🚀 go-pugleaf

Matthew Greenfield <matti@grnfield.u-net.com> wrote:

> Is Ghostscript a postscript interpreter, like StyleScript, for printing
> to non-PS printers? Or am I completely wrong?

Ghostscript *is* a PS interpreter, but it can do things other than print
to a non-PS printer.

It's main function is to interpret PS and turn it into a different
format, mainly for the purpose of printing (possible output formats
include fax format and various graphics file types as well as PCL5 and
so on).  On Unix boxes, it's common to set up Ghostscript to take any PS
files sent to the print queue, turn them into PCL5 (or whatever) and
send *that* to the printer instead.  This can't be done very easily on
Macs, and none of the current Mac ports of GS can just get on a print a
file under (say) Applescript control.

GS can also create, view, and print pdf files, which is quite nice (and
also dvi files, so I hear, although I've not tried myself); as well as
do things like produce raw ASCII from a PS file.

> Is it any good?
[snip]

Yes.  The only really ikky problem is that it can't (yet) include Type 1
founts in a pdf file, but has to render them as fixed resolution Type 3
bitmaps.  This is fine when you know the final printing resolution, but
not so good if you've rendered founts at 300dpi and someone tries to
print at 600dpi or (much worse) 288dpi.  This will change when the next
version comes out; current version is 5.10, next will be 6.

The only noticeable difference between GhostScript and `real' Adobe PS
is that GS is less likely to choke on a valid PS file than some Adobe PS
interpreters all other things being equal (yes, that's right, I really
do mean GS is more reliable than Adobe PS), but most `real' PS
interpreters have a better fount rendering engine (often ATM), so text
isn't *quite* as good as it might be.  You need to be an expert to care
about the difference.  I've never been in a position to make a
comparison myself, but I've never had any complaints about GS's text
output.

Rowland.

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