PS graphics from Windows

There are times when I want to get PostScript files from Windows machines. The easiest way I have found to do this is to install a PostScript printer driver on windows, and tell it to print to a file. This file can be transfered to UN*X and used by many swell free programs that support PostScript and PDF.

Not all drivers have worked well for me. I have had good results from the Apple Color LW 12/660 PS Windows driver for portable PostScript. It mentions 600dpi... but does this matter for the PostScript output?

I had good results for B&W from the Apple LaserWriter 16/600 PS driver.

Windows will create *.prn files by default, but in reality they are standard PostScript *.ps files.

A respected power-user in NM, C. Ulrich reports good results in color from the HP Color LaserJet PS driver that delivers with XP. There were some warnings, but results were good.

If you know of other drivers or methods to recommend, please let me know and I will update this page.

Instructions for Windows Users

Click on Start->Settings->Printers
Select Add Printer
When the Printer Wizard comes up:
- Select a local printer, but disable the plug-and-play checkbox
- When it asks you to select a port, create a new port, and call it something like PS (for PostScript).
- Select a printer type.
  - try HP->Color Laser Jet PS
  - try one of the other printers listed above if you do not have this one.
  Check the box no to indicate that you do NOT want this as your default printer.
- do NOT share this printer
- Don't bother with printing a test page. Since this printer is for files only, it won't do anything.
You are all set.
Next time you want to print something, select the long way. Many programs have a FILE->Print option from the top menu bar.
Select the new HP Color LaserJet PS printer.
Select Print to File
Select the file name, and print away

Now you can do as you wish with this printer file.
E-mail it to me as an attachment.
Compress it (with a program like WinZip...) and transfer it to me.
Put it on a disk and give it to me.
Take that disk to Kinkos to be printed...
Whatever you want...

PostScript is a standardized graphics definition language. There are many programs which can read these files and do k00l things with them.

These instructions were based on a Windows 2000 installation. It may not be EXACTLY the same on other Windows OS's, but it should be pretty similar.

Aaron Birenboim

Last modified: Wed Nov 23 08:08:07 MST 2005