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What is PostScript?
PostScript is a programming language that was developed by Adobe Systems in 1982. It is primarily used in the printing and graphics industries as a standard page description language. PostScript is able to describe complex 2D vector graphics, including text and images, and is specifically designed to be device-independent, meaning it can be used with any type of printer or display device.
How does PostScript work?
PostScript works by describing the geometric shapes and attributes of objects in a document in a device-independent manner. The language uses a stack-based model and a virtual machine that interprets the code and renders the graphics.
When a document is sent to a PostScript-capable printer, the printer’s built-in interpreter reads and executes the PostScript code to produce the final output. This code includes instructions for drawing lines, shapes, and text, as well as color information and page layout instructions.
Why is PostScript important in the printing industry?
PostScript’s device-independent nature has played a crucial role in the printing industry. Before the introduction of PostScript, each printer model required its own unique printer driver, which made printing across different devices a complex and time-consuming task.
With the advent of PostScript, printers only needed to understand the PostScript code, making the process of printing consistent across various devices. This opened up opportunities for the development of desktop publishing software that could generate high-quality output without worrying about the specifics of different printers.
PostScript also enabled the concept of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), which means that what you see on the computer screen closely matches the final printed output. This was a significant advancement in desktop publishing, as it allowed designers to have more control over the appearance of their documents.
Moreover, PostScript introduced advanced features like scalable fonts and color management, which revolutionized the printing industry. It paved the way for the production of professional-quality documents with precise typography and accurate color reproduction.
In conclusion, PostScript is a powerful and important programming language that has had a profound impact on the printing and graphics industries. Its device-independent nature and advanced features have made it a standard for page description, enabling high-quality output and consistent printing across different devices.
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