Ghostscript is a processor for PostScript and PDF files. It can rasterize these files to a wide variety of printers, devices for screen preview, and image file formats. Since applications tend to prepare pages for printing in a high-level format such as PostScript, most Unix users with low-level bitmap printers, such as inkjets, use GhostScript as part of the printing process. In addition, Ghostscript is capable of converting PostScript files, functionality comparable to Adobe Acrobat Distiller, but on the command line. In addition, Ghostscript is used for file import and viewing by a great many other applications, including xv, ImageMagick, gimp, and xdvi. Several GUI wrappers for viewing PostScript and PDF files exist, including GSview, ghostview, gv, ggv, and kghostview. This is far from a comprehensive list.
License: GNU General Public License (GPL)
Changes:
Improvements were made for overprint and spot color support in documents with transparency, as well as for PDF and PS output. Proper handling of PDF-specific text rendering modes was implemented. Support for reading AES-encrypted PDF documents was added. Handling of CJK text, especially in vertical writing modes, was improved. The memory footprint with certain files at high resolutions was reduced. Several long-standing bugs in the PCL drivers with respect to duplex, resolution, and paper tray selection were fixed. Many other bugs were fixed.
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02-06-2009
