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]'.
\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.
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