CUPS autoconstructs all possible filtering chain paths for any given MIME type and every printer installed. But how does it decide in favor of or against a specific alternative? (There may be cases where there is a choice of two or more possible filtering chains for the same target printer.) Simple. You may have noticed the figures in the third column of the mime.convs file. They represent virtual costs assigned to this filter. Every possible filtering chain will sum up to a total “filter cost.” CUPS decides for the most “inexpensive” route.