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Archive-name: postscript-faq/part5-6
Last-modified: 1992/10/29
Version: 2.0

Subject: 5 Books 

    There are many good books on PostScript language programming. 
    Descriptions of all known books are listed below. A listing of 
    publisher information follows. 

    The most commonly known books are the ``blue book'', ``red book'', 
    and ``green book'' from Adobe, to be read in that order. They are 
    nicknamed according for their jacket colors. 

    Other books recommended to me include Thinking in PostScript and 
    PostScript by Example. 


Subject: 5.1 Books 



    Adobe Accurate Screens 
      explains in detail all the issues and specifically covers Adobe 
      Accurate Screens -- Adobes' own screening technology. Peter Fink 
      is an expert on the subject of halftone screens as they relate to 
      color issues. 

      Author: Peter Fink 

      Publisher: Adobe Press, 1992. 

      ISBN 0-672-48544-3 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Adobe Illustrator 88, The Official Handbook for Designers 
      ??? 

      Authors: Tony Bove, Cheryl Rhodes, Fred Davis 

      Publisher: Bantam Computer Books 1987. 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Adobe Type 1 Font Format, ``the black book'' 

      This is the specification for the Type 1 font format. Type 1 
      fonts are the standard outline format found in Adobe PostScript 
      printers, implementations of the Display PostScript system, and 
      available as downloadable fonts from the Adobe Type Library. This 
      document describes the syntax of the Adobe Type 1 font format, 
      including complete information regarding hints, encoding of 
      character outlines, and the charstring and eexec encryption 
      algorithms. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Inc 

      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1990. 

      ISBN 0-201-57044-0 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Display PostScript Programming 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1990 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Encapsulated PostScript: Application Guide for the Macintosh and 
    the PC 
      has its focus is EPS. However, it is an excellent book full of 
      actual real life PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript 
      applications on Macs, PCs, Unix, IBM mainframe, and other 
      computer systems. 

      Author: Peter Vollenweider 

      Publisher: Prentice Hall 1990 

      ISBN 0-13-275-843-1 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Graphic Design With PostScript 
      ??? 

      Author: Gerard Kunkel Scott 

      Publisher: Foresman and Company, 1990 

      ISBN 0-673-38794-1 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Hands On PostScript 
      ??? 

      The code is included with the price of the book ( $ 29.95). 

      Author: Michael Spring 

      Publisher: ??? 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Inside PostScript 
      essentially takes one on a tour of the standard internal 
      PostScript code in most printers. The author spelunked around in 
      the interpreter and figured out how most normal stuff worked (in 
      PostScript terms, no low-level hardware stuff here like cexec and 
      internaldict). 

      Author: Frank Merritt Braswell 

      Publisher: Systems of Merritt & Peachpit Press 1989 

      ISBN 0-938151-10-X 

      Library Call # ??? 

      Cost: about $ 40. 


    Learning PostScript, A Visual Approach 
      is a tutorial on the PostScript language. It is very appealing, 
      very easy to follow and filled with examples. Each example 
      occupies two pages. A brief explanation and source code is on the 
      left page, and the resultant print-out is on the facing right 
      page. The book starts off very simply for beginners, and covers a 
      lot of material at the end for experts. It does not cover level 2 
      PostScript. 

      In the later half of the book, a few examples can executed only 
      if an additional book is purchased. 

      The code for LPAVA is $ 20 from Smith Consultants, 834 Third st, 
      Suite B, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, U.S.A. fax number: 415-524-9775 

      Author: Ross Smith 

      Publisher: Peachpit Press, 1990 ISBN 0-938-151-12-6 

      Library Call # ??? 

      Cost: $ 22.95 


    Mastering Adobe Illustrator 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1988 ISBN 
      ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    Mastering Adobe Illustrator 88 
      ??? 

      Authors: Deke McClelland and Craig Danuloff 

      Publisher: Publishing Resources Inc.-Dow Jones Irwin 1989 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    PostScript by Example 
      is a tutorial for PostScript people at all levels. It covers 
      level 2 PostScript. The book starts at novice level and works 
      through to Level Two composite fonts, patterns, forms, color, 
      halftones, Display PostScript rectangle operators and text 
      operators. It contains a chapter on practical issues of 
      downloading fonts, talking to printers, and error handling. 640 
      pages containing over 500 fragments of PostScript code and over 
      750 illustrations. A long-awaited ``upgrade'' to the Blue Book. 

      Henry McGilton can be reached by email as 
      henry@trilithon.mpk.ca.us. 

      A disk containing 13,000 lines of PostScript code from the book 
      can be ordered separately for $ 20 from: Trilithon Software, Two 
      Ohlone, Portola Valley CA 94028, U.S.A. 

      Or, send E-mail to info@trilithon.mpk.ca.us. 

      Authors: Henry McGilton and Mary Campione 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1992. 

      ISBN 0-201-63228-4 

      Library Call # ??? 


    A PostScript Cookbook 
      ??? 

      Author: Barry Thomas Van Nostrand Reinhold 

      Publisher: ???, 1988. 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # ??? 


    PostScript Language Program Design, ``the green book'' 
      is intended to teach the fundamentals of designing PostScript 
      language programs and to show how the language works, so the your 
      programs will be fast, well-behaved, easy to understand, and 
      portable. 

      Code Examples: $ 15 from the developer support hotline. Free from 
      the Adobe mail server (see the section on Adobe). 

      Author: Adobe Systems Incorporated 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1988 

      ISBN 0-201-14396-8 

      Library Call # ??? 

      Cost: $ 22.95 


    PostScript Language Reference Manual (2nd ed), ``the red book'' 
      is the book that defines the PostScript language. The second 
      edition not only defines Level 1 PostScript, but also encompasses 
      the color, composite font, file system, and DPS extensions and 
      the PostScript language Level 2. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Incorporated 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1985, 1990 

      ISBN 0-201-18127-4 

      Library Call # QA76.73.P67P67 

      Cost: $ 28.95 


    PostScript Language Reference Manual (1st ed), ``the old red book'' 
      is the first edition of the reference manual. It describes 
      PostScript level 1 only. It is a subset of the PostScript level 2 
      book, but is still more common and costs less. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Inc. 

      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1985. 

      ISBN 0-201-10174-2 

      Library Call # ??? 


    PostScript Language Tutorial and Cookbook, ``the blue book'' 
      is the most common tutorial book on PostScript. It provides an 
      easy, informal introduction to the PostScript language and 
      graphics primitives. The cookbook is a collection of programs 
      that are offered as examples of PostScript usage. These samples 
      have been chosen both as illustrations of the functional range of 
      PostScript and as useful ingredients for inclusion in application 
      packages. 

      Code Examples: $ 15 from the developer support hotline. Free from 
      the Adobe mail server (see the section on Adobe). 

      Author: Adobe Systems Incorporated 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1985, 1990 

      ISBN 0-201-10179-3 

      Library Call # : QA76.73.P67P68 

      Cost: $ 16.75 


    Programming the Display PostScript System with NeXTstep, ``The 
    Purple Book'' 
      is written for the NeXT programming environment; however, much of 
      the information it contains applies to all Display PostScript 
      developers. The book explains the language extensions commonly 
      used within applications, describes many of the key aspects of 
      the PostScript language imaging model, and provides a framework 
      for creating Display PostScript language applications. 

      Author: ??? 

      Publisher: ??? 

      ISBN 0-201-58135-3 

      Library Call # QA76.73.P67P76 

      Cost: U.S. $ 26.95 $ CDN 34.95 


    Real World PostScript: Techniques from PostScript professionals - 
    ``The Orange Book'' 
      is a collection of articles dealing with 'real world' PostScript 
      language issues and specific applications such as font creation, 
      color separation, kerning, halftoning, various other topics. 

      It contains a text formatter written in PostScript, and 
      concentrates on doing very sophisticated things with fonts and 
      dictionaries. 

      Short overview of chapters: 

      PostScript As A Design Tool; PostScript As A Programming 
      Language; Writing Device Independent PostScript; Kerning, 
      Tracking And Letterspacing, Precise Character Bounding Boxes; 
      Building Fonts; Building Smart Fonts; Font Encoding Vector 
      Compatibility; Building A PostScript Typeface; PostScript Color 
      Operations; PostScript Color Separations; A Spread From Graphic 
      Perspective; A PostScript Four-Color Poster; Graphing And 
      Typesetting With PostScript; The Evolution Of A Complex Geometric 
      Logo 

      Author: Stephen F. Roth, editor. 

      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1988. 

      ISBN 0-201-06663-7 

      Library Call # Z286.D47R4 1988 


    Running PostScript from MS-DOS 
      provides a good and brief introduction to PostScript and has lots 
      of useful information on printing PostScript from PCs. 

      Author: Gary Glover 

      Publisher: Windcrest Books, 1989. 

      ISBN 0-8306-2998-X 

      Library Call # : ??? 


    Taking Advantage of PostScript 
      is very graphically and visually oriented and includes a section 
      on PostScript Level 2. 

      Author: John F. Sherman 

      Publisher: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1991. 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # : ??? 


    Thinking in PostScript 
      comes recommended, but I do not have a writeup for it. 

      Author: Glenn C. Reid 

      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1989 

      ISBN 0-201-52372-8 

      Library Call # : ??? 


    Understanding PostScript 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang 

      Publisher: Sybex, 1988 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # : ??? 


    Understanding PostScript Programming, Second Edition 
      ??? 

      Author: David Holzgang 

      Publisher: Sybex, 1988. 

      ISBN 0-89588-566-2 

      Library Call # : ??? 


    The Verbum Book of PostScript Illustration 

      Authors: Michael Gosney, Janet Ashford, and Linnea Dayton 

      Publisher: M & T Books, 1990. 

      ISBN ??? 

      Library Call # : ??? 


Subject: 5.2 Publishers 

    Most of the above books should be available in any big bookstore 
    that has a computer section. Or contact the publishers: 



    Addison-Wesley, 
      Retail Sales Group, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., One 
      Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867, U.S.A. Phone 800-447-2226 or 
      617-944-3700, Fax 617-942-1117. 


    Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 
      2200 Powell Street, Emeryville, California 94608 (510) 601-4000 


    Adobe Press 
      ??? 


    Bantam Computer Books 
      ??? 


    Peachpit Press, 
      1085 Keith Ave., Berkeley, CA 94708, U.S.A. 800-283-9444, or 
      415-527-8555. 


    Prentice Hall 
      ??? 


    Foresman and Company 
      ??? 


    Publishing Resources Inc.-Dow Jones Irwin 
      ??? 


    Windcrest Books 
      ??? 


    Sybex 
      ??? 

      You can purchase the red, blue, green, and black books from Adobe 
      Systems by calling 800-83-FONTS. 


Subject: 6 About Adobe 

    PostScript was created by Adobe Systems Incorporated, which offers 
    information and sells programs pertaining to PostScript. 

    Currently the only large PostScript company that I have information 
    on is Adobe. I would be happy to include information about others. 


Subject: 6.1 How do I get in touch with Adobe? 


Adobe Systems Incorporated      Main phone: +1-415-961-4400
1585 Charleston Road            Main FAX:   +1-415-961-3769
P.O. Box 7900
Mountain View, CA 94039-7900

    If you want technical help using Adobe retail products (e.g. ATM, 
    Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fonts): Adobe forum on CompuServe, call 
    +1-415-961-0911 (for Macintosh) or +1-415-961-4992 (for Windows, 
    Unix) Also use this number to report bugs in retail products. 

    For sales information on Adobe retail products (prices, catalogues, 
    etc.), call +1-800-235-0078 (fax-back brochures) or +1-800-833-6687 
    (applications sales) 

    The Developer's Hotline is +1-415-961-4111 (Voicemail) (note: 
    members have priority, but they'll take questions from general 
    public.) Also use this number for information about the ADA or 
    Adobe SDK's. 

    To suggest product enhancements, write or fax to ``Product Manger, 
    product name' at address above. 

    In Europe: Adobe Systems BV, Europlaza, Hoogoorddreef 51a, 1101 BE 
    Amsterdam Z-O, NETHERLANDS. TEL +31-20-65-11-200. FAX 
    +31-20-65-11-300. 

    In the eastern United States: Adobe Sys. Inc., 24 New England 
    Executive Park, Burlington MA 01803. TEL +1-617-273-2120. FAX 
    +1-617-273-2336. 

    In Japan: Adobe Systems Japan, Swiss Bank House, 4-1-8 Toranomon, 
    Minatoku, Tokyo 105 JAPAN. TEL +81-3-3437-8950. FAX 
    +81-3-3437-8968. 


Subject: 6.2 What can Adobe do for me? 

    Adobe is just one of many companies producing products for 
    PostScript, but it does produce a lot of the best. 

    Adobe offers two resources for software developers. 

   1. Membership in the Adobe Developers Association (ADA) ( $ 
      195/year) 

   2. PostScript Language Software Development Kit (SDK) ( $ 500, $ 250 
      for ADA) 

    The Developer's Association is Adobe's way of knowing who has a 
    serious interest in technical information. Membership includes 
    monthly technical newsletter, phone technical support, discounts on 
    software and hardware. Membership is $ 195/year for each 
    individual. 

    The PostScript Language Software Development Kits collect all 
    Adobe's technical literature for a given platform into a single 
    package. There are four versions, for the Mac, MS-DOS/Windows, 
    NeXTStep, and X/Windows. Each SDK is $ 500 list, $ 250 for ADA 
    members. 

    A selection of technical documents is available from Adobe's file 
    server, including the aforementioned EPS specification. For more 
    information on this, send the one-word message ``help'' to 
    ps-file-server@adobe.com. These documents are also available by 
    mail; call the Developers Line and ask for the documents catalog. 

    The ps-file-server contains some specs, tech notes, sample 
    programs, plus a large collection of AFM files and PPD files. Send 
    a message containing ``help'' to ps-file-server@adobe.com for more 
    information. You can get these files for free with email.