PCL vs PostScript for Printer

2011-06-06


When we tried to download a HP printer driver, we found we should have a choice between PCL driver and PostScript driver:

PCLvsPS00

So what the difference between them?

Both of them are kinds of printer page description language.

PostScript

The PostScript is from Adobe System Inc. PostScript language is an interpretive programming language with powerful graphics capabilities. A program in this language communicates a description of a document to an output device (such as a printer).

PCL

PCL is Printer Control Language, it is from HP.

Hewlett-Packard created the PCL (Printer Control Language) printer language to provide an efficient way for application programs to control a wide range of printer features across a number of different printing devices. PCL commands are compact escape sequence codes that are embedded in the print job data stream. HP PCL formatters and fonts are designed to quickly translate application output into high-quality, device-specific, raster print images.

Before, PostScript was better than PCL for printing affection and for font. But as the tech changing, both of them released multiple version, they are almost on the same level now. So when you want to choose one from them for general usage, for example, for your home, your small business, for common document printing. you can choose any one of them. The only case that you have be care for is for some special printing works.

If you want to get more detail information about them, please read HP’s comparison and Brother’s comparison.