PSTricks

PSTricks is a collection of LaTeX macros that produce graphics using the PostScript language. It provides a framework for creating diagrams, plots, and figures with fine typographic control, and has been widely used in academic documents since the 1990s. The core package, pstricks, and its extended components enable the drawing of lines, shapes, curves, graphs, and text with precise placement and styling, often inside mathematical documents.

Key features include a rich set of drawing primitives, color and shading options, coordinate systems and transformations, and support for complex layouts. The suite also covers 2D and 3D graphics through additional packages such as pst-3d and pst-plot, as well as specialized tools for nodes, graphs, and plots. Extensions like pstricks-add provide extra macros and capabilities beyond the base package.

PSTricks relies on PostScript for rendering. As a result, its typical workflow involves a DVI or PS output path, using latex followed by dvips and then a PS-to-PDF conversion, or using Ghostscript in related steps. For users working with pdfLaTeX, additional tools such as auto-pst-pdf or pst-pdf are commonly employed to bridge the gap between LaTeX and PostScript graphics.

History and status: PSTricks originated in the 1990s and was developed by Timothy Van Zandt and collaborators as a comprehensive PostScript-based graphics system for LaTeX. It remains actively maintained by a community of users and developers, and it continues to be used in contexts where PostScript workflows are preferred or required. While PGF/TikZ has gained broader popularity for new documents, PSTricks remains a viable option for those who value its precise typesetting and specialized macro tools, especially in environments tailored around PostScript output.