Differences between genuine PostScript and emulated PostScript?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ras
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ras

I wonder if somebody would explain the different types of PostScript 3
for me.
Sometimes you hear that a certain printer has: "genuine"
postscript, but exactly what does is mean? For instance, take the
printer: Brother HL 5070N where the specs clearly mention: "BR-Script
- emulated PostScript 3". To me this sounds like a non-genuine PS3.
But how about the Epson: 6200, where, in the specs under the section:
"Printer Control Language Emulation", it is mentioned that it do has
PostScript 3. Are there any differences between these two variants of
PostScript 3 or are both "non-genuine"?

Any help would be most appreciated, thank you,
mike anderson
 
ras said:
I wonder if somebody would explain the different types of PostScript 3
for me.
Sometimes you hear that a certain printer has: "genuine"
postscript, but exactly what does is mean? For instance, take the
printer: Brother HL 5070N where the specs clearly mention: "BR-Script
- emulated PostScript 3". To me this sounds like a non-genuine PS3.
But how about the Epson: 6200, where, in the specs under the section:
"Printer Control Language Emulation", it is mentioned that it do has
PostScript 3. Are there any differences between these two variants of
PostScript 3 or are both "non-genuine"?

Any help would be most appreciated, thank you,
mike anderson
Click to expand...

Postscript in printers is a page description language and the embodyment
of that language on a chip inside a printer. It is an Adobe invention
and protected by either copyright or patent law.

Adobe will license the technology for a few.

To avoid the fee structures, some have attempted to "reengineer" (or
'emulation') the technology and provide something pretty much like the
Adobe Postscript(TM).

This "reengineering" may be imperfect in some way, not that it would
affect every simple document, but for expensive complex documents, it
might cause you a problem and it might not be a "bargain" under those
conditions.

For some people, the "reengineered" cheaper emulation may work quite
well. But, if you are doing high cost work, it is probably unwise to
rely on the cheapest versions.

Jim
 
ras said:
I wonder if somebody would explain the different types of PostScript 3
for me.
Sometimes you hear that a certain printer has: "genuine"
postscript, but exactly what does is mean?
Click to expand...

Genuine means Adobe wrote it. Emulated means it's "compatible", made
by someone else. (Probably Aladdin GhostScript.)

HP used to use Adobe PS, now most or maybe all their printers are
"emulated", because it's cheaper than paying Adobe.
printer: Brother HL 5070N where the specs clearly mention: "BR-Script
- emulated PostScript 3". To me this sounds like a non-genuine PS3.
But how about the Epson: 6200, where, in the specs under the section:
"Printer Control Language Emulation", it is mentioned that it do has
PostScript 3. Are there any differences between these two variants of
PostScript 3 or are both "non-genuine"?
Click to expand...

Both non-Adobe; if someone uses Adobe PS they make a fuss about it:
"Genuine Adobe PostScript!" Also HP's PCL and PJL, and Epson's ESC are
also commonly "emulated" by other manufacturers. Since all these
printng languages are well documented, it's not violating a trade
secret. It's much better than the "secret" proprietary languages many
cheap Winprinters use, only usable with the manufacturer's drivers.

Some have claimed that certain files fail in emulated PS that work in
Adobe. But it's pretty rare.
I'm happy though that I have Adobe PS (level 2) in my (old) HP4M.
 
Postscript in printers is a page description language and the embodyment
of that language on a chip inside a printer. It is an Adobe invention
and protected by either copyright or patent law.

Adobe will license the technology for a few.

To avoid the fee structures, some have attempted to "reengineer" (or
'emulation') the technology and provide something pretty much like the
Adobe Postscript(TM).

This "reengineering" may be imperfect in some way, not that it would
affect every simple document, but for expensive complex documents, it
might cause you a problem and it might not be a "bargain" under those
conditions.

For some people, the "reengineered" cheaper emulation may work quite
well. But, if you are doing high cost work, it is probably unwise to
rely on the cheapest versions.

Jim
Click to expand...
Basically adobe abandoned postscript in exchange for its own other invention,
PDF format.
 
Basically adobe abandoned postscript in exchange for its own other invention,
PDF format.
Click to expand...

Rubbish.

PostScript is a page description language, used for talking to printers
(and other things too).

PDF is a Portable Document Format, used for distributing electronic
copies of documents.

In some (but not all) cases, a PDF file is just a PostScript file with a
wrapper.
 
Quoth all ...

Great answers, thank you, now I understand the difference between the
two. I only wish the ones with Adobe PostScript would come a bit less
expensive ... :)

Thanks again,
Mike
 
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