Imagine this: you are tasked to be responsible for understanding the PostScript language. Perhaps because you need to troubleshoot printing issues, or because you want to write specialized drivers for a custom system. Where to start?Many recommend that you can get these sorts of resources on the web for free. That's is true, but I prefer to take into account the true cost of doing so. I can't speak for you, but my time is worth more than trying to save a few bucks downloading and printing my own version.
Most tasked with understanding PostScript are typically given the monolithic PostScript Language Reference Manual and perhaps a supplement. If you lack exposure to PostScript, this is a huge and perhaps impossible leap towards PostScript proficiency.
This book goes a long way towards helping the reader quickly understand the basic foundation of PostScript. The book itself is short, small, and easy to read. In fact, its helpful to imagine it as a "PostScript sing a long."
Most higher end PostScript printers support network socket connections directly to the PostScript interpreter, meaning that you can connect and actually work directly with the PostScript monster. Write me and ask if you want to know how.
I found it helpful to simply sit by a computer with this book, read some pages, then duplicate the programs the book illustrates. If your printer supports the socket connections, great. Connect and enter the code directly. Try creating syntatic errors and watch how the PostScript interpreter responds. Understanding these errors goes a long way towards effectively troubleshooting PostScript.
Alternately, you can enter the PostScript code into files, and download them to the printer. Most printers support a verbose debug mode, enabling you to see why the PostScript programs were rejected by the interpreter. This too is rather helpful, educationally and practically.
If you need to learn PostScript, and lack any exposure, get this book. But it will leave you in PostScript first grade...more resources listed in my other reviews pertaining to PostScript.
