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Inspiring
October 6, 2020
Answered

Buying a LaserJet - is Adobe PostScript still a thing?

  • October 6, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 747 views

Old Lexmark CS510 is on its last legs. Mainly selected as it had native PostScript 3 support so I could run out directly from Photoshop / Indesign / AI from my MacBook Pro.

 

Is this still a thing or has CC passed through that need?

 

Seen a HP (479dw) that has their own support "PCL 6 (V3)" - whilst a Canon (LBP663Cdw) has explicit support "PCL6, Adobe® PostScript".

 

Thanks in advance for any input / experience.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dov Isaacs

There are only two types of printers that can fully and properly render content, especially in terms of color accuracy, from professional publishing software such as the Adobe Creative Cloud applications as well as Adobe Acrobat / Reader. These would be printers that directly support PDF files or PostScript Language Level 3.

 

PCL of any type is effectively useless!

 

I will also add that for both InDesign and Illustrator, you are generally much better off exporting/saving PDF/X-4 and printing from either Acrobat or at worst, Reader (but definitely not Apple Preview). Yes, it literally takes an extra minute at most, but the results are much more reliable, especially if you don't have a PostScript or direct PDF printer.

 

2 replies

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
October 6, 2020

There are only two types of printers that can fully and properly render content, especially in terms of color accuracy, from professional publishing software such as the Adobe Creative Cloud applications as well as Adobe Acrobat / Reader. These would be printers that directly support PDF files or PostScript Language Level 3.

 

PCL of any type is effectively useless!

 

I will also add that for both InDesign and Illustrator, you are generally much better off exporting/saving PDF/X-4 and printing from either Acrobat or at worst, Reader (but definitely not Apple Preview). Yes, it literally takes an extra minute at most, but the results are much more reliable, especially if you don't have a PostScript or direct PDF printer.

 

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
    days_of_speed
    days_of_speedAuthor
    Inspiring
    October 6, 2020

    Just to add - this is me running from the app not creating a PDF and running that (I might sometimes but this is just for noting / proofing runouts from the screen / within the app).

     

    ta.

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