What is PS? PostScript File Format Explained
PS is Adobe's PostScript, a page description language and file format for print-ready documents.
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What is PS?
PS (PostScript) is a page description language and file format created by Adobe Systems and released in 1984. A PS file contains instructions that describe exactly how a page of text, vector graphics and images should be rendered, primarily for printing.
PostScript is also a complete, stack-based programming language, so a PS file is effectively a program executed by a PostScript interpreter, such as one built into a printer or software like Ghostscript. It pioneered device-independent printing and helped launch desktop publishing. PDF later evolved as a more constrained, document-focused successor.
How PostScript Works
A PS file is a sequence of ASCII text commands written in a stack-based, Turing-complete programming language rather than a fixed data structure.[2] Operators and their operands are pushed onto an operand stack and consumed in postfix (reverse Polish) order, so 72 72 moveto positions the current point before a drawing operator acts on it. A raster image processor (RIP) interprets these instructions and renders the described page at the output device's native resolution, which is what makes the output device-independent.[1]
History and Standardization
Adobe released PostScript in 1984, and its 1985 pairing with the Apple LaserWriter and Aldus PageMaker is widely credited with launching the desktop publishing revolution.[3] The language passed through Level 1, Level 2, and PostScript 3 revisions, each adding features such as improved color and font handling.[2]
PostScript vs PDF and EPS
PDF was derived from PostScript but removes the general-purpose programming model, fixing page content into a self-contained, randomly addressable document that is faster and safer to render.[2] Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) constrains a PS program so it can be embedded as a single illustration inside another document. Because a PS file is executed as a program, malformed or malicious code can cause interpreters to loop indefinitely or consume excessive resources, a limitation that motivated the more constrained PDF.[1]
MKV Technical Specifications
PS vs Other Document Formats
| Feature | PS | EPS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure/type | Page description language[1] | Page objects | PostScript subset |
| Type | Programmatic[2] | Static | Static graphic |
| Layout | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed |
| Vendor | Adobe[3] | Adobe / ISO | Adobe |
| App support | Print / prepress | Broad | Graphics tools |
| Best for | Printing pipelines | Document distribution | Embedded graphics |
PostScript is a printer-oriented page language, while PDF evolved from it for reliable on-screen document viewing.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages
PostScript describes pages precisely and renders consistently across compatible printers regardless of resolution, a foundation of professional printing.
As a full programming language, PostScript can generate complex graphics, text and effects directly within the file.
Its vector graphics scale cleanly to any size without loss of quality, ideal for high-resolution print output.
Disadvantages
PDF, derived from PostScript, is now the standard for document exchange, leaving PS mostly in print workflows.
Because PS files are executable programs, malicious files can exploit interpreters, and the format is heavier to process than a static document.
Common Use Cases
PS is used mainly in professional printing and publishing workflows.
Professional printing | FileFormer
Print shops and prepress workflows use PostScript to drive high-end printers and imagesetters.
Desktop publishing output | FileFormer
Publishing software historically exported PS for accurate, print-ready page rendering.
Document conversion | FileFormer
PS files are frequently converted to PDF for easier viewing and distribution.
Convert PS Files Free
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Try Document Converter FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PS and PDF?
PostScript is a programming language for describing and printing pages, while PDF is a static, document-focused format derived from it. PDF is easier to view and share, whereas PS is geared toward printing.
How do I open a PS file?
You can open PS files with viewers such as Ghostscript and GSview, with some PDF tools, or by converting them to PDF. Most printers can also interpret PostScript directly.
Can I convert PS to PDF?
Yes. Tools like Ghostscript and many online converters turn PS files into PDF. This makes the document viewable in any standard PDF reader and easier to distribute.
Who created PostScript?
PostScript was created by Adobe Systems and released in 1984. It was the first widely adopted device-independent page description language and helped spark the desktop publishing revolution.