Ghostscript

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 1988
Developer: Artifex Software
Pricing: Dual-licensed (AGPL open-source or commercial)
Open source: Yes
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix-like, VMS, Embedded systems

Indexes

PDF Tools

Overview

Ghostscript is an interpreter for the PostScript language and PDF files, consisting of a PostScript interpreter layer and a graphics library. It supports rendering and conversion of page description languages to raster, vector files, and ASCII text, functioning as a standalone command-line tool or integrable SDK for document processing and printing workflows.²⁵

Key Features

PostScript and PDF Interpretation - Interprets PostScript, EPS, DOS EPS, and PDF files for rendering and execution.
PDL Conversion - Converts major page description languages to raster, vector, and text outputs.
Color Management - Supports ICC profiles for spot colors, Gray, RGB, CMYK with object-type specific controls.
Command-line Usage - Runs interactively or in batch mode via command line with options for input/output.
SDK Integration - Integrates as a C-based library into applications for custom document processing.
Multi-platform Support - Operates on Windows, macOS, Unix variants, VMS, and embedded systems.
Printer Drivers - Provides drivers and filters for various printer languages via Ghostscript.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
AGPL License	Free	Open-source use compliant with AGPL terms; source code access.
Commercial License	Contact for quote	Proprietary use without AGPL copyleft requirements; support options.

Platforms & Requirements

Ghostscript runs on Windows, macOS, various Unix and Unix-like systems, VMS, and embedded platforms as a C-based application. It is invoked via command line or integrated as a library with no specific minimum requirements detailed beyond standard OS compatibility. Limitations may arise in embedded systems due to resource constraints.²

Integrations & Ecosystem

PostScript input/output
PDF input/output
EPS input
ICC color profiles
Printer drivers (e.g., foo2zjs for HP, Epson)
Raster output (PNG, JPEG)
Vector output
ASCII text extraction

Alternatives

App	Difference
MuPDF	Lighter-weight PDF and XPS interpreter focused on speed and minimalism.
Poppler	PDF rendering library derived from xpdf, emphasizing Qt integration.
Cairo	2D graphics library with PostScript/PDF surface support but broader scope.
Artifex MuPDF	Companion product from same developer with advanced PDF handling.

Reputation

Ghostscript is recognized as a longstanding, reliable tool for PostScript and PDF processing with strong color management and cross-platform support, widely used in printing and document workflows.²³ Criticisms include its dual-licensing model, which requires commercial licenses for proprietary applications, potentially complicating adoption.⁷ It maintains an active open-source presence with ongoing development.¹⁵

Sources (8)