Abstract

POSTSCRIPT is a page description language which is used to transmit printing information from a host computer (i.e. Apple Macintosh) to a printer (i.e. Apple LaserWriter Plus). It has the ability to describe pages consisting of text, vector graphics, and scanned bit-map images. Printing text is the area of concentration for this thesis. Specifically several variables that affect the printing speed of a common POSTSCRIPT printer, the Apple LaserWriter Plus, are looked at when printing text in a variety of fonts, sizes, and orientations. The variables that affect printer performance include: - use of outline vs. bit-map fonts; - the outline font rasterization process; - the use of pre-cached bit-map fonts; - background outline font rasterization; - arbitrary scaling and rotation; - downloading host-resident fonts; - Adobe and Third Party host-resident downloadable fonts vs. printer-resident fonts; - Appletalk vs. RS-232 communications interfaces; - use of the POSTSCRIPT show, ashow, and widthshow instructions; - targeting the POSTSCRIPT instructions at a particular engine resolution; - print engine overhead A sequence of POSTSCRIPT files were transmitted to the Apple LaserWriter Plus printer. The experiments were carefully constructed to exercize each of the variables listed above. Performance measurements were carefully recorded and analyzed. Where applicable, improvements were proposed to improve printer performance.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

PostScript (Computer program language); LaserWriter (Printer); Nonimpact printing--Analysis; Electronic publishing

Publication Date

1988

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Computer Science (GCCIS)

Advisor

Abhyankar, Vishwas

Advisor/Committee Member

Hubbell, Frank

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: QA76.73.P67 K687 1988

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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