Riso HC5500 Series Reference Manual page 25

GDI and PS controllers
The output from a printer can use standard OS functions such as GDI (Windows) or QuickDraw (Macintosh), or
may use a page description language such as PS (PostScript) and PCL. The HC5500 Series uses a special GDI
controller and a PS controller.
The GDI controller (HC3R) uses drawing functions of the OS and sends data rasterized at the computer to the
printer controller for printing. The data rasterized for the HC5500 can only be used by the HC5500.
The PS controller (PS7R) uses PS as a page description language. The page data sent from the computer to the
controller (PS data) are converted into printable data (rasterized) and then sent to the printer. The data transfer from
the computer occurs at high speed and does not overload the computer, making it possible to immediately start the
next DTP work. The PS data can reproduce (print) pictures and characters regardless of the equipment. (The
printer controller is compatible with Adobe Postscript
Windows (GDI)
Windows / Machintosh
® 3. TM )
HC5500
The printer
driver creates
a BMP image
HC5500
PS data
Prints out without
any conversion
HC3R-5000
Prints out after the
controller rasterizes
the job (RIP).
PS7R-9000
US/UK-23