XPS Explained: More Information About Our XPS Technology

Benefits of Using XPS

There are four areas that a quality print device such as a wide format or photoprinting inkjet printer may benefit from using XPS:

1. Color Gamut

XPS supports a new improved color space in comparison with Windows XP - scRGB. This allows XPS drivers to work a color gamut that is larger than the Win32 sRGB and better exploit the color range supported by the printer, resulting in enhanced color and fidelity in an end-user's printed output. This is particularly important for photo printers that include extra color inks specifically to improve the printer's color gamut.

2. Color Fidelity

In addition to a wider gamut, Windows Vista also supports greater color accuracy. Windows XP was limited to 8-bits per channel color but Windows Vista increases this to 16-bits per channel. Windows Vista applications can use the greater color depth to produce more accurate color and consequently better output.

3. Print Quality

Microsoft will supply a conversion layer so .NET 3.0 applications can print through Windows XP drivers. It is likely that having an XPS driver will be the best way to enable all of XPS's advanced features and effects and benefit from optimum print quality and performance.

4. Performance

XPS documents are more compact and better structured so it will be possible to process and render XPS faster than current drivers. The resulting spool file can in some circumstances be many times smaller and the driver can optimize the color processing to optimize the print time and drive devices faster.

Software Imaging expects items 1 and 2 to represent the key benefits for the consumer inkjet market. Item 3 also appears to be a real concern for many users of new applications. Item 4 is likely to bring benefits to all users with structured XPSDrv drivers in comparison to using legacy drivers.

PrintTicket/PrintCapabilities

Software Imaging not only supports new PrintTicket and PrintCapabilities with XPSDrv drivers, but also support it in the legacy Windows XP drivers that are created for use on Windows XP (or Vista in legacy mode). This gives end-users the flexibility to use the Windows Vista legacy path with some of the new Vista document management benefits, and also allows application writers to utilize this technology on legacy Windows XP platforms as well as on Windows Vista. In addition it provides an updated solution on Windows XP when the user is running PrintTicket-aware applications.

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