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(dvips.info)ps special

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`ps' special
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  Generally, Dvips encloses specials in a PostScript save/restore pair,
guaranteeing that the special will have no effect on the rest of the
document.  The `ps' special, however, allows you to insert literal
PostScript instructions without this protective shield; you should
understand what you're doing (and you shouldn't change the PostScript
graphics state unless you are willing to take the consequences).  This
command can take many forms because it has had a torturous history; any
of the following will work:

     \special{ps:TEXT}
     \special{ps::TEXT}
     \special{ps::[begin]TEXT}
     \special{ps::[end]TEXT}

(with longer forms taking precedence over shorter forms, when they are
present).  `ps::' and `ps::[end]' do no positioning, so they can be
used to continue PostScript literals started with `ps:' or
`ps::[begin]'.

  In addition, the variant

     \special{ps: plotfile FILENAME}

inserts the contents of FILENAME verbatim into the output (except for
omitting lines that begin with %).  An example of the proper use of
literal specials can be found in the file `rotate.tex', which makes it
easy to typeset text turned in multiples of 90 degrees.