Difference Between PS3 and PS2

The main difference between PostScript Level 2 and Level 3 is in performance, color handling, and transparency support. PostScript 3 offers better image compression, improved memory management, and full support for advanced color spaces and transparency effects. It also handles gradients, shading, and smooth color transitions more efficiently than PostScript 2. In short, PostScript 3 is faster, more reliable, and produces higher-quality output for modern printers and graphic workflows.

PostScript 3 is a rue superset of PostScript level 2. The main extensions are

–     enhancements in page device management

–     CID fonts (which had beed added to a previous level 2 extension)

–     smooth shading

–     masked images

–     trapping

Maybe I forgot some more – look into the 3rd edition of the PLRM (PostScript Language Reference Manual).

The PS3 extensions are flagged in that manual.

Helge