I've been chipping away at this for sometime and just optimized my setup. I thought I'd share:

Goal:

Make a network laser printer accessible for printing from iOS / Chromebook / etc, using a network laser printer that only has Windows drivers. I'm just interested in printing on wifi, but this approach lets you do off site printing too.

Context:

-I used to use Google Cloud Print to share a printer with a variety of family members. Worked amazingly, but Google killed it. I needed a new solution. I used to do this with a Windows VM on Unraid running Papercut Mobility Print. It worked fantastic. I just moved it over from the VM to the Docker Windows OS approach, which seems better on resources and easier to manage.

-The laser printer I use only has Mac/Windows drivers and none of the linux approaches would work. That means I couldn't get CUPS to work, nor use lighter VMs. Lesson learned for the next Printer I buy.

-So, if your printer works with Linux drivers, maybe you can just find a CUPS solution for AirPrint, etc. Please do share if you have this working.

My Setup:

-Unraid: I had to change docker settings to use macvlan for this approach. I believe it was necessary to enable "Host access to custom networks" as well.

-Docker for Windows: I installed the "binhex official windows" docker. I installed Win11 LTSC to keep it light and simple. It seems to be running with less resource impact than my VM approach, and seems easier to administrate for my use.

--Network type = custom : br0

--Fixed IP Address provided, as I wanted to reserve/static this on my router

--Variable DHCP = Y

-Windows OS setup:

--Installed Win 11 LTSC

--installed printer driver

--Installed and configured PaperCut Mobility Print

Outcome:

Yep - wifi printing from all devices going well!

Thank you @Tomahawk51 . I have an old Xerox network laser printer which cups did not play nice with (no colour) BUT I do have a Windows VM running so I was able to follow your setup above and now have an AirPrinter for use from my phone!

I may have a play to see if I can get the Linux version running in an UnRaid docker, but that's for a rainy day.

Thanks again, Andy