[W/K] :: PostScript

  Postscript \Post"script\, n. [L. postscriptus, (assumed) p. p.
     of postscribere to write after; post after + scribere to
     write: cf. F. postscriptum. See Post-, and Scribe.]
     A paragraph added to a letter after it is concluded and
     signed by the writer; an addition made to a book or
     composition after the main body of the work has been
     finished, containing something omitted, or something new
     occurring to the writer. [Abbrev. P. S.]
     [1913 Webster]

  postscript
       n 1: a note appended to a letter after the signature [syn: PS]
       2: textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at
          the end [syn: addendum, supplement]

  53 Moby Thesaurus words for "postscript":
     PS, Parthian shot, addendum, affix, afterthought, allonge,
     appendix, back matter, chorus, coda, codicil, colophon, commentary,
     conclusion, consequence, continuance, continuation, double take,
     dying words, enclitic, envoi, epilogue, follow-through, follow-up,
     infix, interlineation, interpolation, last words, marginalia, note,
     parting shot, peroration, postface, postfix, postlude, prefix,
     proclitic, refrain, rider, scholia, second thought, sequel,
     sequela, sequelae, sequelant, sequent, sequitur, subscript, suffix,
     supplement, swan song, tag, tail
  
  

  PostScript n. A Page Description Language ({PDL), based on work
     originally done by John Gaffney at Evans and Sutherland in 1976,
     evolving through `JaM' (`John and Martin', Martin Newell) at XEROX
     PARC, and finally implemented in its current form by John Warnock et
     al. after he and Chuck Geschke founded Adobe Systems Incorporated in
     1982. PostScript gets its leverage by using a full programming language,
     rather than a series of low-level escape sequences, to describe an image
     to be printed on a laser printer or other output device (in this it
     parallels EMACS, which exploited a similar insight about editing
     tasks). It is also noteworthy for implementing on-the fly rasterization,
     from Bezier curve descriptions, of high-quality fonts at low (e.g. 300
     dpi) resolution (it was formerly believed that hand-tuned bitmap fonts
     were required for this task). Hackers consider PostScript to be among
     the most elegant hacks of all time, and the combination of technical
     merits and widespread availability has made PostScript the language of
     choice for graphical output.
  
  

  PostScript
       
           A page description language based
          on work originally done by John Gaffney at Evans and
          Sutherland in 1976, evolving through "JaM" ("John and Martin",
          Martin Newell) at XEROX PARC, and finally implemented in its
          current form by John Warnock et al. after he and Chuck Geschke
          founded Adobe Systems, Inc. in 1982.
       
          PostScript is an interpreted, stack-based language (like
          FORTH).  It was used as a page description language by the
          Apple LaserWriter, and now many laser printers and
          on-screen graphics systems.  Its primary application is to
          describe the appearance of text, graphical shapes, and sampled
          images on printed or displayed pages.
       
          A program in PostScript can communicate a document description
          from a composition system to a printing system in a
          device-independent way.
       
          PostScript is an unusually powerful printer language because
          it is a full programming language, rather than a series of
          low-level escape sequences.  (In this it parallels Emacs,
          which exploited a similar insight about editing tasks).  It is
          also noteworthy for implementing on-the fly rasterisation,
          from Bezier curve descriptions, of high-quality fonts at
          low (e.g. 300 dpi) resolution (it was formerly believed that
          hand-tuned bitmap fonts were required for this task).
       
          PostScript's combination of technical merits and widespread
          availability made it the language of choice for graphical
          output until PDF appeared.
       
          The Postscript point, 1/72 inch, is slightly different from
          other point units.
       
          An introduction
         
       (http://www.cs.indiana.edu/docproject/programming/postscript/postscript.html).
       
          ["PostScript Language Reference Manual" ("The Red Book"),
          Adobe Systems, A-W 1985].
       
          [{Jargon File]
       
          (2002-03-11)