PostScript (PS)

Last Updated: August 29, 2011

Definition - What does PostScript (PS) mean?

PostScript is an object-oriented programming language developed by Adobe Systems and used to provide a standard for different systems that handle page printing tasks. Printers can either interpret PostScript or have extra software packages installed to help them interpret it.

Object-oriented graphics furnish high resolution output devices in contrast to bit map graphics.

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Techopedia explains PostScript (PS)

Adobe developed PostScript in 1985, but the concept was put forth by John Warnock and Charles Geschke in 1982. It is an object-oriented language because it treats images as geometrical objects and not bit maps. The language quickly became a printing and imaging standard.

Because it is a very accurate standard, PostScript is used by high-resolution laser printers to place both text and graphics on the same page. PostScript-based documents can also be presented on output devices other than printing devices.

Due to its wide variety of features, PostScript is considered a programming language rather than just a printing standard. PostScript contains different codes used to describe both text and graphics in either black-and-white or color-compatible formats.

The three main PostScript versions are:

PostScript Level 1: The first version of PostScript on the market
PostScript Level 2: Introduced in 1991; featured faster speed and reliability as well and image decompression and multiple font support
PostScript Level 3: Introduced in 1997; provided improved color handling and new filters

Both PostScript and Portable Document Format (PDF) are Adobe-developed formats, so it is easy to convert documents from one format to the other.