tulostuskielet

Tulostuskielet, meaning "output languages" or "printing languages" in Finnish, refers to a category of programming languages or specific instruction sets designed for controlling printers and other output devices. These languages are not typically used for general-purpose software development but rather for tasks related to page layout, formatting, and image rendering.

The most well-known example of a tulostuskieli is PostScript, developed by Adobe Systems. PostScript is a powerful page description language that can define text, graphics, and images with high precision. Printers that support PostScript interpret these descriptions and render the final output. Another prominent tulostuskieli is PCL (Printer Command Language), developed by Hewlett-Packard. PCL is widely used in laser printers and offers a range of commands for controlling page elements, fonts, and graphics.

These languages enable a separation between the application software that creates content and the printer hardware that produces it. This allows for device independence, meaning a document created on one system can be printed on various printers that understand the same tulostuskieli. They handle intricate details like font scaling, vector graphics, raster image manipulation, and page geometry, ensuring consistent and high-quality output. While modern printing relies heavily on operating system drivers and standardized formats like PDF, the principles and functionalities pioneered by tulostuskielet remain foundational to digital printing technology.