Introduction

Ghostscript is a versatile and powerful set of software tools that is an interpreter of PostScript and PDF formats. Ghostscript is widely used by developers, graphic designers and IT professionals and offers advanced capabilities for viewing, converting and working with PDF and PostScript files. This article discusses the supported Windows versions and key features that make Ghostscript an indispensable tool.

Supported versions of Windows

Ghostscript is compatible with a wide range of Windows operating systems, ensuring its widespread use in a variety of environments:

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2019
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows Server 2008 R2

(Any subsequent versions of Windows released at the time of publication)

This broad compatibility allows users to integrate Ghostscript into both modern and legacy Windows systems.

Key Features

  1. PostScript and PDF interpreter: Ghostscript serves as an interpreter for Adobe PostScript and Portable Document Format (PDF) languages, allowing users to view and manipulate these file types. This feature is essential for tasks such as printing, file conversion, and viewing complex documents.
  2. File Conversion: Ghostscript is excellent at converting PostScript files to PDF and vice versa. It also supports conversion to various image formats including JPEG, PNG and TIFF, making it a versatile tool for document and image processing.
  3. High-quality rasterization: The program provides high-quality rasterization of PostScript and PDF files, allowing users to convert vector graphics into high-resolution raster images. This is especially useful for printing and archiving documents.
  4. Command Line Interface: Ghostscript's robust command-line interface (CLI) provides powerful scripting capabilities for batch processing and automation. Users can efficiently accomplish complex tasks by composing scripts to automate repetitive operations.
  5. Fonts and Graphics Embedding: Supports embedding fonts and graphics into PDF and PostScript files, ensuring that documents display correctly across multiple platforms and devices. This feature is essential for maintaining document integrity and consistency.
  6. PDF Distiller: The program includes a PDF Distiller that allows you to create high-quality PDF files from PostScript files. The distiller supports various settings to optimize PDF output, such as compression and resolution adjustment.
  7. Security Features: Provides options to protect PDF files with encryption and password protection. Users can restrict access, prevent copying and control printing permissions to protect sensitive information.
  8. Print System Compatibility: Easily integrates with a variety of printing systems, acting as a backend for print spoolers and enhancing print job processing. This compatibility ensures reliable printing of complex documents on a variety of printer models.
  9. Open Source Flexibility: As an open source project, Ghostscript provides flexibility and customizability. Developers can modify the source code to meet specific needs or contribute to the ongoing development of the software.

Conclusion

Ghostscript is an indispensable tool for professionals working with PostScript and PDF files. Its compatibility with a wide range of Windows operating systems and various versions of Windows Server, ensures that users can deploy it in a variety of environments. With features such as high-quality rasterization, robust file conversion and advanced command-line scripting, Ghostscript is a powerful solution for viewing, converting and working with document files. Whether you're a developer, graphic designer, or IT professional, Ghostscript offers the functionality and flexibility you need to optimize your workflow and increase productivity.