RIP is an acronym for "Raster Image Processor".  In short a RIP is like a printer driver with enhanced features. In past years it typically referred to software, or a package of hardware and software, that was used to convert Postscript print jobs to Raster information so that they could be printed (printers speak raster not postscript so they need a translator.)

Today, many RIPS still process Postscript to Raster, but in addition some can do much, much more. RIPs can control color management, print using different dot patterns and screening methods, make modifications to images before printing (like scaling, rotating and mirroring), and offer time and material saving features (like image nesting and package printing.)

You would need a rip for a few specific reasons.

1. Postscript.

In general, printer drivers do not have postscript capability. Programs like Quark Express and Adobe Illustrator are vector programs and require postscript printing. If you do a lot of work in postscript programs and you want to have a sure-fire efficient means of printing you will need a postscript RIP.

2. CMYK.

Standard printer drivers in the Windows and Mac Operating Systems do not support printing directly in CMYK. If you do not have a postscript rip, your program, operating system, and driver are converting your CMYK files to RGB to be sent to the printer. Many standard printer drivers do a very admirable job with this conversion- but having direct CMYK control and printing is a superior workflow if your work in CMYK.

3. Productivity.

If you have numerous people that will be sending jobs to the printer, or you will be sending job after job to the printer in short order, a rip can serve to move the various jobs to the queue for printing and free up the workstation computers for continued work. A person can be put in charge of job management, to make sure the print jobs get printed in their order of urgency and that printer is set up with the correct media.

Additional productivity functions are also available in RIPs.

Automatic Nesting: the RIP holds print jobs until they fill up a specified percentage of the print area, arranges the jobs in the print area automatically, and then sends the job to the printer.ave media expense),

Packaging: the the rip can produce numerous prints of a single image in various sizes- i.e. 4-5X7s, 2-8X10s, 25 wallets in a print area that you specify.

Tiling and Large Prints: Unlike your operating system and programs that are limited to a maximum print length of about 90 inches, RIPs can print jobs in basically any length. If you want to make really large prints, many RIPs can tile an image on multiple sheets of media.

4. Advanced Color Management.

Several of the RIPs have advanced color management features. At least one of them has SWAP Certification- meaning that a customer can sign off on an accurate color proof that is SWOP Certified.  Other RIPs can even emulate the halftone screens used on printing presses so that you produce a press accurate and color accurate job proof. Some RIPs offer Color Management Modules which may offer building profiles for different media, linearizing your printer and determining ink limits.

If the majority of your printing does not involve the 4 specific categories above, chances are that you do not need a RIP. For example, the standard Epson drivers produce exceptionally high-quality, color accurate prints from most programs. Anything you can open in PhotoShop can printed with the standard drivers (excepting only the size limitation as stated in 3. above). Together with advanced ICC Profiles, the printing with the standard Epson drivers is simply outstanding.

For additional information, brochures, sample prints and demonstrations,
please call our parent company- Meridian Cyber Solutions, Inc.

(800) 323-3539