---
name: "psdriver"
section: "1grass"
platform: "linux"
package: "grass-doc"
version: "8.4.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/psdriver"
---

# psdriver(1grass)

## PostScript DISPLAY DRIVER

*PS display driver* to create PostScript files.

## DESCRIPTION

The PS driver generates a PostScript file from GRASS display commands.

## USAGE

### Environment variables

The PS driver can be enabled by setting **GRASS\_RENDER\_IMMEDIATE** variable, eg.\

```
export GRASS_RENDER_IMMEDIATE=ps
```

Several environment variables affect the operation of the PS driver:

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_WIDTH=xxx**\
   the width of the image map (default is 640).

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_HEIGHT=yyy**\
   the height of the image map (default is 480).

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_TRUECOLOR=\[TRUE\|FALSE\]**\
   sets true-color support. Default is FALSE.

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_FILE**\
   name of output file. If it ends with ".eps" an EPS file will be created.

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_PS\_PAPER**\
   sets the screen dimensions and margins to fit a standard paper size, see also GRASS\_RENDER\_WIDTH, GRASS\_RENDER\_HEIGHT.

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_PS\_LANDSCAPE**\
   if `TRUE`, the screen is rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise so that a "landscape" screen fits better on "portrait" paper.

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_PS\_HEADER**\
   if `FALSE`, the output is appended to any existing file, and no prolog or setup sections are generated.

- •

  **GRASS\_RENDER\_PS\_TRAILER**\
   if `FALSE`, no trailer section is generated.

### Example

```
export GRASS_RENDER_IMMEDIATE=ps
export GRASS_RENDER_TRUECOLOR=TRUE
g.region raster=elevation
d.rast elevation
d.vect roadsmajor color=red
```

This writes a file named `map.ps` in your current directory.

## NOTES

The resolution of the output files is defined by current region extents. Use `g.region -p` to get the number of rows and cols and use the environment variables to set the image size. If you would like a larger image, multiply both rows and cols by the same whole number to preserve the aspect ratio.

GRASS\_RENDER\_TRUECOLOR requires either PostScript level 2 or level 1 plus the colorimage and setrgbcolor operators (this is the case for colour printers which pre-date level 2 PostScript).

Masked images (`d.rast`, `d.rgb`, `d.his -n`) require PostScript level 3.

## SEE ALSO

*Cairo driver,* *PNG driver,* *HTML driver,* *variables*\
\
 *d.rast,* *d.vect,* *d.mon,* *d.erase,* *d.redraw*

## AUTHOR

Glynn Clements, 2007

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: PostScript DISPLAY DRIVER source code (history)

Accessed: Monday Feb 24 17:49:40 2025

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