1. Hello World

Your first PostScript program: displaying text and creating basic graphics.

1.1. Introduction

The classic "Hello World" program is the perfect starting point for learning PostScript. This guide takes you from the simplest possible program to more sophisticated variations with formatting, graphics, and complete page layouts.

1.2. Minimal Hello World

The simplest PostScript program that displays text.

1.2.1. Code 

%!PS-Adobe-3.0
/Courier findfont        % Find the Courier font (1)
12 scalefont            % Scale to 12 points (2)
setfont                 % Make it the current font (3)
72 720 moveto           % Move to position (1 inch, 10 inches) (4)
(Hello, World!) show    % Display the text (5)
showpage                % Output the page (6)
1 Use findfont to locate the Courier font
2 Use scalefont to set the size to 12 points
3 Use setfont to activate the font
4 Use moveto to position the cursor (72 points = 1 inch)
5 Use show to render the text
6 Use showpage to output the page to the device

1.2.2. Expected Output

The text "Hello, World!" appears in 12-point Courier font at position (72, 720) on the page, which is approximately 1 inch from the left edge and 10 inches from the bottom.

1.2.3. How It Works

PostScript uses a coordinate system where:

  • The origin (0,0) is at the bottom-left corner

  • Units are in points (1/72 of an inch)

  • X increases to the right, Y increases upward

  • Standard US Letter page is 612 × 792 points (8.5 × 11 inches)

1.3. Hello World with Formatting

Adding font selection, sizing, and positioning for better visual presentation.

1.3.1. Code 

%!PS-Adobe-3.0

% Define convenience procedures
/inch { 72 mul } def                    % Convert inches to points (1)

% Set up Times-Bold font at 24 points
/Times-Bold findfont 24 scalefont setfont (2)

% Position and display the greeting
1 inch 9.5 inch moveto                  % 1 inch from left, 9.5 inches from bottom (3)
(Hello, PostScript World!) show          % Display main text (4)

% Add a subtitle in smaller italic font
/Times-Italic findfont 14 scalefont setfont (5)
1 inch 9.2 inch moveto
(Your first formatted text example) show (6)

% Add footer in small regular font
/Times-Roman findfont 10 scalefont setfont
1 inch 0.75 inch moveto
(Generated with PostScript) show

showpage
1 Define a procedure to convert inches to points for easier positioning
2 Set main title font to 24-point Times-Bold
3 Position at 1 inch from left, 9.5 inches from bottom
4 Display the main greeting text
5 Switch to 14-point Times-Italic for subtitle
6 Display subtitle 0.3 inches below the title

1.3.2. Expected Output

A formatted page with:

  • Large bold title "Hello, PostScript World!" at the top

  • Medium italic subtitle below it

  • Small footer text at the bottom of the page

1.3.3. Available Fonts

Standard PostScript fonts include:

  • Serif families: Times-Roman, Times-Bold, Times-Italic, Times-BoldItalic

  • Sans-serif families: Helvetica, Helvetica-Bold, Helvetica-Oblique, Helvetica-BoldOblique

  • Monospace families: Courier, Courier-Bold, Courier-Oblique, Courier-BoldOblique

  • Symbol fonts: Symbol, ZapfDingbats

1.4. Multiple Text Variations

Demonstrating different text styles, sizes, and alignments.

1.4.1. Code 

%!PS-Adobe-3.0

% Utility procedures
/inch { 72 mul } def
/centershow {                           % Center text at current point (1)
  dup stringwidth pop                   % Get text width (2)
  2 div neg 0 rmoveto                   % Move back half the width (3)
  show                                  % Display the text (4)
} def

% Title - Large centered bold
/Helvetica-Bold findfont 36 scalefont setfont
4.25 inch 10 inch moveto                % Center of page horizontally
(PostScript Typography) centershow       % Centered title (5)

% Subtitle - Medium centered
/Helvetica-Oblique findfont 18 scalefont setfont
4.25 inch 9.5 inch moveto
(Exploring Font Variations) centershow

% Left-aligned body text
/Times-Roman findfont 12 scalefont setfont
1 inch 8.5 inch moveto
(Left-aligned text example) show         % Standard left alignment (6)

% Right-aligned text
/Times-Italic findfont 12 scalefont setfont
7.5 inch 8 inch moveto
(Right-aligned text) dup stringwidth pop neg 0 rmoveto show (7)

% Centered text
/Courier findfont 12 scalefont setfont
4.25 inch 7.5 inch moveto
(Centered monospace text) centershow

% Multiple sizes demonstration
1 inch 6.5 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 8 scalefont setfont
(8 point text) show

1 inch 6.2 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 10 scalefont setfont
(10 point text) show

1 inch 5.85 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 12 scalefont setfont
(12 point text) show

1 inch 5.45 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 14 scalefont setfont
(14 point text) show

1 inch 4.95 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 18 scalefont setfont
(18 point text) show

1 inch 4.3 inch moveto
/Helvetica findfont 24 scalefont setfont
(24 point text) show

showpage
1 Define a procedure to center text at the current position
2 Use stringwidth to measure text width
3 Use rmoveto to move back half the width
4 Use show to display the centered text
5 Apply centershow to title at horizontal center (4.25 inches = half of 8.5")
6 Left alignment is the default behavior of show
7 Right-align by moving left by the text width before showing

1.4.2. Expected Output

A page demonstrating various text alignments and sizes:

  • Large centered bold title at the top

  • Medium centered italic subtitle

  • Left-aligned, right-aligned, and centered examples

  • Progressive size demonstration from 8pt to 24pt

1.4.3. Text Alignment Techniques

Left alignment (default):

  • Simply use moveto to position, then show to display

Center alignment:

  • Use stringwidth to measure text width

  • Move back half the width with rmoveto

  • Then show the text

Right alignment:

  • Use stringwidth to measure text width

  • Move back the full width with rmoveto

  • Then show the text

1.5. Adding Simple Graphics

Combining text with basic geometric shapes for visual interest.

1.5.1. Code 

%!PS-Adobe-3.0

% Utilities
/inch { 72 mul } def

% Draw a decorative border
gsave                                   % Save graphics state (1)
  2 setlinewidth                        % Set line thickness (2)
  0.5 inch 0.5 inch moveto              % Start at bottom-left
  0.5 inch 10.5 inch lineto             % Draw to top-left (3)
  8 inch 10.5 inch lineto               % Draw to top-right
  8 inch 0.5 inch lineto                % Draw to bottom-right
  closepath                             % Close the rectangle (4)
  stroke                                % Draw the border (5)
grestore                                % Restore graphics state (6)

% Draw a horizontal line separator
gsave
  1 setlinewidth
  1 inch 9 inch moveto
  7.5 inch 9 inch lineto
  stroke
grestore

% Main title with background box
gsave
  % Draw filled box behind title
  0.9 setgray                           % Light gray fill (7)
  1.5 inch 9.3 inch moveto
  6 inch 0 rlineto                      % Draw rectangle outline (8)
  0 0.6 inch rlineto
  -6 inch 0 rlineto
  closepath
  fill                                  % Fill the box (9)

  % Draw title text
  0 setgray                             % Black text (10)
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 32 scalefont setfont
  4.25 inch 9.5 inch moveto
  (Hello, World!) dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
grestore

% Add circular bullet points
/bullet {                               % Define bullet procedure (11)
  gsave
    0 setgray
    newpath
    0 0 0.08 inch 0 360 arc             % Small circle (12)
    fill
  grestore
} def

% Create bulleted list
/Times-Roman findfont 14 scalefont setfont
1.5 inch 8.2 inch moveto
(Welcome to PostScript programming) show

1.2 inch 7.9 inch moveto bullet         % Draw bullet (13)
1.5 inch 7.85 inch moveto
(PostScript is a page description language) show

1.2 inch 7.5 inch moveto bullet
1.5 inch 7.45 inch moveto
(Text and graphics can be combined) show

1.2 inch 7.1 inch moveto bullet
1.5 inch 7.05 inch moveto
(Programs produce precise, scalable output) show

% Add a simple logo using shapes
gsave
  4.25 inch 5.5 inch translate         % Move origin to logo center (14)

  % Draw outer circle
  newpath
  0 0 0.75 inch 0 360 arc
  0.2 setlinewidth
  stroke

  % Draw inner shapes
  0.7 setgray
  newpath
  -0.4 inch 0 moveto
  0.4 inch 0 lineto
  0 0.4 inch lineto
  closepath
  fill
grestore

% Footer with decorative elements
gsave
  % Left decorative box
  0.5 setgray
  0.75 inch 1 inch moveto
  0.5 inch 0 rlineto
  0 0.3 inch rlineto
  -0.5 inch 0 rlineto
  closepath
  fill

  % Right decorative box
  7.25 inch 1 inch moveto
  0.5 inch 0 rlineto
  0 0.3 inch rlineto
  -0.5 inch 0 rlineto
  closepath
  fill

  % Footer text
  0 setgray
  /Times-Italic findfont 10 scalefont setfont
  4.25 inch 1.1 inch moveto
  (Created with PostScript) dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
grestore

showpage
1 Use gsave to save current graphics state
2 Use setlinewidth to set line thickness
3 Use lineto to draw line segments
4 Use closepath to complete the shape
5 Use stroke to draw the outlined path
6 Use grestore to restore previous state
7 Use setgray to set gray level (0=black, 1=white)
8 Use rlineto for relative line drawing
9 Use fill to fill the enclosed area
10 Set color back to black (0 gray) for text
11 Define reusable procedure for drawing bullets
12 Use arc to draw circular shape
13 Call the bullet procedure to draw each bullet point
14 Use translate to change coordinate origin

1.5.2. Expected Output

A professional-looking page featuring:

  • Decorative border around the entire page

  • Gray background box behind the title

  • Horizontal separator line

  • Bulleted list with circular bullets

  • Simple geometric logo

  • Decorative footer with gray boxes

1.5.3. Graphics State Management

Use gsave and grestore to isolate changes:

  • Line widths

  • Colors

  • Coordinate transformations

  • Clipping paths

This prevents unintended side effects when combining graphics and text.

1.6. Complete Page Layout Example

A production-ready page layout with header, body, and footer.

1.6.1. Code 

%!PS-Adobe-3.0
%%Title: Complete Page Layout
%%Creator: PostScript Language Reference Guide
%%CreationDate: (2025)
%%Pages: 1
%%BoundingBox: 0 0 612 792
%%EndComments

% ============================================================
% PROCEDURE DEFINITIONS
% ============================================================

/inch { 72 mul } def

% Text alignment procedures
/centershow {
  dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
} def

/rightshow {
  dup stringwidth pop neg 0 rmoveto show
} def

% Box drawing procedure
/box {  % width height x y box
  gsave
    moveto                              % Move to bottom-left corner
    1 index 0 rlineto                   % width 0 rlineto (bottom edge)
    0 exch rlineto                      % 0 height rlineto (right edge)
    1 index neg 0 rlineto               % -width 0 rlineto (top edge)
    closepath
    pop pop                             % Clean up width and height from stack
  grestore
} def

% Rounded box procedure
/roundbox {  % width height radius x y roundbox
  gsave
    /r exch def                         % radius
    moveto                              % Move to starting position
    /h exch def /w exch def             % Store width and height

    % Draw rounded rectangle
    w r sub 0 rlineto                   % Bottom line
    r r r 270 360 arc                   % Bottom-right corner
    0 h 2 r mul sub rlineto             % Right line
    r neg r r 0 90 arc                  % Top-right corner
    w 2 r mul sub neg 0 rlineto         % Top line
    r neg r neg r 90 180 arc            % Top-left corner
    0 h 2 r mul sub neg rlineto         % Left line
    r r neg r 180 270 arc               % Bottom-left corner
    closepath
  grestore
} def

% Horizontal line procedure
/hline {  % x1 x2 y hline
  gsave
    /y exch def
    /x2 exch def
    /x1 exch def
    newpath
    x1 y moveto
    x2 y lineto
    stroke
  grestore
} def

% ============================================================
% PAGE MARGINS AND LAYOUT CONSTANTS
% ============================================================

/leftMargin 1 inch def
/rightMargin 7.5 inch def
/topMargin 10.5 inch def
/bottomMargin 0.75 inch def
/pageWidth 8.5 inch def
/pageCenter pageWidth 2 div def

% ============================================================
% HEADER SECTION
% ============================================================

gsave
  % Header background
  0.95 setgray
  rightMargin leftMargin sub 0.8 inch leftMargin topMargin 0.4 inch sub box
  fill

  % Header title
  0 setgray
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 18 scalefont setfont
  leftMargin 0.2 inch add topMargin 0.15 inch sub moveto
  (PostScript Programming Guide) show

  % Header date (right-aligned)
  /Helvetica findfont 10 scalefont setfont
  rightMargin 0.2 inch sub topMargin 0.15 inch sub moveto
  (2025-01-01) rightshow

  % Header separator line
  1 setlinewidth
  leftMargin rightMargin topMargin 0.45 inch sub hline
grestore

% ============================================================
% MAIN CONTENT
% ============================================================

% Main title
gsave
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 36 scalefont setfont
  pageCenter 9.2 inch moveto
  (Hello, World!) centershow

  % Subtitle
  /Helvetica-Oblique findfont 16 scalefont setfont
  pageCenter 8.8 inch moveto
  (A Complete Page Layout Example) centershow
grestore

% Decorative line under title
gsave
  2 setlinewidth
  0.5 setgray
  pageCenter 1 inch sub 8.5 inch moveto
  2 inch 0 rlineto
  stroke
grestore

% Introduction paragraph
gsave
  /Times-Roman findfont 12 scalefont setfont
  /leading 16 def                       % Line spacing

  leftMargin 8 inch moveto
  (This example demonstrates a complete page layout with) show
  leftMargin 8 inch leading sub moveto
  (header, body content, graphics, and footer. It showcases) show
  leftMargin 8 inch leading 2 mul sub moveto
  (professional document structure and design principles.) show
grestore

% Feature highlights with rounded boxes
gsave
  /Times-Roman findfont 11 scalefont setfont

  % Box 1: Structure
  0.9 setgray
  2.5 inch 1.8 inch 0.15 inch 1 inch 7 inch roundbox
  fill
  0 setgray
  1.2 inch 7.7 inch moveto
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 12 scalefont setfont
  (Document Structure) show
  1.2 inch 7.45 inch moveto
  /Times-Roman findfont 10 scalefont setfont
  (Headers, footers, and) show
  1.2 inch 7.25 inch moveto
  (content organization) show

  % Box 2: Typography
  0.9 setgray
  2.5 inch 1.8 inch 0.15 inch 3.8 inch 7 inch roundbox
  fill
  0 setgray
  4 inch 7.7 inch moveto
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 12 scalefont setfont
  (Typography) show
  4 inch 7.45 inch moveto
  /Times-Roman findfont 10 scalefont setfont
  (Professional fonts) show
  4 inch 7.25 inch moveto
  (and text layout) show

  % Box 3: Graphics
  0.9 setgray
  2.5 inch 1.8 inch 0.15 inch 6.1 inch 7 inch roundbox
  fill
  0 setgray
  6.3 inch 7.7 inch moveto
  /Helvetica-Bold findfont 12 scalefont setfont
  (Vector Graphics) show
  6.3 inch 7.45 inch moveto
  /Times-Roman findfont 10 scalefont setfont
  (Shapes, lines, and) show
  6.3 inch 7.25 inch moveto
  (design elements) show
grestore

% Sample diagram
gsave
  pageCenter 5 inch translate          % Center of diagram area

  % Outer frame
  1 setlinewidth
  0 setgray
  -2 inch -1.5 inch moveto
  4 inch 0 rlineto
  0 3 inch rlineto
  -4 inch 0 rlineto
  closepath
  stroke

  % Inner elements
  0.7 setgray

  % Left box
  -1.5 inch -1 inch moveto
  1 inch 0 rlineto
  0 1.5 inch rlineto
  -1 inch 0 rlineto
  closepath
  fill

  % Center circle
  newpath
  0 0 0.6 inch 0 360 arc
  fill

  % Right triangle
  0.5 inch -0.8 inch moveto
  1.2 inch 0 rlineto
  -0.6 inch 1.4 inch rlineto
  closepath
  fill

  % Labels
  0 setgray
  /Helvetica findfont 9 scalefont setfont
  -1 inch -1.4 inch moveto
  (Input) dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
  0 -1.4 inch moveto
  (Process) dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
  1.1 inch -1.4 inch moveto
  (Output) dup stringwidth pop 2 div neg 0 rmoveto show
grestore

% Body text sections
gsave
  /Times-Roman findfont 11 scalefont setfont
  /leading 14 def

  % Section 1
  leftMargin 2.5 inch moveto
  /Times-Bold findfont 13 scalefont setfont
  (Key Features) show

  /Times-Roman findfont 11 scalefont setfont
  leftMargin 2.3 inch moveto
  (PostScript provides powerful tools for creating professional) show
  leftMargin 2.3 inch leading sub moveto
  (documents with precise control over typography and graphics.) show

  % Section 2
  leftMargin 1.8 inch moveto
  /Times-Bold findfont 13 scalefont setfont
  (Best Practices) show

  /Times-Roman findfont 11 scalefont setfont
  leftMargin 1.6 inch moveto
  (Use gsave/grestore to manage graphics state, define reusable) show
  leftMargin 1.6 inch leading sub moveto
  (procedures, and maintain consistent margins and spacing.) show
grestore

% ============================================================
% FOOTER SECTION
% ============================================================

gsave
  % Footer separator line
  0.5 setlinewidth
  leftMargin rightMargin bottomMargin 0.5 inch add hline

  % Footer text
  /Times-Roman findfont 9 scalefont setfont
  leftMargin bottomMargin 0.25 inch add moveto
  (PostScript Language Reference Guide) show

  % Page number (centered)
  /Helvetica findfont 9 scalefont setfont
  pageCenter bottomMargin 0.25 inch add moveto
  (- 1 -) centershow

  % Copyright (right-aligned)
  /Times-Italic findfont 8 scalefont setfont
  rightMargin bottomMargin 0.25 inch add moveto
  (Copyright \251 2025) rightshow
grestore

showpage
%%EOF

1.6.2. Expected Output

A complete professional page with:

  • Gray header box with title and date

  • Large centered title and subtitle

  • Three rounded information boxes

  • Central diagram with shapes and labels

  • Body text with sections and headings

  • Professional footer with page number and copyright

1.6.3. Layout Components

Header:

  • Background box for visual separation

  • Document title and date

  • Separator line

Body:

  • Centered title and subtitle

  • Feature highlights in rounded boxes

  • Diagrams with labels

  • Structured body text

Footer:

  • Separator line

  • Left-aligned document name

  • Centered page number

  • Right-aligned copyright

1.7. Troubleshooting

1.7.1. Common Issues

Text not appearing:

  • Ensure showpage is called at the end

  • Check that font is set before calling show

  • Verify coordinates are within page bounds (0-612 for X, 0-792 for Y)

Wrong font or size:

  • Call findfont, scalefont, and setfont in that order

  • Remember that scalefont creates a new font; it doesn’t modify the current one

Text cut off at page edges:

  • Leave margins (typically 0.5-1 inch from edges)

  • Calculate text width with stringwidth before positioning

Graphics obscuring text:

  • Use gsave/grestore to isolate graphics operations

  • Be mindful of the order: graphics drawn last appear on top

Coordinate confusion:

  • Remember: origin (0,0) is at bottom-left

  • Y-axis increases upward (opposite of screen coordinates)

  • Use the /inch { 72 mul } def procedure for easier calculation

1.8. Performance Tips

  • Define procedures once at the beginning of the file

  • Use gsave/grestore sparingly - they save/restore the entire graphics state

  • Avoid redundant font changes - set font once for multiple text operations

  • Cache calculated values in variables rather than recomputing

1.9. See Also

Back to top

Copyright © 2025 Ribose. PostScript is a trademark of Adobe. Distributed under the MIT License.