When installing a new printer—or getting an older one back in action—you’ll often run into terms like “PCL driver,” “PostScript driver,” or “XPS driver.” These aren’t just obscure technical labels. They refer to different printer driver technologies, and each one is designed for specific types of printing tasks. Knowing how they differ can help you choose the best option, especially in office, creative, or specialized printing environments.
In this article, we break down the most common printer driver types, explain how they work, and show you when each one makes the most sense. This guide is meant purely for education and to help you make informed printing decisions.
Important Notice:
This guide shares independent, general advice for printer setup and troubleshooting. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by HP, Epson, Canon, Brother, Microsoft, Apple, or any printer or software manufacturer. We do not provide driver downloads, remote assistance, or repair services. Our aim is to deliver trustworthy information so users can help themselves.
What Is a Printer Driver, Really?
A printer driver acts as a communication bridge between your computer and your printer. It converts what’s displayed on your screen into instructions your specific printer model can understand and reproduce on paper. The type of driver you use influences how this translation happens, how fast printing occurs, and how accurately graphics and fonts are rendered.
1. PCL (Printer Command Language) Drivers
Created By: Hewlett-Packard (HP)
How It Works:
PCL is built for speed and efficiency. Your computer handles most of the processing before sending the print job to the printer, allowing the printer to output documents quickly with minimal internal processing.
Best Suited For:
- Everyday Office Tasks: Word documents, spreadsheets, reports, and basic presentations.
- Fast Printing Needs: Ideal when speed matters more than perfect graphic accuracy.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Widely supported by many laser printers.
- Uses less printer memory than other driver types.
- Printed fonts may not look exactly the same as on your screen.
2. PostScript Drivers
Created By: Adobe Systems
How It Works:
PostScript is designed for precision. Unlike PCL, the printer itself performs most of the complex processing. This requires the printer to have built-in PostScript support, but the payoff is extremely accurate output.
Best Suited For:
- Graphic Design and Publishing: Ideal for brochures, magazines, posters, and professional layouts.
- Exact Visual Matching: Ensures fonts, spacing, and images print exactly as designed.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Common in high-end laser printers and professional photo printers.
- Requires more printer memory.
- Excellent for device independence—PostScript files print consistently across different PostScript-enabled printers.
3. XPS (XML Paper Specification) Drivers
Created By: Microsoft
How It Works:
XPS is Microsoft’s modern printing format, built directly into Windows. It’s designed to maintain consistent appearance across devices and supports both physical printing and digital document creation.
Best Suited For:
- General Windows Printing: Often the default driver type on newer Windows systems.
- Digital Documents: Useful for generating fixed-layout files similar to PDFs.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Delivers solid print quality for text and images.
- Frequently available without additional downloads since it’s included with Windows.
Which Printer Driver Should You Choose?
Many printers—especially business and office models—support multiple driver types. Some systems may even default to XPS. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:
| Driver Type | Best Use Case | Main Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| PCL | Everyday documents, spreadsheets, high-volume printing | Speed, efficiency, low memory usage |
| PostScript | Graphic design, publishing, precise layouts | High accuracy, consistent results |
| XPS | General Windows use, digital document consistency | Built-in support, good overall quality |
Our Recommendation:
Always visit your printer manufacturer’s official support website to see which driver they recommend for your exact printer model. The recommended driver usually unlocks the best performance and feature support.
Important:
This article provides general guidance only. For model-specific instructions or official support, consult your printer’s documentation or the manufacturer’s official website.
Final Thoughts
Printer drivers play a much bigger role than most people realize—they determine how your documents are processed, displayed, and printed. By understanding the differences between PCL, PostScript, and XPS drivers, you can make smarter choices based on speed, print quality, and compatibility. With the right driver, your printer can perform at its best for exactly the kind of work you do.