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Archive-name: auto/gnu.ghostscript.bug/Ghostscript-2-5-is-released

Ghostscript 2.5 is now released.  Highlights of this release include:

	- Use of the 'hints' in Type 1 fonts, which significantly
	improves character quality if you have good fonts.
	(Unfortunately, of the fonts supplied with Ghostscript, only
	Courier, Utopia, and Charter are 'good'.)

	- Nearly complete implementation of the Level 2 PostScript
	filters, including Group 3 and Group 4 fax encodings.

	- An implementation that runs under Microsoft Windows 3.n.

	- Better handling of A4 paper size.

... plus the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements.  See
readme.doc in the fileset for a somewhat more detailed list; see the
NEWS file for a very detailed list.  Note that only a subset of the
available drivers and features are included in the PC executables
distributed as GNU software: read the individual makefiles to find out
which drivers and features are included in which executables.

Ghostscript 2.5 may be obtained from the usual GNU distribution points.
One good place to get it is ftp.cs.wisc.edu:/pub/X/ghostscript-2.5*.
This is a 24-hour access site that allows anonymous FTP and is not
heavily loaded.

      [ Soon to be at these ftp sites as well.  Please try them
	before prep.ai.mit.edu!  thanx -len

	    archie.au, archive.eu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk, ftp.diku.dk,
	    ftp.informatik.tu-muenchen.de, ftp.eunet.ch, ftp.funet.fi,
	    isy.liu.se, ftp.stacken.kth.se, sunic.sunet.se,
	    ftp.win.tue.nl, ugle.unit.no, ftp.cs.titech.ac.jp,
	    wuarchive.wustl.edu, gatekeeper.dec.com, uxc.cso.uiuc.edu,
	    col.hp.com, and ftp.uu.net (under /packages/gnu).

	For information on how to order GNU software on tape, check
	the file etc/DISTRIB in the GNU Emacs distribution, or e-mail
	a request to:	gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu
      ]

Context diffs from Ghostscript 2.4.1 to 2.5 have been provided.
Ghostscript 2.4.1 has been left on-line; 2.4 has been removed.

Ghostscript 2.5 includes new Charter fonts, slightly revised Courier
and Utopia fonts, and a pair of new Cyrillic fonts; the fonts are
otherwise unchanged.

Thanks to the many users who reported problems.  Special thanks to
Russell Lang and Maurice Castro for providing the first version of the
Windows code.

Suggestions for what should go in Ghostscript 2.6, due for release
around the end of the year, are more than welcome.  The only new
feature definitely scheduled for inclusion is the ability to use the
platform's fonts (e.g., the X bitmap fonts) when possible.  Leading
candidates for other features are Type 0 (Chinese/Japanese) font
capability, the Level 2 'pattern' facility, and a major overhaul of
the general rasterizing algorithm for increased performance.  Please
send suggestions directly to ghost@aladdin.com.

I will be on vacation through August 31, and will read e-mail when I
return.

L. Peter Deutsch :: Aladdin Enterprises :: P.O. box 60264, Palo Alto, CA 94306
ghost@aladdin.com, ...decwrl!aladdin!ghost ; 415-322-0103 voice ; no fax yet
	    "Implementation is the sincerest form of flattery."