Today this post is going to give a brief introduction to the PostScript, which is short for PS. But don’t get it wrong, the PS here does not refer to the home video console owned by Sony, or the famous graphic editor, but a widely-used programming language for printing. If you use a printer often, you would definitely run across it.
Have you ever been curious about what does PostScript mean? With a few minutes, you can have a general picture of the PostScript.
What Does PostScript Mean
As a programming language, PostScript is used to interpret the printed pages and images with high resolution. It was first developed by Adobe Systems in 1982 and was originally applied to laser printers, but soon this page description language was expanded to commercial printers as well.
PostScript’s file extension is .ps. Being a popular programming language, PostScript is employed to most high-end printers. It connects computers and printers, which outputs digital files into printed versions without damaging the content.
Why Use PostScript
Given the fact that the PostScript file has earned great popularity, what features make it the favorite choice?
1.High-quality output
Compared to other competitors, PostScript files can present detailed graphics and text in printed papers. Besides, as PostScript files can be accessible to various devices, it ensures a high-quality output from different printers with a single computer language control.
2.Support both typography and graphic printing
Before PostScript, printers only supported either typography or graphic printing. With the increasing demand for developing instructions that help printers produce both graphics and typography, PostScript was created and remarkably fulfilled its job.
3.Excellent performance
With the PostScript, it can sharply decrease the CPU work so that it avoids slowing down the running process or freezing the program.
4.Easier for printing
The PostScript language can produce different files such as images, documents, and graphics and preserve their original resolution and colors as far as possible.
Disadvantages
However, nothing is black and white. Any outstanding product is inevitable to have flaws even though it achieves a better performance in a certain aspect.
1.Low compatibility
Many applications and software are no longer compatible with PostScript files, and it is not easy to convert PostScript files as this file is not supported by all converters.
2.Longer printing process and inconvenience in displaying
Printing PostScript files is slower due to the time spent on interpreting the code of the content.
In addition, today, most digital files of different formats can directly display the part you want. However, for PostScript files, you can only read the specific content after the previous pages are delineated, making the whole process time-consuming.
3.More expensive
Printers employing a PostScript printer drive is more expensive than others. And PostScript-implemented printers are less competitive for printer prices now are more favorable.
At present, although its competitiveness is not as strong as it once was, the PostScript is still widely used on high-end printers, providing its services to business users and cannot be replaced.
