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From: d89mb@efd.lth.se (Magnus Bodin)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.postscript
Subject: Re: How can I tell if a file is "postscript"
Keywords: n
Message-ID: <1991Mar5.085335.26246@lth.se>
Date: 5 Mar 91 08:53:35 GMT
References: <7647@uceng.UC.EDU> <12455@ucrmath.ucr.edu>
Sender: newsuser@lth.se (LTH network news server)
Reply-To: d89mb@efd.lth.se (Magnus Bodin)
Organization: Institute of Tychology, Sweden
Lines: 49


PostScript is a page-descriptive computer language that are used in an
increasing number of laser-writers.

It would be too awkward if all word-processors, drawing and page-making
programs sent out a 300dpi gigant bitmap to the laserwriter, so therefore
the printer accepts commands in a more intelligent way  --- In PostScript.

PostScript is a post-fix language that is created by Adobe inc. and laser-
writer-developers have to pay Adobe for using this language-interpreter.
That's why PostScript-writers are more expensive than e.g. LaserJets.

Example of PostScript-program:


%!
%
% comments starts with %, and the first line must start with '%!'
%
%

/Times-Roman findfont  % find font in dictionary
30 scalefont           % Rescale it to 30 point-height  (1 point= 1/72 inch)
setfont                % Setfont


100 100 moveto         % Move to 100,100   (0,0 is bottom left)

(Hejsan vaerlden!) show  % Type the string "Hejsan vaerlden!" to the right..

showpage               % Print the page on a paper.




---- cut here ----


That's it!

Yes, there are of course several more commands and instructions...

You can define your own fonts, procedures and functions, and do very
complex drawing in this language. 


Takelr|, 

   Magnus