Which
of the many RIP solutions to select for large format printers?
How
do you know which RIP is appropriate for your wide format
inkjet printer? This FLAAR web site helps by providing information
on as many large format PostScript RIPs as possible. RIPs
for wide format color inkjet printers such as Encad NovaJet,
Hewlett-Packard DesignJet, Epson, Roland and others.
Several
years ago Cactus RIP from 3M was clearly in the top five.
Recently, however, Cactus RIP has gotten behind during
2001 and 2002. It took almost six months after HP released
its new DesignJet 5000 that Cactus finally became available
for this new printer. Then 3M itself sort of dropped this
RIP. Next 3M Cactus RIP was picked up by Onyx Graphics
(the portion of Gretag that handles Onyx PosterShop).
Then Oce bought Gretag. So until the smoke clears, and
until Cactus is handled by a software company, we have
removed FLAAR recommendation for it.
Back
to 3M Cactus RIP: hardware companies are notoriously bad at
updating RIPs. Actually neither Encad, Roland, nor HP actually
make their RIP themselves (after all, they are hardware manufacturers,
not software companies).
For
all these reasons we recommend RIP
solutions from companies which dedicate themselves exclusively
to RIPS. Another key factor is that a RIP company needs to
be large enough to survive: BESTColor, PosterJet, Onyx PosterShop,
ColorGate, Wasatch are among the key international RIPs. It's
hard to keep track of all the other RIPs, since many are European
and have no office in the USA.
When
you purchase a large format printer you tend to need a RIP.
Options are "hardware" RIP (usually an EFI Fiery
RIP from Electronics for Imaging) or a "software"
RIP. A software RIP may actually include its own hardware
(namely a RIP server or print server). The advantage of having
the RIP on a separate server is that this frees up your own
computer to continue with other projects. Otherwise your main
computer will be tied down with RIPing the image data for
the wide format printer.
EFI
used to be a popular decision until people found out the hidden
side of EFI
Fiery, namely that this RIP was totally and absolutely
dead end. No way to update; no way to upgrade. Worse, no way
to run any other printer. So Encad dropped EFI, HP
dropped EFI. Only Epson is stuck by contract as is Canon bubble
jet. They all are stuck with dedicated Fiery RIP servers from
Electronics for Imaging (EFI). But what is the downside of
a hardware RIP? Maybe a software RIP is a better decision.
Software
RIP has quite a number of advantages, one being that it is
more cost effective. Also, software RIP (notably any RIP for
proofing such as BEST,
ProofMaster,
etc), has more color management capabilities.
My
first introduction to software RIPs was via Ilford's RIPStar,
Ilford's version of Onyx PosterShop. Then I found ColorBus;
but this company faltered and did not get updates out. So
ColorBus got removed from the recommended list.
So
at Seybold I was curious which were the other high-end software
PostScript RIP solutions in addition to Onyx
PosterShop. This is because the whole list of RIP companies
is quite long. With that many choices it is hopeless for an
end-user to try to figure out which RIP to select.
We
do know it is a complex RIP which means a steep learning curve
which implies a several day training session to come up to
speed. So here PosterJet (formerly DCS Software) is at an
advantage. PosterJet is easy to learn. And PosterJet works
on a Mac; you can even park it on an iMac to use as a RIP
print server.
We
will report on other high-end RIP solutions in future pages
of this web site (after the upcoming autumn 2003 trade shows).
Since
the EFI Fiery RIP was the first RIP we ever tried, and as
the Fiery color controller has a solid reputation, we tended
to be impressed. Sort of like having a BMW or Lexus parked
on your desk. Shock only set in later, after we learned this
RIP could never, not ever be updated. It could never run another
printer. None, zero. What a bummer.
Then
we got a second
EFI Fiery RIP sent to us (this is the new
model, various versions work on the HP
2800 or 3800 CP, the Encad, or the Epson 9000). The mascot
on top is part of the office decoration, not part of the
RIP.
The RIP is a dog; the mascot is, I believe, a sheep.
But
as we gained several years of experience we had a painful
awakening. Hardware RIPs in general (and EFI postscript hardware
RIP in particular) may be far from the best solution.
What
is better than an EFI Fiery RIP?
Sort
of like being married to one partner for three years (EFI)
and all of a sudden meeting a new person who is simply better
in all respects. You don't want to be rude to your mate, but
PosterJet RIP is definitely alluring.
The
newest version of PosterJet is now available. PosterJet has
so many advantages I can hardly list them all. If you need
technical information, e-mail their distributor in the USA,
tel (800) 350-1366, fax (805) 684-7090, Julie@scarabgraphics.com.
This reaches PosterJet via Scarab Graphics. We have followed
PosterJet's growth over the last three years and continue
to be impressed. Their office is just a few miles from ours
and the President of their company personally installed a
demo version for us. We like it when a company president is
proud of their product and is willing to stand behind it.
PosterJet
is especially good to speed up the pokey Hewlett-Packard DesignJet
1055cm, 2500cp or 3500cp. PosterJet on the HP 5000 is faster
than the HP 5000ps ('ps' is HP's internal RIP, which is rather
slow on large files).
For
information on ColorGate RIP, 3M Cactus, and Wasatch SoftRIP
contact Color DNA, e-mail colorguru@colordna.com
or telephone 888 244 2657.
For
information on BESTColor RIP, a proofing RIP, e-mail imaging@parrotcolor.com.
In
the meantime, check out further discussion of RIPs for wide
format printers in the PDF download version of the FLAAR Reports
on RIPs. Just remember, there are dozens of RIPs that we are
not familiar with. We tend to stick with the leading brand
names that we can inspect at key tradeshows. We also keep
our ears open to learn from end-users which are the favorites.
As a result we have a sort of "top 5" which are
the ones we feature.
For
later this year, 2003, we have many features on RIPs to
come. For example, we are curious about ErgoSoft. Just
got a very nice comment from a person needing color management
for giclee printing.
Just
understand we are a bit slow since we are not a commercial
company. FLAAR is not a trade magazine, so we don't have paid
people on staff just to receive and reprint corporate PR.
As a result we can't keep up with every single new version.
Instead we concentrate on the overall values of the various
products. No matter how many updates, there is still a kernel
underneath it all which remains relatively unchanged
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All reports by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth |
UPDATED:
Jan 7, 2002 , last revised May 14, 2002; last updated
June 2, 2003
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