Compressing page descriptions while preserving high quality

Abstract

A method () is disclosed for generating a page description from a list of items (to) to be rendered to the page. At least one of the items in the list belongs to a class of key items (). Such key items may for example be text items. The method () traverses () the list, and classifies items () not designated as key items that would when rendered overlie at least one key item (). At least one other non-key item is then rendered to image data (), and the page description is generated () from page description commands which describe the key items (), page description commands describing the classified items (), and rendered image data of the remaining items (). Including certain items (and) in the page description using page description commands ensures that the quality of such items is retained. Also, including the remainder of the items () using image data provides for high compression.