Specifications

For more information about PostScript’s standard and optional features and uses, see Adobe’s Web

site.

Note

For users who want to retrofit the graphics power of PostScript to an existing printer but cannot get a hardware upgrade,

many Raster Image Processing (RIP) programs are available that provide for PostScript imaging on common SOHO and

office laser and inkjet printers. These programs serve two purposes: They improve printed output, and they enable a user

with a low-cost color or monochrome inkjet or laser printer to use that printer as an accurate preview device for preparing

PostScript files for output by a high-end typesetter.

Leading low-cost RIPs for popular brands of inkjet printers include

■ Zenographic’s SuperPrint (www.zeno.com)

■ Iproof’s PowerRIP 2000 (www.iproofsystems.com)

■ Epson’s ESR-Stylus RIP Software driver (www.epson.com)

For other RIPs, see the comparison chart (a bit dated, but still useful) available at www.islandartcards.com/epson/

RIPcompare.html.

https://www.iproofsystems.com/forms/custorders.htm

PDL Support

When you are evaluating printers, the decision as to which PDL you want to use should be based pri-

marily on your interaction with other parties, their documents, and their printers.

If you are concerned about printing for personal or company use only, you can either use a PCL-com-

patible or PostScript laser printer for text or use a high-quality color inkjet printer for color images. To

minimize the reformatting of documents you have already created, when you upgrade I’d recommend

that you upgrade to a later model of the same printer family if you are happy with the print quality

and features of your current printer. Because both PCL and PostScript are quite comparable in their

text-handling capabilities today, you will get excellent printed output with either type of PDL, or with

a high-quality inkjet printer using inkjet paper.

However, the situation is quite different if you are creating documents for use by others (such as pre-

press work for service bureaus or proofs for graphic designers). In these cases, PostScript rules. Because

PostScript is the dominant standard in the world of professional graphics, printing, and publishing,

you should create these types of documents with PostScript in mind.

You also might come across documents on the Internet and in other places that are provided in the

PostScript format. For a long time, a PostScript output file (usually with a PS extension) was the most

convenient, platform-independent format for distributing a document containing graphical content.

Any user with a PostScript printer, regardless of the computing platform, can simply copy a Postscript

(.PS) file to the printer and produce a hard copy of the document, including all the graphics and fonts

found in the original. Although the practice of releasing raw PostScript files is far less frequent now

that platform-independent formats, such as Adobe Acrobat (.PDF format), are available, this can still

be a valid reason for having a PostScript printer available or for using a PostScript interpreter (RIP)

with a non-PostScript printer (see the preceding note). Keep in mind, though, that a raw PostScript

file cannot be viewed. However, you can convert PostScript .PS files into Acrobat-compatible .PDF

files with the Aladdin Ghostscript program for Windows, Unix, VMS, Linux, MS-DOS, OS/2, and

Macintosh. For more information about Ghostscript, go to