_buzzer.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_buzzer.py
@@ -1,14 +1,13 @@
 import pytest
-import six

 from escpos import printer
 from escpos.constants import BUZZER


-def test_buzzer_function_with_default_params():
+def test_buzzer_function_with_default_params() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.buzzer()
-    expected = BUZZER + six.int2byte(2) + six.int2byte(4)
+    expected = BUZZER + bytes((2, 4))
    assert instance.output == expected


@@ -26,10 +25,10 @@ def test_buzzer_function_with_default_params():
        [9, 9],
    ],
 )
-def test_buzzer_function(times, duration):
+def test_buzzer_function(times: int, duration: int) -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.buzzer(times, duration)
-    expected = BUZZER + six.int2byte(times) + six.int2byte(duration)
+    expected = BUZZER + bytes((times, duration))
    assert instance.output == expected


@@ -46,7 +45,9 @@ def test_buzzer_function(times, duration):
        [3, 11, "duration must be between 1 and 9"],
    ],
 )
-def test_buzzer_fuction_with_outrange_values(times, duration, expected_message):
+def test_buzzer_fuction_with_outrange_values(
+    times: int, duration: int, expected_message: str
+) -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
        instance.buzzer(times, duration)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_cashdraw.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_cashdraw.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import escpos.printer as printer
 from escpos.exceptions import CashDrawerError


-def test_raise_CashDrawerError():
+def test_raise_CashDrawerError() -> None:
    """should raise an error if the sequence is invalid."""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(CashDrawerError):
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_check_barcode.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_check_barcode.py
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_cut.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_cut.py
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
-import six
-
 import escpos.printer as printer
 from escpos.constants import GS


-def test_cut_without_feed():
+def test_cut_without_feed() -> None:
    """Test cut without feeding paper"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.cut(feed=False)
-    expected = GS + b"V" + six.int2byte(66) + b"\x00"
+    expected = GS + b"V" + bytes((66,)) + b"\x00"
    assert instance.output == expected
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_dummy_clear.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_dummy_clear.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from escpos.printer import Dummy


-def test_printer_dummy_clear():
+def test_printer_dummy_clear() -> None:
    printer = Dummy()
    printer.text("Hello")
    printer.clear()
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_image.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_image.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from escpos.exceptions import ImageWidthError


 # Raster format print
-def test_bit_image_black():
+def test_bit_image_black() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid black bit image (raster)
    """
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ def test_bit_image_black():
    assert instance.output == b"\x1dv0\x00\x01\x00\x01\x00\x80"


-def test_bit_image_white():
+def test_bit_image_white() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid white bit image (raster)
    """
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def test_bit_image_white():
    assert instance.output == b"\x1dv0\x00\x01\x00\x01\x00\x00"


-def test_bit_image_both():
+def test_bit_image_both() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/white bit image (raster)
    """
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def test_bit_image_both():
    assert instance.output == b"\x1dv0\x00\x01\x00\x02\x00\xc0\x00"


-def test_bit_image_transparent():
+def test_bit_image_transparent() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/transparent bit image (raster)
    """
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def test_bit_image_transparent():


 # Column format print
-def test_bit_image_colfmt_black():
+def test_bit_image_colfmt_black() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid black bit image (column format)
    """
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_bit_image_colfmt_black():
    assert instance.output == b"\x1b3\x10\x1b*!\x01\x00\x80\x00\x00\x0a\x1b2"


-def test_bit_image_colfmt_white():
+def test_bit_image_colfmt_white() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid white bit image (column format)
    """
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def test_bit_image_colfmt_white():
    assert instance.output == b"\x1b3\x10\x1b*!\x01\x00\x00\x00\x00\x0a\x1b2"


-def test_bit_image_colfmt_both():
+def test_bit_image_colfmt_both() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/white bit image (column format)
    """
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ def test_bit_image_colfmt_both():
    )


-def test_bit_image_colfmt_transparent():
+def test_bit_image_colfmt_transparent() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/transparent bit image (column format)
    """
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def test_bit_image_colfmt_transparent():


 # Graphics print
-def test_graphics_black():
+def test_graphics_black() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid black graphics
    """
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def test_graphics_black():
    )


-def test_graphics_white():
+def test_graphics_white() -> None:
    """
    Test printing solid white graphics
    """
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ def test_graphics_white():
    )


-def test_graphics_both():
+def test_graphics_both() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/white graphics
    """
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def test_graphics_both():
    )


-def test_graphics_transparent():
+def test_graphics_transparent() -> None:
    """
    Test printing black/transparent graphics
    """
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def test_graphics_transparent():
    )


-def test_large_graphics():
+def test_large_graphics() -> None:
    """
    Test whether 'large' graphics that induce a fragmentation are handled correctly.
    """
@@ -162,13 +162,13 @@ def test_large_graphics():


@pytest.fixture
-def dummy_with_width():
+def dummy_with_width() -> printer.Dummy:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.profile.profile_data = {"media": {"width": {"pixels": 384}}}
    return instance


-def test_width_too_large(dummy_with_width):
+def test_width_too_large(dummy_with_width: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    """
    Test printing an image that is too large in width.
    """
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def test_width_too_large(dummy_with_width):
    instance.image(Image.new("RGB", (384, 200)))


-def test_center_image(dummy_with_width):
+def test_center_image(dummy_with_width: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    instance = dummy_with_width

    with pytest.raises(ImageWidthError):
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_linedisplay.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_linedisplay.py
@@ -11,21 +11,21 @@
 import escpos.printer as printer


-def test_function_linedisplay_select_on():
+def test_function_linedisplay_select_on() -> None:
    """test the linedisplay_select function (activate)"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.linedisplay_select(select_display=True)
    assert instance.output == b"\x1B\x3D\x02"


-def test_function_linedisplay_select_off():
+def test_function_linedisplay_select_off() -> None:
    """test the linedisplay_select function (deactivate)"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.linedisplay_select(select_display=False)
    assert instance.output == b"\x1B\x3D\x01"


-def test_function_linedisplay_clear():
+def test_function_linedisplay_clear() -> None:
    """test the linedisplay_clear function"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.linedisplay_clear()
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_panel_button.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_panel_button.py
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@
 import escpos.printer as printer


-def test_function_panel_button_on():
+def test_function_panel_button_on() -> None:
    """test the panel button function (enabling) by comparing output"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.panel_buttons()
    assert instance.output == b"\x1B\x63\x35\x00"


-def test_function_panel_button_off():
+def test_function_panel_button_off() -> None:
    """test the panel button function (disabling) by comparing output"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.panel_buttons(False)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_qr_native.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_qr_native.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@

 :author: `Michael Billington <michael.billington@gmail.com>`_
 :organization: `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
-:copyright: Copyright (c) 2016 `Michael Billington <michael.billington@gmail.com>`_
+:copyright: Copyright (c) 2023 `Michael Billington <michael.billington@gmail.com>`_
 :license: MIT
 """

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import escpos.printer as printer
 from escpos.constants import QR_ECLEVEL_H, QR_MODEL_1


-def test_defaults():
+def test_defaults() -> None:
    """Test QR code with defaults"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.qr("1234", native=True)
@@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ def test_defaults():
    assert instance.output == expected


-def test_empty():
+def test_empty() -> None:
    """Test QR printing blank code"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.qr("", native=True)
    assert instance.output == b""


-def test_ec():
+def test_ec() -> None:
    """Test QR error correction setting"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.qr("1234", native=True, ec=QR_ECLEVEL_H)
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def test_ec():
    assert instance.output == expected


-def test_size():
+def test_size() -> None:
    """Test QR box size"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.qr("1234", native=True, size=7)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def test_size():
    assert instance.output == expected


-def test_model():
+def test_model() -> None:
    """Test QR model"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.qr("1234", native=True, model=QR_MODEL_1)
@@ -65,44 +65,28 @@ def test_model():
    assert instance.output == expected


-def test_invalid_ec():
+def test_invalid_ec() -> None:
    """Test invalid QR error correction"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        instance.qr("1234", native=True, ec=-1)


-def test_invalid_size():
+def test_invalid_size() -> None:
    """Test invalid QR size"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        instance.qr("1234", native=True, size=0)


-def test_invalid_model():
+def test_invalid_model() -> None:
    """Test invalid QR model"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        instance.qr("1234", native=True, model="Hello")


-@pytest.mark.skip("this test has to be debugged")
-def test_image():
-    """Test QR as image"""
-    instance = printer.Dummy()
-    instance.qr("1", native=False, size=1)
-    print(instance.output)
-    expected = (
-        b"\x1bt\x00\n"
-        b"\x1dv0\x00\x03\x00\x17\x00\x00\x00\x00\x7f]\xfcA\x19\x04]it]et"
-        b"]ItA=\x04\x7fU\xfc\x00\x0c\x00y~t4\x7f =\xa84j\xd9\xf0\x05\xd4\x90\x00"
-        b"i(\x7f<\xa8A \xd8]'\xc4]y\xf8]E\x80Ar\x94\x7fR@\x00\x00\x00"
-        b"\n\n"
-    )
-    assert instance.output == expected
-
-
-def test_image_invalid_model():
+def test_image_invalid_model() -> None:
    """Test unsupported QR model as image"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
@@ -114,6 +98,6 @@ def instance():
    return printer.Dummy()


-def test_center_not_implementer(instance):
+def test_center_not_implementer(instance: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
        instance.qr("test", center=True, native=True)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_qr_non-native.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_qr_non-native.py
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+#  -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""tests for the non-native part of qr()
+
+:author: `Patrick Kanzler <dev@pkanzler.de>`_
+:organization: `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:copyright: Copyright (c) 2023 `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:license: MIT
+"""
+
+
+import warnings
+
+import mock
+import pytest
+from PIL import Image
+
+from escpos.printer import Dummy
+
+
+def test_image() -> None:
+    """Test QR as image"""
+    instance = Dummy()
+    image_arguments = {
+        "high_density_vertical": True,
+        "high_density_horizontal": True,
+        "impl": "bitImageRaster",
+        "fragment_height": 960,
+        "center": False,
+    }
+    instance.qr("1", native=False, image_arguments=image_arguments, size=1)
+    print(instance.output)
+    expected = (
+        b"\x1bt\x00\n"
+        b"\x1dv0\x00\x03\x00\x17\x00\x00\x00\x00\x7f\x1d\xfcAu\x04]\x1dt]et"
+        b"]%tAI\x04\x7fU\xfc\x00 \x00}\xca\xa8h\xdf u\x95\x80x/ \x0b\xf4\x98\x00"
+        b"T\x90\x7fzxA\x00\xd0]zp]o ]u\x80Ao(\x7fd\x90\x00\x00\x00"
+        b"\n\n"
+    )
+    assert instance.output == expected
+
+
+@mock.patch("escpos.printer.Dummy.image", spec=Dummy)
+def test_type_of_object_passed_to_image_function(img_function):
+    """
+    Test the type of object that is passed to the image function during non-native qr-printing.
+
+    The type should be PIL.Image
+    """
+    d = Dummy()
+    d.qr("LoremIpsum")
+    args, kwargs = img_function.call_args
+    assert isinstance(args[0], Image.Image)
+
+
+@mock.patch("escpos.printer.Dummy.image", spec=Dummy)
+def test_parameter_image_arguments_passed_to_image_function(img_function):
+    """Test the parameter passed to non-native qr printing."""
+    d = Dummy()
+    d.qr(
+        "LoremIpsum",
+        native=False,
+        image_arguments={
+            "impl": "bitImageColumn",
+            "high_density_vertical": False,
+            "center": True,
+        },
+    )
+    args, kwargs = img_function.call_args
+    assert "impl" in kwargs
+    assert kwargs["impl"] == "bitImageColumn"
+    assert "high_density_vertical" in kwargs
+    assert kwargs["high_density_vertical"] is False
+    assert "center" in kwargs
+    assert kwargs["center"]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def instance():
+    return Dummy()
+
+
+def test_center(instance):
+    """Test printing qr codes."""
+    instance.qr("LoremIpsum", center=True)
+
+
+def test_deprecated_arguments(instance):
+    """Test deprecation warning."""
+    with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
+        # cause all warnings to always be triggered
+        warnings.simplefilter("always")
+        instance.qr(
+            "LoremIpsum",
+            impl="bitImageRaster",
+            image_arguments={"impl": "bitImageColumn"},
+        )
+        assert issubclass(w[-1].category, DeprecationWarning)
+        assert "deprecated" in str(w[-1].message)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_set.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_set.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
+from typing import Optional
+
 import pytest
-import six

 import escpos.printer as printer
 from escpos.constants import SET_FONT, TXT_NORMAL, TXT_SIZE, TXT_STYLE
 from escpos.exceptions import SetVariableError


-def test_default_values_with_default():
+def test_default_values_with_default() -> None:
    """Default test, please copy and paste this block to test set method calls"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default()
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ def test_default_values_with_default():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_default_values():
+def test_default_values() -> None:
    """Default test"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set()
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ def test_default_values():
 # Size tests


-def test_set_size_2h():
+def test_set_size_2h() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(double_height=True)

@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def test_set_size_2h():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_2h_no_default():
+def test_set_size_2h_no_default() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set(double_height=True)

@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ def test_set_size_2h_no_default():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_2w():
+def test_set_size_2w() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(double_width=True)

@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ def test_set_size_2w():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_2w_no_default():
+def test_set_size_2w_no_default() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set(double_width=True)

@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ def test_set_size_2w_no_default():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_2x():
+def test_set_size_2x() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(double_height=True, double_width=True)

@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ def test_set_size_2x():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_2x_no_default():
+def test_set_size_2x_no_default() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set(double_width=True, double_height=True)

@@ -130,13 +131,13 @@ def test_set_size_2x_no_default():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_size_custom():
+def test_set_size_custom() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(custom_size=True, width=8, height=7)

    expected_sequence = (
        TXT_SIZE,  # Custom text size, no normal reset
-        six.int2byte(TXT_STYLE["width"][8] + TXT_STYLE["height"][7]),
+        bytes((TXT_STYLE["width"][8] + TXT_STYLE["height"][7],)),
        TXT_STYLE["flip"][False],  # Flip OFF
        TXT_STYLE["smooth"][False],  # Smooth OFF
        TXT_STYLE["bold"][False],  # Bold OFF
@@ -151,13 +152,13 @@ def test_set_size_custom():

@pytest.mark.parametrize("width", [1, 8])
@pytest.mark.parametrize("height", [1, 8])
-def test_set_size_custom_no_default(width, height):
+def test_set_size_custom_no_default(width: int, height: int) -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set(custom_size=True, width=width, height=height)

    expected_sequence = (
        TXT_SIZE,  # Custom text size, no normal reset
-        six.int2byte(TXT_STYLE["width"][width] + TXT_STYLE["height"][height]),
+        bytes((TXT_STYLE["width"][width] + TXT_STYLE["height"][height],)),
    )

    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)
@@ -165,7 +166,9 @@ def test_set_size_custom_no_default(width, height):

@pytest.mark.parametrize("width", [None, 0, 9, 10, 4444])
@pytest.mark.parametrize("height", [None, 0, 9, 10, 4444])
-def test_set_size_custom_invalid_input(width, height):
+def test_set_size_custom_invalid_input(
+    width: Optional[int], height: Optional[int]
+) -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(SetVariableError):
        instance.set(custom_size=True, width=width, height=height)
@@ -174,7 +177,7 @@ def test_set_size_custom_invalid_input(width, height):
 # Flip


-def test_set_flip():
+def test_set_flip() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(flip=True)

@@ -193,7 +196,7 @@ def test_set_flip():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_flip_no_default():
+def test_set_flip_no_default() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set(flip=True)

@@ -205,7 +208,7 @@ def test_set_flip_no_default():
 # Smooth


-def test_smooth():
+def test_smooth() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(smooth=True)

@@ -227,7 +230,7 @@ def test_smooth():
 # Type


-def test_set_bold():
+def test_set_bold() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(bold=True)

@@ -246,7 +249,7 @@ def test_set_bold():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_underline():
+def test_set_underline() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(underline=1)

@@ -265,7 +268,7 @@ def test_set_underline():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_set_underline2():
+def test_set_underline2() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(underline=2)

@@ -287,7 +290,7 @@ def test_set_underline2():
 # Align


-def test_align_center():
+def test_align_center() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(align="center")

@@ -306,7 +309,7 @@ def test_align_center():
    assert instance.output == b"".join(expected_sequence)


-def test_align_right():
+def test_align_right() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(align="right")

@@ -328,7 +331,7 @@ def test_align_right():
 # Densities


-def test_densities():
+def test_densities() -> None:
    for density in range(8):
        instance = printer.Dummy()
        instance.set_with_default(density=density)
@@ -352,7 +355,7 @@ def test_densities():
 # Invert


-def test_invert():
+def test_invert() -> None:
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.set_with_default(invert=True)

--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_softbarcode.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_softbarcode.py
@@ -11,16 +11,16 @@ def instance():
    return printer.Dummy()


-def test_soft_barcode_ean8_invalid(instance):
+def test_soft_barcode_ean8_invalid(instance: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    """test with an invalid barcode"""
    with pytest.raises(barcode.errors.BarcodeError):
        instance.barcode("1234", "ean8", force_software=True)


-def test_soft_barcode_ean8(instance):
+def test_soft_barcode_ean8(instance: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    """test with a valid ean8 barcode"""
    instance.barcode("1234567", "ean8", force_software=True)


-def test_soft_barcode_ean8_nocenter(instance):
+def test_soft_barcode_ean8_nocenter(instance: printer.Dummy) -> None:
    instance.barcode("1234567", "ean8", align_ct=False, force_software=True)
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_software_columns.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_software_columns.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+#  -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+"""tests for software_columns
+
+:author: Benito López and the python-escpos developers
+:organization: `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:copyright: Copyright (c) 2024 `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
+:license: MIT
+"""
+
+
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_rearrange_into_cols(driver) -> None:
+    """
+    GIVEN a list of columnable text
+    WHEN the column width is different for each column and some strings exceed the max width
+    THEN check the strings are properly wrapped, truncated and rearranged into some columns
+    """
+
+    output = driver._rearrange_into_cols(
+        text_list=["fits", "row1 row2", "truncate and wrap"], widths=[4, 5, 6]
+    )
+    assert output == [["fits", "row1", "trunc."], ["", "row2", "and"], ["", "", "wrap"]]
+
+
+def test_add_padding_into_cols(driver) -> None:
+    """
+    GIVEN a list of strings
+    WHEN adding padding and different alignments to each string
+    THEN check the strings are correctly padded and aligned
+    """
+
+    output = driver._add_padding_into_cols(
+        text_list=["col1", "col2", "col3", "col 4"],
+        widths=[6, 6, 6, 6],
+        align=["center", "left", "right", "justify"],
+    )
+    assert output == [" col1 ", "col2  ", "  col3", "col  4"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("text_list", ["", [], None])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("widths", [30.5, "30", None])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("align", ["invalid_align_name", "", None])
+def test_software_columns_invalid_args(driver, text_list, widths, align) -> None:
+    """
+    GIVEN a dummy printer object
+    WHEN non valid params are passed
+    THEN check raise exception
+    """
+    bad_text_list = {"text_list": text_list, "widths": 5, "align": "left"}
+    bad_widths = {"text_list": ["valid"], "widths": widths, "align": "left"}
+    bad_align = {"text_list": ["valid"], "widths": 5, "align": align}
+
+    bad_args = [bad_text_list, bad_widths, bad_align]
+    for kwargs in bad_args:
+        with pytest.raises((TypeError, ValueError)):
+            driver.software_columns(**kwargs)
+        driver.close()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "text_list",
+    [
+        ["col1", "col2", "col3"],
+        ["wrap this string", "wrap this string", "wrap this string"],
+        ["truncate_this_string", "truncate_this_string", "truncate_this_string"],
+    ],
+)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("widths", [[10, 10, 10], [10], 30])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("align", [["center", "left", "right"], ["center"], "justify"])
+def test_software_columns_valid_args(driver, text_list, widths, align) -> None:
+    """
+    GIVEN a dummy printer object
+    WHEN valid params are passed
+    THEN check no errors
+    """
+    driver.software_columns(text_list=text_list, widths=widths, align=align)
+    driver.close()
--- a/test/test_functions/test_function_text.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_function_text.py
@@ -10,26 +10,25 @@

 import hypothesis.strategies as st
 import mock
-import pytest
-from hypothesis import assume, given
+from hypothesis import given

 from escpos.printer import Dummy


-def get_printer():
+def get_printer() -> Dummy:
    return Dummy(magic_encode_args={"disabled": True, "encoding": "CP437"})


@given(text=st.text())
-def test_text(text):
+def test_text(text: str):
    """Test that text() calls the MagicEncode object."""
    instance = get_printer()
-    instance.magic.write = mock.Mock()
-    instance.text(text)
-    instance.magic.write.assert_called_with(text)
+    with mock.patch.object(instance.magic, "write") as write:
+        instance.text(text)
+        write.assert_called_with(text)


-def test_block_text():
+def test_block_text() -> None:
    printer = get_printer()
    printer.block_text(
        "All the presidents men were eating falafel for breakfast.", font="a"
@@ -39,25 +38,25 @@ def test_block_text():
    )


-def test_textln():
+def test_textln() -> None:
    printer = get_printer()
    printer.textln("hello, world")
    assert printer.output == b"hello, world\n"


-def test_textln_empty():
+def test_textln_empty() -> None:
    printer = get_printer()
    printer.textln()
    assert printer.output == b"\n"


-def test_ln():
+def test_ln() -> None:
    printer = get_printer()
    printer.ln()
    assert printer.output == b"\n"


-def test_multiple_ln():
+def test_multiple_ln() -> None:
    printer = get_printer()
    printer.ln(3)
    assert printer.output == b"\n\n\n"
--- a/test/test_functions/test_functions.py
+++ b/test/test_functions/test_functions.py
@@ -3,19 +3,19 @@ import pytest
 from escpos.printer import Dummy


-def test_line_spacing_code_gen():
+def test_line_spacing_code_gen() -> None:
    printer = Dummy()
    printer.line_spacing(10)
    assert printer.output == b"\x1b3\n"


-def test_line_spacing_rest():
+def test_line_spacing_rest() -> None:
    printer = Dummy()
    printer.line_spacing()
    assert printer.output == b"\x1b2"


-def test_line_spacing_error_handling():
+def test_line_spacing_error_handling() -> None:
    printer = Dummy()
    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
        printer.line_spacing(99, divisor=44)
--- a/test/test_image.py
+++ b/test/test_image.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ converted to ESC/POS column & raster formats.
 :copyright: Copyright (c) 2016 `Michael Billington <michael.billington@gmail.com>`_
 :license: MIT
 """
+from typing import List

 from escpos.image import EscposImage


-def test_image_black():
+def test_image_black() -> None:
    """
    Test rendering solid black image
    """
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ def test_image_black():
        _load_and_check_img("canvas_black." + img_format, 1, 1, b"\x80", [b"\x80"])


-def test_image_black_transparent():
+def test_image_black_transparent() -> None:
    """
    Test rendering black/transparent image
    """
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ def test_image_black_transparent():
        )


-def test_image_black_white():
+def test_image_black_white() -> None:
    """
    Test rendering black/white image
    """
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ def test_image_black_white():
        )


-def test_image_white():
+def test_image_white() -> None:
    """
    Test rendering solid white image
    """
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ def test_image_white():
        _load_and_check_img("canvas_white." + img_format, 1, 1, b"\x00", [b"\x00"])


-def test_split():
+def test_split() -> None:
    """
    test whether the split-function works as expected
    """
@@ -62,12 +63,12 @@ def test_split():


 def _load_and_check_img(
-    filename,
-    width_expected,
-    height_expected,
-    raster_format_expected,
-    column_format_expected,
-):
+    filename: str,
+    width_expected: int,
+    height_expected: int,
+    raster_format_expected: bytes,
+    column_format_expected: List[bytes],
+) -> None:
    """
    Load an image, and test whether raster & column formatted output, sizes, etc match expectations.
    """
--- a/test/test_load_module.py
+++ b/test/test_load_module.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 import escpos.printer as printer


-def test_instantiation():
+def test_instantiation() -> None:
    """test the instantiation of a escpos-printer class and basic printing"""
    instance = printer.Dummy()
    instance.text("This is a test\n")
--- a/test/test_load_module_missing_capability.py
+++ b/test/test_load_module_missing_capability.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import tempfile
 import pytest


-def test_instantiation():
+def test_instantiation() -> None:
    """test the instantiation of a escpos-printer class"""
    # inject an environment variable that points to an empty capabilities file
    os.environ["ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_FILE"] = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile().name
--- a/test/test_magicencode.py
+++ b/test/test_magicencode.py
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@
 :copyright: Copyright (c) 2016 `python-escpos <https://github.com/python-escpos>`_
 :license: MIT
 """
-
+import types
+import typing

 import hypothesis.strategies as st
 import pytest
 from hypothesis import example, given

-from escpos.exceptions import CharCodeError, Error
+from escpos import printer
+from escpos.exceptions import Error
 from escpos.katakana import encode_katakana
 from escpos.magicencode import Encoder, MagicEncode

@@ -23,23 +25,23 @@ class TestEncoder:
    Tests the single encoders.
    """

-    def test_can_encode(self):
+    def test_can_encode(self) -> None:
        assert not Encoder({"CP437": 1}).can_encode("CP437", "€")
        assert Encoder({"CP437": 1}).can_encode("CP437", "á")
        assert not Encoder({"foobar": 1}).can_encode("foobar", "a")

-    def test_find_suitable_encoding(self):
+    def test_find_suitable_encoding(self) -> None:
        assert not Encoder({"CP437": 1}).find_suitable_encoding("€")
        assert Encoder({"CP858": 1}).find_suitable_encoding("€") == "CP858"

-    def test_find_suitable_encoding_unnecessary_codepage_swap(self):
+    def test_find_suitable_encoding_unnecessary_codepage_swap(self) -> None:
        enc = Encoder({"CP857": 1, "CP437": 2, "CP1252": 3, "CP852": 4, "CP858": 5})
        # desired behavior would be that the encoder always stays in the lower
        # available codepages if possible
        for character in ("Á", "É", "Í", "Ó", "Ú"):
            assert enc.find_suitable_encoding(character) == "CP857"

-    def test_get_encoding(self):
+    def test_get_encoding(self) -> None:
        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
            Encoder({}).get_encoding_name("latin1")

@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ class TestMagicEncode:
        Test initialization.
        """

-        def test_disabled_requires_encoding(self, driver):
+        def test_disabled_requires_encoding(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            """
            Test that disabled without encoder raises an error.

@@ -64,33 +66,33 @@ class TestMagicEncode:
                MagicEncode(driver, disabled=True)

    class TestWriteWithEncoding:
-        def test_init_from_none(self, driver):
+        def test_init_from_none(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver, encoding=None)
            encode.write_with_encoding("CP858", "€ ist teuro.")
            assert driver.output == b"\x1bt\x13\xd5 ist teuro."

-        def test_change_from_another(self, driver):
+        def test_change_from_another(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver, encoding="CP437")
            encode.write_with_encoding("CP858", "€ ist teuro.")
            assert driver.output == b"\x1bt\x13\xd5 ist teuro."

-        def test_no_change(self, driver):
+        def test_no_change(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver, encoding="CP858")
            encode.write_with_encoding("CP858", "€ ist teuro.")
            assert driver.output == b"\xd5 ist teuro."

    class TestWrite:
-        def test_write(self, driver):
+        def test_write(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver)
            encode.write("€ ist teuro.")
            assert driver.output == b"\x1bt\x0f\xa4 ist teuro."

-        def test_write_disabled(self, driver):
+        def test_write_disabled(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver, encoding="CP437", disabled=True)
            encode.write("€ ist teuro.")
            assert driver.output == b"? ist teuro."

-        def test_write_no_codepage(self, driver):
+        def test_write_no_codepage(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(
                driver,
                defaultsymbol="_",
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ class TestMagicEncode:
            assert driver.output == b"_ ist teuro."

    class TestForceEncoding:
-        def test(self, driver):
+        def test(self, driver: printer.Dummy) -> None:
            encode = MagicEncode(driver)
            encode.force_encoding("CP437")
            assert driver.output == b"\x1bt\x00"
@@ -110,6 +112,7 @@ class TestMagicEncode:
            assert driver.output == b"\x1bt\x00? ist teuro."


+jaconv: typing.Optional[types.ModuleType]
 try:
    import jaconv
 except ImportError:
@@ -122,9 +125,9 @@ class TestKatakana:
    @example("カタカナ")
    @example("あいうえお")
    @example("ﾊﾝｶｸｶﾀｶﾅ")
-    def test_accept(self, text):
+    def test_accept(self, text: str) -> None:
        encode_katakana(text)

-    def test_result(self):
+    def test_result(self) -> None:
        assert encode_katakana("カタカナ") == b"\xb6\xc0\xb6\xc5"
        assert encode_katakana("あいうえお") == b"\xb1\xb2\xb3\xb4\xb5"
--- a/test/test_printers/test_printer_cups.py
+++ b/test/test_printers/test_printer_cups.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ pytestmark = pytest.mark.skipif(
 )


-def test_device_not_initialized(cupsprinter):
+def test_device_not_initialized(cupsprinter) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN it is not initialized
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def test_device_not_initialized(cupsprinter):
    assert cupsprinter._device is False


-def test_open_raise_exception(cupsprinter, devicenotfounderror):
+def test_open_raise_exception(cupsprinter, devicenotfounderror) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN open() is set to raise a DeviceNotFoundError on error
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def test_open_raise_exception(cupsprinter, devicenotfounderror):
        cupsprinter.open(raise_not_found=True)


-def test_open_not_raise_exception(cupsprinter, caplog):
+def test_open_not_raise_exception(cupsprinter, caplog) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN open() is set to not raise on error but simply cancel
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def test_open_not_raise_exception(cupsprinter, caplog):
    assert cupsprinter.device is None


-def test_open(cupsprinter, caplog, mocker):
+def test_open(cupsprinter, caplog, mocker) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object and a mocked pycups device
    WHEN a valid connection to a device is opened
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_open(cupsprinter, caplog, mocker):
    assert cupsprinter.device


-def test_close_on_reopen(cupsprinter, mocker):
+def test_close_on_reopen(cupsprinter, mocker) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object and a mocked connection
    WHEN a valid connection to a device is reopened before close
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def test_close(cupsprinter, caplog, mocker):
    assert cupsprinter._device is False


-def test_send_on_close(cupsprinter, mocker):
+def test_send_on_close(cupsprinter, mocker) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object and a mocked pycups device
    WHEN closing connection before send the buffer
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def test_send_on_close(cupsprinter, mocker):
    assert cupsprinter.pending_job is False


-def test_raw_raise_exception(cupsprinter):
+def test_raw_raise_exception(cupsprinter) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN passing a non byte string to _raw()
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def test_raw_raise_exception(cupsprinter):
    assert cupsprinter.pending_job is False


-def test_raw(cupsprinter):
+def test_raw(cupsprinter) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN passing a byte string to _raw()
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def test_raw(cupsprinter):
    assert cupsprinter.tmpfile.read() == b"Test"


-def test_printers_no_device(cupsprinter):
+def test_printers_no_device(cupsprinter) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN device is None
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ def test_printers_no_device(cupsprinter):
    assert cupsprinter.printers == {}


-def test_read_no_device(cupsprinter):
+def test_read_no_device(cupsprinter) -> None:
    """
    GIVEN a cups printer object
    WHEN device is None
-    THEN check the return value is []
+    THEN check the return value is b'8'
    """
    cupsprinter.device = None
-    assert cupsprinter._read() == []
+    assert cupsprinter._read() == b"8"
--- a/test/test_raise_arbitrary_error.py
+++ b/test/test_raise_arbitrary_error.py
@@ -14,16 +14,16 @@ import escpos
 import escpos.exceptions


-def test_raise_error_wrongly():
+def test_raise_error_wrongly() -> None:
    """raise error the wrong way

    should reproduce https://github.com/python-escpos/python-escpos/issues/257
    """
    with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
-        raise escpos.Error("This should raise an AttributeError.")
+        raise escpos.Error("This should raise an AttributeError.")  # type: ignore [attr-defined]


-def tests_raise_error():
+def tests_raise_error() -> None:
    """raise error the right way"""
    with pytest.raises(escpos.exceptions.Error):
        raise escpos.exceptions.Error("This should raise an error.")
--- a/test/test_with_statement.py
+++ b/test/test_with_statement.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import escpos.escpos as escpos
 import escpos.printer as printer


-def test_with_statement():
+def test_with_statement() -> None:
    """Use with statement

    .. todo:: Extend these tests as they don't really do anything at the moment"""
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tox]
-envlist = py38, py39, py310, py311, docs, flake8
+envlist = py38, py39, py310, py311, py312, py313, docs, flake8

 [gh-actions]
 python =
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ python =
    3.10: py310
    3.11: py311
    3.12: py312
+    3.13: py313

 [testenv]
 deps = jaconv
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ deps = jaconv
       pytest-cov
       pytest-mock
       hypothesis>=6.83
-       python-barcode
+       python-barcode>=0.15.0,<1
 extras = all
 commands = pytest
 passenv = ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_PICKLE_DIR, ESCPOS_CAPABILITIES_FILE, CI, TRAVIS, TRAVIS_*, APPVEYOR, APPVEYOR_*, CODECOV_*
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ basepython = python
 changedir = doc
 deps = sphinx>=7.2.3
       setuptools_scm
-       python-barcode
+       python-barcode>=0.15.0,<1
       sphinx-argparse
       sphinxcontrib-spelling>=8.0.0
       sphinxcontrib.datatemplates
@@ -54,10 +55,10 @@ deps = mypy
       types-six
       types-mock
       types-PyYAML
-       types-appdirs
       types-Pillow
       types-pyserial
       types-pywin32>=306.0.0.6
+       types-flask
       hypothesis>=6.83
       jaconv
-commands = mypy src test
+commands = mypy src test examples