Convert PostScript to WebP

PostScript (PS) is a dynamically typed, concatenative page description language developed by Adobe Systems, serving as the predecessor to the PDF format. It describes text and graphics on a page using vector graphics instructions rather than rasterized pixels, making it resolution-independent. A PS file contains a program written in the PostScript language, which is interpreted by a Raster Image Processor (RIP) to generate the print output. It supports distinct imaging models, including Type 1 fonts and color separations, and became the standard for desktop publishing and high-end printing workflows in the 1980s and 90s.

Opening PS files requires software capable of interpreting the PostScript language, as modern OS image viewers do not support it natively. Ghostscript is the standard open-source interpreter used to view and convert PS files. For GUI-based editing and viewing, Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW can import PS files. Users can also convert PS files to PDF using tools like ps2pdf (part of the Ghostscript suite) for easier accessibility.

WebP is a raster graphics file format developed by Google specifically for web optimization, utilizing the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) container. It employs predictive coding based on the VP8 video codec for lossy compression and the LZ77 algorithm with entropy coding for lossless compression. WebP supports transparency (alpha channel) in both lossy and lossless modes, as well as animation, often achieving file sizes 26-34% smaller than comparable JPEG or PNG files while maintaining high structural similarity (SSIM) index scores.

WebP is natively supported by all modern web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. For offline viewing, Windows 10 and 11 support WebP via the Photos app (often requiring the Webp Image Extensions package), while macOS users can view them in Preview (macOS Big Sur and later). Legacy systems or incompatible editors require conversion tools or third-party viewers like IrfanView to render the image data.