subject: The Basics Of Postscript [print this page] What is Post Script? What is Post Script?
Post Script refers to a programming language that a user deploys to communicate between applications and output devices. This language is used for communication between applications like Microsoft Word and output devices like image setters. These applications and devices are equipped with a Post Script interpreter. This programming language consists of its own grammar and vocabulary that creates a list of instructions for a computer system.
History of Post Script:
John Warnock and his boss Chuck Geschke were the first ones to introduce the concept of Post Script language in the year 1976. Warnock and Geschke founded Adobe Systems in December 1982. Together they developed a programming language called Post Script which they commercialized in 1984. Later they started using Post Script language for driving laser printers. The use of Post Script for laser printers brought a revolution in the desktop publishing in mid 1980s. This programming language underwent many revisions to introduce the latest version. Post Script Level 1 underwent major upgrades in 1984. A Post Script Level 2 was introduced in 1991 and which included several developments. It brought image decompression, support for composite fonts and enhanced speed. The Post Script Level 3 was introduced in 1997 with more improvements and advancements. This latest version introduced handling of colors and new filters. The new filters enable a user to perform compression and decompression of the images. These filters also handle advanced errors.
What are the uses of Post Script?
A Post Script language was introduced by Adobe Systems in 1980s. There have been continuous improvements in this programming language. One can compare this language with other computer languages like Basic or Pascal. The Post Script language closely resembles Forth Language which is another programming language. There are various purposes to create any language. For example, Basic language is created to make the beginners understand the essentials of programming. Post Script language is created to write games and therefore it is used as a page description language. The instructions are optimized to explain the placement of graphic objects on two-dimensional page. The page content is described in a Post Script language without depending on any particular device feature. In other words, it means that one can send the Post Script file to any device. This language is extensively used in printing or as a display system. This language also forms the basis of Portable Document Format application. For more information, visit Word to PDF Converter.
