Ghostscript
The #1 PDF conversion tool and SDK.
Ghostscript is an interpreter for the PostScript language and PDF files, combining a PostScript interpreter layer with a graphics library. It handles native rendering and conversion of major page description languages to raster and vector files, as well as ASCII text, addressing document conversion, compression, archiving, and print production workflows.
The family includes GhostPDF, GhostPCL, GhostXPS, GhostPDL, and the commercial Ghostscript Office for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. Capabilities include PDF compression, DOCX output via the docxwrite device, OCR, N-up imposition, ICC color management, screening technologies, trapping, overprint simulation, and ZUGFeRD/Factur-X e-invoicing. It runs as a command line application or SDK, with language bindings for Python, C#, and Java, and supports Windows, macOS, Unix-like platforms, VMS, and embedded systems. The Cobalt Acceleration Library provides an embedded print engine with SIMD optimizations, multi-threading, and a display list.
Ghostscript targets server-side conversion pipelines, SaaS document workflows, document management, pre-press, and embedded printer and MFP markets. Downloads are available for the interpreter products, while Ghostscript Office and related services are offered commercially through contact.
9 alternatives to Ghostscript
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