PS Full Form

PS stands for PostScript. The printing and publishing business uses PostScript primarily as a page description language and programming language. It was created by Adobe Systems in 1982 and quickly rose to become the norm for printing graphics and text of the highest quality.It is used to describe how text, graphics, and fonts are arranged in a document. A PostScript interpreter processes the files and transforms the content into a printer-friendly format.
PostScript can manage complicated page layouts, support vector graphics, and generate fonts at high resolutions, among other qualities that make it particularly useful for printing. A range of programming tools are also included, including the ability to define variables, functions, and conditional expressions.

Features or Characteristics of PostScript

1. PostScript is a vector-based language, allowing it to accurately express visuals as a set of mathematical equations rather than as individual pixels. This makes it perfect for printing graphics and photos of the highest quality.
2. Device independence: PostScript can be printed on any printer that has a PostScript interpreter since it is device-independent. This enables sharing files between several platforms and printers simpler.
3. PostScript Interpreter: A PostScript interpreter processes PostScript files and transforms the data into a printer-friendly format. Text, graphics, and fonts on complicated page layouts can all be handled by the interpreter.
4. Font handling: PostScript can produce fonts at high resolutions, giving printed text a sharp, clear appearance.
5. Programming features: A number of programming features, such as variables, functions, and conditional expressions, are included in PostScript. This makes it easy to customise the output of PostScript documents and automate complicated printing procedures.
6. The PostScript Language Reference Manual is a thorough reference for the language that offers in-depth information on its syntax, instructions, and programming capabilities. 

History of PostScript

Adobe Systems created PostScript for the first time in 1982. The goal of the language was to establish a common page description language that could be applied to various printing equipment of any brand or model.

John Warnock, one of the co-founders of Adobe Systems, oversaw the development of PostScript. He envisioned a language that, rather than relying on pixel-based graphics, could express the structure of a printed page using mathematical equations. This method made it possible to print text, graphics, and photographs in excellent resolution.
PostScript’s initial iteration was published in 1984 and soon became well-liked in the printing sector. Many printer makers chose PostScript as the industry standard for printing text and images in high-quality.

PostScript Level 2, a new version of PostScript published by Adobe in 1992, added a number of new capabilities such improved font management, richer colour support, and quicker processing times. The new printing standard was extensively embraced and is now known as PostScript Level 2. 

Advantages of PostScript

• PostScript is device-independent, any printer that supports PostScript can print PostScript files, regardless of the printer’s brand or model. Because of this, it is a common format for sharing documents between various platforms.
• Effective representation of pictures and text as mathematical equations: PostScript is a vector-based language, allowing for high-quality output. This enables the creation of high-quality output with distinct lines and characters.
• Processing rapidly and effectively is possible with PostScript files, even for complicated page layouts with numerous fonts and graphics.
• A number of programming capabilities, including variables, functions, and conditional expressions, are included in PostScript. As a result, complicated printing activities can be automated, and PostScript document output can be customised.
• PostScript can produce fonts at high resolutions, giving printed text a sharp, clear appearance.
• PostScript has strong support for colour, and it can handle spot colours as well as the CMYK and RGB colour spaces.