Creation pf pdf via PostScript route 1

[Sam577]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how to create a pdf via PostScipt, i.e. how do you create a PostScript file from, for example, a Word file?

Then what do you have to do to the PostScript file to ditill it to a pdf?

Are there any advantages of creating a pdf via this method?

Many thanks
Sam

 

[tgreer]

PostScript is a programming language. One way to create a PostScript "file" is to just write one! I've worked in the printing industry for years, supporting myself as a PostScript programmer.

But to create one from Word, or any other app, you can print through a PostScript driver "to file". That will create a PostScript language program (although not a very efficient one).

There are a number of alternatives for processing PostScript into PDF. Adobe Acrobat will do it, with its Distiller component. For server-side processing, I like activePDF Server. And the most common route is to use the opensource program GhostScript.



Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[Sam577]

Hi,

Thanks for that.

I've tried to print a Word doc to file (pointing to a PS device), and the file extension is called 'prn'. I can't get past this point. What is it that I am supposed to do?

Many thanks
Sam

 

[tgreer]

Rename the extension to ".ps" and run it through Distiller. The file will likely contain some "PJL" comments at the top and bottom which you'll have to edit out.

Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[Eggles]

You don't evenhave to rename the *.prn file. In Distiller, when you go to 'Open', in the names of file types listed, the default is *.ps (postscript). Use the dropdown list to choose 'all files' and you will see your *.prn files. These can be selected as normal, and you can generate the PDF from them.

The advantages of making a postscript file first, then distilling are:

* you get to choose the job options setting in Distiller each time you make a PDF, thereby choosing the compression you want for that PDF. e.g. 'eBook' for smaller files, higher compression, lower quality than say, the 'Press' setting which results in much bigger PDF file size, but because it uses less compression, is of better quality and suitable for offset printing.

* if you want to make a number of PDFs using different settings (different compression/file size) from the same file, you can use the same postscript file to make them e.g. an 'eBook' setting for emailing to a client for proofing purposes, and a 'Press' quality for sending to the commercial printer.