2. Overview
PostScript Level 1 established the foundation of the PostScript language, introducing the core concepts of stack-based programming, vector graphics, and device-independent page description.
3. Key Features
3.1. Core Language
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Stack-based execution model
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Dictionary-based name lookup
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Dynamic typing
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Procedures (executable arrays)
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Composite data types (arrays, strings, dictionaries)
3.2. Graphics Capabilities
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Vector path construction (moveto, lineto, curveto)
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Path painting (stroke, fill)
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Coordinate transformations
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Clipping paths
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Grayscale imaging
3.3. Type System
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Simple types: integer, real, boolean, mark, null
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Composite types: array, string, dictionary
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Special types: name, operator, file, save
3.4. Limitations
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No Color: Only grayscale support
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Fixed Dictionary Size: Dictionaries have fixed capacity (dictfull error)
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No Composite Fonts: Single-byte character encoding only
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Limited Image Support: Basic monochrome images only
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No Forms: Cannot cache complex graphics
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No Patterns: No tiling pattern support
4. Implementation
Level 1 implementations provide approximately 250 operators covering:
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Stack manipulation
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Arithmetic and mathematics
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Array and string operations
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Dictionary operations
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Control flow
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Graphics state management
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Path construction and painting
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Font operations
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File I/O
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Memory management
5. See Also
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PostScript Level 2 - Enhanced version
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PostScript Level 3 - Latest specification
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Version Comparison - Feature comparison