//// SimplePostscript

SimplePostscript is a Java class that can be used to output Adobe PostScript files, either from straight Java or from within Processing. It implements most of the basic Postscript functionality used for drawing.

//// Installation & use

To use it with Processing, create a folder called "code" inside the folder for your sketch. Copy the SimplePostscript.class into the "code" folder. SimplePostscript will now be available as a public class. See the PStest.pde example for how to use the code, and the SimplePostscript documentation for overview over the functions available. You can also look at the SimplePostscript.java file for details.

Comments, bugs etc. to marius--at--unlekker.net.

//// About PostScript

To understand how PostScript works, take a look at Zach Lieberman's introduction (see the heading PostScript .) Peter Weingarter has written a very useful PostScript tutorial. Download it as a ZIP file or read it online.

The full PostScript manual (aka the Red Book) is available from Adobe as a 7.4 MB PDF. Download it here. Other Adobe books can be downloaded here (I recommend the Blue Book file.) The Adobe Illustrator format is basically a less verbose version of PostScript with added functionality, and is described in this technical document from Adobe. Note that as of the Creative Studio version of Illustrator, Adobe is moving that format in a new direction but backward compatibility can be assumed.

For history and philosophy around PostScript, read this interview with Glenn Reid who wrote the book "Thinking in PostScript". He graciously makes that book available for download as PDF from Right Brain Software.