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Ghostscript
PostScript interpreter for Windows PCs, Macs and Linux
Product: Ghostscript
From: http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/aladdin/index.html
Price: free, under GNU license
Pros: provides an interpreter for the PostScript (TM) language, with the ability to convert PostScript language files to many raster formats, view them on displays, and print them on printers that don't have PostScript language capability built in, plus an interpreter for Portable Document Format (PDF) files, with the same abilities and a convenient graphical interface.
Cons: Postscript to PDF conversion is subject to some limitations.
One of the remarkable things about the so-called "Open Source" movement of freely distributable software is the quality and range of offerings that have emerged over the years. A prime example is Ghostscript, a clone of the PostScript language, originally developed -- and sold for a hefty price -- by Adobe Systems. Now, GhostScript has matured to the point where it is a viable alternative to Adobe's offerings, bringing the advantages of PostScript to those without a PostScript-capable printer.
The latest version of Ghostscript for Windows (at this writing, version 5.50) provides a speedy PostScript interpreter and a graphical interface called GSview that makes the use of the program as simple as dragging and dropping.
Before we describe how the program works, it's worth mentioning why you might want to use such a tool in the first place. The most common use of PostScript, and hence Ghostscript, is to provide "device independence" to the documents you create. Because PostScript is a page description language that specifies where and how the text, typefaces (fonts) and graphical elements are positioned on a page, you can be sure that a PostScript file will print out the same layout on an ultra-expensive commercial typesetting machine as it does on your PostScript or Ghostscript-quipped home printer. And because shapes that make up PostScript typefaces are described as mathematical vectors, the letter "O" will print at the maximum resolution of the output device, whether that device is a $500 laser printer or a $100,000 Linotronic imagesetter. And, as the PostScript language has matured over the years, colour capabilities have been added, that GhostScript now brings to those of us with low-cost inkjet printers, too.
Another common use of Ghostscript is to prepare documents for printing on a remote printer. By printing a document from a PC, Macintosh or other computer to a file, you can load that file into Ghostscript and see the document the way it will appear on a printout, complete with the original fonts, graphics and page formatting.
Then, if you wish, you can use Ghostscript to "print to file" and save that document as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file. Alternatively, you can save the document in Encapsulated Document Format (EPS), a popular format supported by virtually all desktop publishing programs.
Here's how to use Ghostscript
First, make sure you've got a PostScript printer driver installed. These drivers are supplied by the vendors of virtually every operating system. For example, in Windows, you would go to the Start menu and choose Settings > Printers. Here, you must Add a PostScript printer if one does not already appear. It does not matter if you do not actually own a PostScript printer... that's where Ghostscript (or commercially available PostScript interpreters such as Infowave's StyleScript) will come in!
For our PostScript driver, we chose Linotronic Quasar v2013. We were more concerned with the number than the brand or model name. The 2013 represents the PostScript interpreter revision number. Values larger than 2000 are known as "PostScript Level 2" drivers; these drivers offer some additional features over older v47-through-v53 drivers. However, the revision number and name of the PostScript driver isn't critically important. In a pinch, you can use any PostScript driver, such as the "Apple LaserWriter" or, if you want the driver we use here at TCP, go to Adobe's web site and download the latest PostScript Level 3-compatible printer driver for Windows or Macintosh, from http://www.adobe.com/supportservice/custsupport/download.html.
Once installed, this driver becomes available through the print dialogs you will already be familiar with in your existing applications. Naturally, there will be some new options, which we'll describe below as we get to them.
Next, you will want to launch the application from which you want to print. Open the desired document and ensure that the PostScript driver is selected in the "Printer Name" area of the print dialog.
Then, notice the checkbox (usually on the right hand side of this dialog) that says "Print to file. Check it; this is the option that will produce a PostScript file. It is a good idea to also click the Properties button to select the correct page size and "paper" orientation. Even though we aren't printing to "real" paper, we still want the driver to output the data so that it fits on the "virtual" page we have specified!
Now, click print and, when the file save dialog opens, specify a location in which to save to file. We usually save files to C:\Windows\Desktop, easily accessed via the Desktop icon that appears in most Windows 9x standard file dialogs. PostScript files are typically saved with the file extension ".PRN" to show that they are intended for a printer. You may notice in the PostScript driver's Print dialog there is a "Properties" button. By clicking this, you can access several advanced features of the driver. Most notable is the "PostScript" tab, which provides several options that you may wish to try if Ghostscript has trouble interpreting your file with the default "optimize for speed" setting.
Now, you are ready to process the PRN file with Ghostscript. If you haven't already done so, download Ghostscript and GSview from http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/aladdin/index.html, decompress them and install using the default directories and options. Then, simply drag the PRN file on top of the GSview icon (or Ghostscript, if you want to see what the interpreter is actually doing) and wait a few seconds.
Then, you can save the file as EPS or, if you want to be able to give the file to someone else at a remote location, select Print from GSview's file menu, choose pdfwrite from the driver options, click "Print to file" and click OK. This will produce a PDF file that you can then give to others who will be able to open it (using Adobe's free Acrobat Reader or their own copy of Ghostscript) and view it exactly as it was printed from your original page layout program -- even if they do not own the program that created the file! This is, in a nutshell, the easiest way to send files to be printed to a service bureau or your clients.
For Further Reading
- http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/index.html
- Graeme Bennett: An Intro to PostScript
- StyleScript: PostScript Level 3 interpreter for Mac
- Macintouch: PostScript alternatives special report
Note: some links are to external sites and are thus outside our control.
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