PostScript Level 1

[handleodhran]

I’m new to Quark. I’ve got Version 6, am using a PC and have Windows XP. I’m having problems saving the layout as a PDF file. I’m trying to setup a Post Script Printer. I’d never heard of this until today. I’ve set up a Virtual Printer - it’s the HP Printer I use for Printing. My problem is in setting the PostScript level. If I right click on the Printer I can’t see any “PostScript” pane. The panes have, General, Sharing, Ports, Advanced, Colour Management & About. Can someone explain how I set up the Post Script Printer. Thanks for any help.

 

[jimoblak]

Download a PostScript printer from adobe.com in the downloads section.

You cannot duplicate a PCL printer (your HP) and make it PostScript.

- - I hope this helps - -
_{(Complain to someone else if it doesn't)}

 

[duncdude]

Postscript is written by Adobe and is a resolution-independent, page description language. It is also a programming language. To ensure consistency between output devices, i.e. imagesetters, laser printers, inkjet printers, dye-sublimation printers - everything you do in QuarkXpress is saved as Postscript. When you save a page as an EPS you are saving an Encapsulated Postscript file. If you send a file you have created in Quark to many output devices they will all output the job as best as they can. This is because there is no resolution as such in Postscript. For example if you drew a box in Quark - it is written into the Postscript as bottom-left and top-right co-ordinates. PDF technology is virtually identical.

However, on the Macintosh in System 9, it was possible to output bypassing Postscript with Quickdraw. This was cheaper as the output devices did not require a Postscript ROM (a Postscript language decoder on a read-only memory chip inside the printer itself - which is licenced). The same is true of Windows - using technology like PCL. Bypassing Postscript is a shame as the superb mathematics behind Postscript is lost - and then the consistency i mentioned earlier = is lost.

You can - as Jimoblak mentioned - download a Postscript printer driver from the web - and create your PDF's using that. This will allow you to create a Postscript, or PDF file, without actually having a Postscript printer.

Sorry if this description is a bit vague (or if it is slightly incorrect) - i am just trying to explain the background of QuarkXpress and its backbone technology.


Kind Regards
Duncan

 

[handleodhran]

Cheers for the help Lads. I downloaded the latest driver for my printer. Everythings working fine now and I can save as a PDF file.