From: jgm@cs.brown.edu (Jonathan Monsarrat)
Subject: PostScript monthly FAQ v2.01 11-30-92 [05-06 of 12]
Supercedes: <1992Dec1.051758.14511@cs.brown.edu>
Followup-To: poster
Summary: Useful facts about the PostScript graphics programming language
Reply-To: jgm@cs.brown.edu (PostScript FAQ comments address)
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 03:04:01 GMT
Expires: Mon, 8 Feb 1993 00:00:00 GMT



Archive-name: postscript-faq/part5-6
Last-modified: 1992/11/30
Version: 2.01

                              -- PostScript -- 

                            Answers to Questions 

                   (the comp.lang.postscript FAQ v2.01) 

                               Jon Monsarrat 

                              jgm@cs.brown.edu 






                     This FAQ is formatted as a digest. 

                Most news readers can skip from one question 

                     to the next by pressing control-G. 


    Changes since the last version are marked with a '|' in the table 
    of contents and in the sections in the text-only format of the FAQ. 

    Please help fix the FAQ! All comments should be mailed to 
    jgm@cs.brown.edu. My favorite way to receive a change suggestion is 
    when it is accompanied by a section of the FAQ that is edited and 
    mailed to me verbatim as an example. If you would like to 
    contribute, please read the section ``about the FAQ'' first. Thank 
    you! 

    Books and programs are referred to by name only. See the 
    appropriate sections for full information. 

Subject: 5 Books 

    There are many good books on PostScript language programming. 
    Descriptions of all known books are listed below. A listing of 
    publisher information follows. 

    The most commonly known books are the ``blue book'', ``red book'', 
    and ``green book'' from Adobe, to be read in that order. They are 
    nicknamed according for their jacket colors. 

    Other books recommended to me include Thinking in PostScript, 
|   which allows its examples to be freely distributed, and PostScript 
    by Example. 


Subject: 5.1 Books 


    Adobe Accurate Screens 
      explains in detail all the issues and specifically covers Adobe 
      Accurate Screens -- Adobes' own screening technology. Peter Fink 
      is an expert on the subject of halftone screens as they relate to 
      color issues. 

      Author: Peter Fink 
      Publisher: Adobe Press, 1992. 
      ISBN 0-672-48544-3 
      Library Call # ??? 

    Adobe Illustrator 88, The Official Handbook for Designers 

      Authors: Tony Bove, Fred Davis, Cheryl Rhodes 
      Publisher: Bantam Computer Books 1988. 
      ISBN 0-553-34629-6 

    Adobe Type 1 Font Format, ``the black book'' 

      This is the specification for the Type 1 font format. Type 1 
      fonts are the standard outline format found in Adobe PostScript 
      printers, implementations of the Display PostScript system, and 
      available as downloadable fonts from the Adobe Type Library. This 
      document describes the syntax of the Adobe Type 1 font format, 
      including complete information regarding hints, encoding of 
      character outlines, and the charstring and eexec encryption 
      algorithms. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Inc 
      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1990. 
      ISBN 0-201-57044-0 
      Library Call # ??? 

|   Creating Special Effects on the Macintosh 
|
|     Author: David Holzgang 
|     Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1992 
|     ISBN 0-201-57779-8 

    Display PostScript Programming 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1990 
      ISBN ??? 
      Library Call # ??? 

    Encapsulated PostScript: Application Guide for the Macintosh and 
    the PC 
      has its focus is EPS. However, it is an excellent book full of 
      actual real life PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript 
      applications on Macs, PCs, Unix, IBM mainframe, and other 
      computer systems. 

      Author: Peter Vollenweider 
      Publisher: Prentice Hall 1990 
      ISBN 0-13-275-843-1 
      Library Call # ??? 

    Graphic Design With PostScript 

      Author: Gerard Kunkel
      Publisher: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1990 
      ISBN 0-673-38794-1 
      Library Call # Z286.D47K87 

|   Hands On PostScript 
|
|     This is an introduction to PostScript for the novice or casual 
|     user. PostScript programming principles are introduced in the 
|     context of useful projects (e.g. greeting cards, letterhead, 
|     multi-page posters). The book includes five PostScript driver 
|     projects in Basic, Pascal, and C. A 3.5" DOS formatted diskette 
|     is included with all the source code. It does not cover 
|     PostScript level 2. 
|
|     Author: Michael Spring and David Dubin 
|     Publisher: Hayden Books, 1992 
|     ISBN 0-672-30185-7 
|     Library Call # 92-71207 Cost: 29.95. 

|   Inside the Apple LaserWriter 
|
|     Author: Roger Hart 
|     Publisher: Scott, Foresman, 1989 
|     ISBN 0-673-38064-5 
|     Library Call # : TK7887.7.H38 

    Inside PostScript 
      essentially takes one on a tour of the standard internal 
      PostScript code in most printers. The author has worked 
      extensively with an interpreter. (in PostScript terms, no 
      low-level hardware stuff here like cexec and internaldict). 

      Author: Frank Merritt Braswell 
      Publisher: Systems of Merritt & Peachpit Press 1989 
      ISBN 0-938151-10-X 
      Library Call # ??? 
      Cost: about $ 40. 

    Learning PostScript, A Visual Approach 
      is a tutorial on the PostScript language. It is very appealing, 
      very easy to follow and filled with examples. Each example 
      occupies two pages. A brief explanation and source code is on the 
      left page, and the resultant print-out is on the facing right 
      page. The book starts off very simply for beginners, and covers a 
      lot of material at the end for experts. It was written before 
      level 2 PostScript. 

      In the later half of the book, a few examples can executed only 
      if an additional disk is purchased. 

      The code for LPAVA is $ 20 from Smith Consultants, 834 Third St., 
      Suite B, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, U.S.A. fax number: 415-524-9775 

      Author: Ross Smith 
      Publisher: Peachpit Press, 1990 ISBN 0-938151-12-6 
      Library Call # QA76.73.P67S55 
      Cost: $ 22.95 

|   Linotronic Imaging Handbook 
|
|     Author: James Cavuoto and Stephen Beale 
|     Publisher: Micro Publishing Press, 1990 
|     ISBN 0-941845-06-0 

    Mastering Adobe Illustrator 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1988 ISBN 
      ??? 
      Library Call # ??? 

    Mastering Adobe Illustrator 88 
      ??? 

      Authors: Deke McClelland and Craig Danuloff 
      Publisher: Publishing Resources Inc.-Dow Jones Irwin 1989 
      ISBN ??? 
      Library Call # ??? 

    PostScript by Example 
      is a tutorial for PostScript people at all levels. It covers 
      level 2 PostScript. The book starts at novice level and works 
      through to Level Two composite fonts, patterns, forms, color, 
      halftones, Display PostScript rectangle operators and text 
      operators. It contains a chapter on practical issues of 
      downloading fonts, talking to printers, and error handling. 640 
      pages containing over 500 fragments of PostScript code and over 
      750 illustrations. A long-awaited ``upgrade'' to the Blue Book. 

      Henry McGilton can be reached by email as 
|     henry@trilithon.mpk.ca.us. Mary Campione can be reached by email 
|     as mem@taranis.com. 

      A disk containing 13,000 lines of PostScript code from the book 
      can be ordered separately for $ 20 from: Trilithon Software, Two 
      Ohlone, Portola Valley, CA 94028, U.S.A. 

      Or, send email to info@trilithon.mpk.ca.us. 

      Authors: Henry McGilton and Mary Campione 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1992. 
      ISBN 0-201-63228-4 
      Library Call # QA76.73.P67M34 

    A PostScript Cookbook 

      Author: Barry Thomas 
      Publisher: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1988. 
      ISBN 0-442-23686 
      Library Call # ??? 

    PostScript Language Program Design, ``the green book'' 
      is intended to teach the fundamentals of designing PostScript 
      language programs and to show how the language works, so the your 
      programs will be fast, well-behaved, easy to understand, and 
      portable. 

      Code Examples: $ 15 from the developer support hotline. Free from 
      the Adobe mail server (see Section 6, ``About Adobe''). 

      Author: Glenn Reid, Adobe Systems 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1988 
      ISBN 0-201-14396-8 
      Library Call # ??? 
      Cost: $ 22.95 

    PostScript Language Reference Manual (2nd ed), ``the red book'' 
      is the book that defines the PostScript language. The second 
      edition not only defines Level 1 PostScript, but also encompasses 
      the color, composite font, file system, and DPS extensions and 
      the PostScript language Level 2. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Incorporated 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1985, 1990 
      ISBN 0-201-18127-4 
      Library Call # QA76.73.P67P67 
      Cost: $ 28.95 

    PostScript Language Reference Manual (1st ed), ``the old red book'' 
      is the first edition of the reference manual. It describes 
      PostScript level 1 only. It is a subset of the PostScript level 2 
      book, but is still more common and costs less. 

      Author: Adobe Systems Inc. 
      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1985. 
      ISBN 0-201-10174-2 
      Library Call # ??? 

    PostScript Language Tutorial and Cookbook, ``the blue book'' 
      is the most common tutorial book on PostScript. It provides an 
      easy, informal introduction to the PostScript language and 
      graphics primitives. The cookbook is a collection of programs 
      that are offered as examples of PostScript usage. These samples 
      have been chosen both as illustrations of the functional range of 
      PostScript and as useful ingredients for inclusion in application 
      packages. 

      Code Examples: $ 15 from the developer support hotline. Free from 
      the Adobe mail server (see Section 6, ``About Adobe''). 

      Author: Adobe Systems Incorporated 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley 1985, 1990 
      ISBN 0-201-10179-3 
      Library Call # : QA76.73.P67P68 
      Cost: $ 16.75 

    Programming the Display PostScript System with NeXTstep, ``The 
    Purple Book'' 
      is written for the NeXT programming environment; however, much of 
      the information it contains applies to all Display PostScript 
      developers. The book explains the language extensions commonly 
      used within applications, describes many of the key aspects of 
      the PostScript language imaging model, and provides a framework 
      for creating Display PostScript language applications. 

      Author: Ken Fromm, Adobe Systems 
      Publisher: Addison-Wesley 
      ISBN 0-201-58135-3 
      Library Call # QA76.73.P67P76 
      Cost: $ 26.95 

    Programming the LaserWriter 

      Author: David Holzgang 
      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1991 
      ISBN 0-201-57068-8 
      Library Call # TK7887.7.H65 

    Real World PostScript: Techniques from PostScript professionals - 
    ``The Orange Book'' 
      is a collection of articles dealing with 'real world' PostScript 
      language issues and specific applications such as font creation, 
      color separation, kerning, halftoning, various other topics. 

      It contains a text formatter written in PostScript, and 
      concentrates on doing very sophisticated things with fonts and 
      dictionaries. 

      Short overview of chapters: 

      PostScript As A Design Tool; PostScript As A Programming 
      Language; Writing Device Independent PostScript; Kerning, 
      Tracking And Letterspacing, Precise Character Bounding Boxes; 
      Building Fonts; Building Smart Fonts; Font Encoding Vector 
      Compatibility; Building A PostScript Typeface; PostScript Color 
      Operations; PostScript Color Separations; A Spread From Graphic 
      Perspective; A PostScript Four-Color Poster; Graphing And 
      Typesetting With PostScript; The Evolution Of A Complex Geometric 
      Logo 

      Author: Stephen F. Roth, editor. 
      Publisher: Addison Wesley, 1988. 
      ISBN 0-201-06663-7 
      Library Call # Z286.D47R4 1988 

    Running PostScript from MS-DOS 
      provides a good and brief introduction to PostScript and has lots 
      of useful information on printing PostScript from PCs. 

      Author: Gary Glover 
      Publisher: Windcrest Books, 1989. 
      ISBN 0-8306-2998-X 
      Library Call # : QA76.73.P67G56 

    Taking Advantage of PostScript 
      is very graphically and visually oriented and includes a section 
      on PostScript Level 2. 

      Author: John F. Sherman 
      Publisher: Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1991. 
      ISBN ??? 
      Library Call # : ??? 

    Thinking in PostScript 
|     is a guide to developing programming techniques and to learning 
|     how to use the PostScript tool kit. In this book you can find 
|     some useful techniques even if you think of yourself as an expert 
|     PS programmer. It overlaps very little with existing material. 
|     You can find there numerous practical examples in all areas of PS 
|     language programming, including the Display PS system. In this 
|     volume you will also find: (a) never-before-published information 
|     on the PS language (b) useful algorithms for loops, conditionals, 
|     and I/O (c) detailed coverage of files, strings, and dictionaries 
|     (d) simple and elegant programming techniques 
|
|     The books comes recommended by many. There are also exercises 
|     after each Chapter with the results at the end of the book. You 
|     can really find examples how to define new useful operators or 
|     procedures which you cannot find in the Adobe books. 
|
|     To get the examples from the book for free, send email to the 
|     author, glenn@rightbrain.com. 

      Author: Glenn C. Reid 
      Publisher: Addison-Wesley, 1989 
      ISBN 0-201-52372-8 
      Library Call # : QA76.73.P67R46 Cost: $ 22.95 

    Understanding PostScript 
      ??? 

      Author: David A. Holzgang 
      Publisher: Sybex, 1988 
      ISBN 0-89588-396-1 

    Understanding PostScript Programming, Second Edition 
      ??? 

      Author: David Holzgang 
      Publisher: Sybex, 1988. 
      ISBN 0-89588-566-2 
      Library Call # : ??? 

    The Verbum Book of PostScript Illustration 

      Authors: Michael Gosney, Janet Ashford, and Linnea Dayton 
      Publisher: M & T Books, 1990. 
      ISBN 1-55851-089-3 
      Library Call # : QA76.73.P67G57 


Subject: 5.2 Publishers 

    Most of the above books should be available in any big bookstore 
    that has a computer section. Or contact the publishers: 


    Addison-Wesley, 
      Retail Sales Group, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., One 
      Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867, U.S.A. Phone 800-447-2226 or 
      617-944-3700, Fax 617-942-1117. 

    Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 
      2200 Powell Street, Emeryville, California 94608 U.S.A. Phone 
      (510) 601-4000 

    Adobe Press 
      ??? 

    Bantam Computer Books 
      ??? 

|   Hayden Books, 
|     11711 N. College Ave., Carmel, IN 46032. 

|   Micro Publishing Press 
|     21150 Hawthorne Boulevard, Suite 104, Torrance, California 90503 
|     U.S.A. 

    Peachpit Press, 
      1085 Keith Ave., Berkeley, CA 94708, U.S.A. 800-283-9444, or 
      415-527-8555. 

    Prentice Hall 
      Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632 

    Scott, Foresman and Company 
      1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025 

    Publishing Resources Inc.-Dow Jones Irwin 
      ??? 

    Windcrest Books 
|     Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania 17294-0850 

    Sybex 
|     2021 Challenger Drive, 100, Alameda, California 94501. 

      You can purchase the red, blue, green, and black books from Adobe 
      Systems by calling 800-83-FONTS. 


Subject: 6 About Adobe 

    PostScript was created by Adobe Systems Incorporated, which offers 
    information and sells programs pertaining to PostScript. 

    Currently the only large PostScript company that I have information 
    on is Adobe. I would be happy to include information about others. 


Subject: 6.1 How do I get in touch with Adobe? 

  
  Adobe Systems Incorporated      Main phone: +1-415-961-4400
  1585 Charleston Road            Main FAX:   +1-415-961-3769
  P.O. Box 7900
  Mountain View, CA 94039-7900
  
    If you want technical help using Adobe retail products (e.g. ATM, 
    Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Fonts): Adobe forum on CompuServe, call 
    +1-415-961-0911 (for Macintosh) or +1-415-961-4992 (for Windows, 
    Unix) Also use this number to report bugs in retail products. 

    For sales information on Adobe retail products (prices, catalogues, 
    etc.), call +1-800-235-0078 (fax-back brochures) or +1-800-833-6687 
    (applications sales) 

    The Developer's Hotline is +1-415-961-4111 (Voicemail) (note: 
    members have priority, but they'll take questions from general 
    public.) Also use this number for information about the ADA or 
    Adobe SDK's. 

    To suggest product enhancements, write or fax to ``Product Manger, 
    product name' at address above. 

    In Europe: Adobe Systems BV, Europlaza, Hoogoorddreef 51a, 1101 BE 
    Amsterdam Z-O, NETHERLANDS. TEL +31-20-65-11-200. FAX 
    +31-20-65-11-300. 

    In the eastern United States: Adobe Sys. Inc., 24 New England 
    Executive Park, Burlington MA 01803. TEL +1-617-273-2120. FAX 
    +1-617-273-2336. 

    In Japan: Adobe Systems Japan, Swiss Bank House, 4-1-8 Toranomon, 
    Minato ku, Tokyo 105 JAPAN. TEL +81-3-3437-8950. FAX 
    +81-3-3437-8968. 


Subject: 6.2 What can Adobe do for me? 

    Adobe is just one of many companies producing products for 
    PostScript, but it does produce a lot of the best. 

    Adobe offers two resources for software developers. 

   1. Membership in the Adobe Developers Association (ADA) ( $ 
      195/year) 

   2. PostScript Language Software Development Kit (SDK) ( $ 500, $ 250 
      for ADA) 

    The Developer's Association is Adobe's way of knowing who has a 
    serious interest in technical information. Membership includes 
    monthly technical newsletter, phone technical support, discounts on 
    software and hardware. Membership is $ 195/year for each 
    individual. 

    The PostScript Language Software Development Kits collect all 
    Adobe's technical literature for a given platform into a single 
    package. There are four versions, for the Mac, MS-DOS/Windows, 
    NeXTStep, and X/Windows. Each SDK is $ 500 list, $ 250 for ADA 
    members. 

    A selection of technical documents is available from Adobe's file 
    server, including the aforementioned EPS specification. For more 
    information on this, send the one-word message ``help'' to 
    ps-file-server@adobe.com. These documents are also available by 
    mail; call the Developers Line and ask for the documents catalog. 

    The ps-file-server contains some specs, tech notes, sample 
    programs, plus a large collection of AFM files and PPD files. Send 
    a message containing ``help'' to ps-file-server@adobe.com for more 
    information. You can get these files for free with email.