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XPS and Color Printing Enhancements in Windows Vista

Updated: September 2, 2005
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XPS and Color Printing Enhancements in Windows Vista

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Updated: Sep 2, 2005
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The print architecture for the next client version of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system takes advantage of the new open XML Paper Specification (XPS, formerly codename "Metro") and the new Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation (formerly codenamed "Avalon"). These technologies enable rich end-to-end color document and photo printing and address many limitations of the existing Microsoft Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI)-based print path in Windows Vista, with limited down-level support in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows XP.

This paper provides an overview of printing enhancements enabled by XPS. Application developers and hardware vendors can use this paper to prepare to support XPS in their product plans.

This information applies for the following operating systems:
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Microsoft Windows XP

Included in this white paper:

XPS Document format and the XPS spool file

The XPS print path

How Windows Vista improves the Windows printing experience

Support for XPS in earlier versions of Windows

Resources and next steps


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