Software - RIP Software

Wasatch SoftRIP Version 6.6 features the all new Wasatch Tracer that allows users to create contour cut paths directly within SoftRIP. Available with the Contour Cutting Option, this innovative tool improves the cutting workflow, simplifies the cutting production process, and gives users complete control over cut path creation.

Improved Workflow

The Contour Cutting Option in Version 6.6 provides a streamlined cutting workflow so users can spend less time preparing their job and more time printing and cutting it. This improved workflow allows users to select their cutting unit directly from the Print Setup screen. When a cut job is generated, the job is sent directly to the Queues screen where users can quickly and efficiently manage it. With one click, users can print, cancel, delete, or view all the properties for their cut job.


Simplified Production Process

No matter what production process a user employs, the new Contour Cutting Option available in Version 6.6 will simplify it! Whether users are working with a print-cut device, printing on one device and cutting on another, creating a cut path in SoftRIP, or using a cut path created in a third party graphics application, the new cutting workflow streamlines the process to save users time and hassle.


Complete Control

The Wasatch Tracer gives SoftRIP users complete control of the cut path creation process. With the ability to change the background color, set a tolerance level, specify a minimum object size, apply a choke or spread to the cut path, exclude interior paths from being traced, and create a wrapper around the image, users can customize a cut path to work for nearly any situation.

Wasatch SoftRIP is available in the UK and Europe from Tech8

 

On November 15, 2009, ColorGATE Digital Output Solutions GmbH will unveil the completely overhauled Productionserver Version 6.

"Digital large-format printing or screen printing, outdoor production or interior design, pre-printing or fine-art reproduction—regardless of the main production focus, Version 6 offers all printing service providers future-proof solutions for greater productivity, optimum color competence and increased added value," said Thomas Kirschner, managing director, ColorGATE.

Productionserver, the universal production RIP that is already available in the Select, Pro and Ultimate editions, has been upgraded with the addition of the UXT Premium version.

Intelligent resource management provides for a significant increase in productivity. "Production downtime is reduced to an absolute minimum," said Kirschner. "With Productionserver 6, it is possible to process the same volume of work in just one quarter of the time."

An equally important technical innovation in Version 6 is the Ink Saver option. Algorithms for the calculation of the color separation guarantee a substantial reduction in the amount of ink used, particularly for vividly colored production processes. CCM, the Cost Calculation Module, which is already available for Version 5 and later, makes it possible to determine how high the savings will be before you print—right down to the last picoliter.

"Extensive practical testing has confirmed that Ink Saver is able to reduce ink consumption by an average of 15 percent," said Kirschner.

With Version 6, ColorGATE has also expanded its portfolio of stand-alone software packages. As an addition to Proofgate 6, Photogate 6 and Filmgate 6, Plategate 6, available in two versions, covers the inkjet CtP segment, which continues to experience notable growth.

"This is our way of saying thank you to our customers, many of whom have been loyal to us for many years. We want to make a migration to Version 6 as easy as possible to give them the opportunity of working simply more productively with ColorGATE in the future as well," said Kirschner.

 

ONYX Graphics, Inc. has announced it has achieved HP Certification of ONYX RIP software to drive the new HP Designjet L25500 printer.

Customers can take advantage of the versatility of the HP Designjet L25500 printer to attain high-quality results with a variety of applications. ONYX RIP software includes profiles for HP's media including recyclable HP Heavy Textile Banner, HP HDPE Reinforced Banner, HP Light Textile Display Banner, HP Photo-Realistic Poster Paper and HP White Satin Poster Paper.

ONYX ProductionHouseTM V7.3.2 software enables automatic, low maintenance printing with proactive alerts and a simple, at-a-glance view of printer status, job status and job accounting data. ONYX ProductionHouse software also offers accessibility to the embedded web server through the user interface.

ONYX ProductionHouse software has achieved HP Professional PANTONE Emulation (HP PPE) certification for the HP Designjet L25500 printer, ensuring customers can realise the printer's impressive media versatility and print quality. HP Professional PANTONE Emulation technology automates the process of colour matching HP printers to various media combinations.

Through the HP RIP Certification Program, HP Designjet L25500 printer owners can be confident that ONYX Graphics—as a Platinum HP Partner—is helping them maximize their investments. HP confirms which RIPs reach a superior level of integration, compatibility and performance with a particular HP printer. The overall level of integration and performance is reflected in the ‘star rating' awarded.

HP Certification of ONYX RIP software on the HP Designjet L25500 printer includes an exhaustive set of tests defined by HP: printing performance, HP Professional PANTONE Emulation, printer calibration using on-board device, HP media support and quality, media flexibility, printer status reporting and job management.

The HP Designjet L25500 printer driver and media profiles are compatible with the following ONYX RIP V7.3.2 software packages: ONYX ProductionHouse, ONYX PosterShop and ONYX GamaPrint Pro. All are available now.

ONYX Graphics Inc. has announced ONYX Imagez software, a basic, affordable RIP package designed for large-format aqueous and entry-level solvent inkjet printers. It is ideally suited to single-person and in-house users that want professional print results while maintaining complete control over print operations.

"Aqueous inkjet printers are often found in corporations, law firms, universities and hospitals, which use them to create signage, posters and presentations," said Dean Derhak, director of product management, ONYX. "These groups have brought their printing in-house to save money on outside services. However, they have found that standard operating system printer drivers are lacking in vital features. ONYX Imagez software is an economical RIP that gives in-house users the tools they need to reduce media usage and produce great color."

ONYX Imagez software will also appeal to freelance designers, photo enthusiasts and anyone desiring professional print results from their large-format (24 to 44 inches wide) aqueous inkjet or entry-level solvent printer.

ONYX Imagez software gives users the same ONYX color engine as ONYX production RIP solutions, but with a simple workflow for non-production applications. It delivers great color output and offers media-saving nesting tools. ONYX Imagez software supports aqueous inkjet printers from Canon, Epson and HP as well as entry-level solvent printers from HP, Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland through an easy-to-use interface. It can produce an on-screen proof of actual print color, eliminating the need for—and the media and ink costs of—a test print. Further media savings can be realized using the automated or manual print nesting feature. ONYX Imagez software includes Pantone spot color matching so brand managers can be assured of color fidelity every time.

Additional features include support for media recalibration, a job queue list, auto-centering either horizontally or vertically, easy color correction, proof text watermarking and tiling. It supports Postscript, PDF, JPEG and TIFF file formats. Photo package templates are also included for users to quickly and easily produce multiple copies of photos in select standard sizes.

ONYX Imagez software will be available in two versions: ONYX Imagez, the basic package, and ONYX Imagez Pro, which includes an Eye-One densitometer for media calibration. The packages will be available for purchase as software downloads from the ONYX Imagez website in November 2009. Customers interested in ONYX Imagez software can sign up for a free, full-featured downloadable 30-day trial.

As stated in our previous News from the HP Stand editorial, at time of launch there will be no 'PostScript onboard' version of the new HP Designjet L25500 latex printers, but HP have been working closely with all of the major RIP manufacturers, and have announced that drivers will be available at end-user launch-time from eight of the leading suppliers, specifically these are:

    * Onyx - PosterShop
    * Caldera - VisualRIP
    * Colorgate - Production Server
    * Wasatch - SoftRIP
    * SAi - FlexiSign and PhotoPrint
    * CADlink - Signlab and Digital Factory
    * AIT - Shiraz
    * ErgoSoft - PosterPrint

HP Designjet L25500 demo units are expected to start shipping to their international distributors and resellers over the coming months, with end-user installations expected to begin in earnest from January 2010 - all of the above named RIP manufacturers will have drivers ready for their software, with additional software vendors no doubt following suit in due course.

 

The growth in demand from display producers wanting to work with industry-standard PDFs has led UK-based wide-format RIP software specialist Shiraz Software to develop and launch an integrated plug-in for use with its Signature and Server versions. Designated the Shiraz Adobe PDF Engine plug-in, this new option embeds complete functionality within the existing RIP and now enables users to adhere to the standard delivery format common throughout the digital print market.

Shiraz Software RIP now benefits from the same core technology used by Adobe to build Acrobat, and this ensures high-performance PDF processing which is optimised consistently on all platforms. The optional plug-in extends the RIPs functionality to full Acrobat 9 (PDF 1.7 +Ext) certification, providing greater security and reliability in distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms across all work-flow environments. This requirement is becoming increasingly relevant and important to wide-format digital print service providers who are being driven to adopt commonality with other creative professionals in the graphic arts market.

The Shiraz Adobe PDF Engine plug-in is available for integration within Shiraz v6.60 and Signature v7.0. This makes it ideal for users of multiple output devices which use the company’s Server option as well as smaller companies using the Signature product for driving a single printer.

Able to handle live transparency and layering, as well as PDF files of virtually all sizes and specifications, this Shiraz plug-in produces high quality rendering for smooth graduations and blends. It provides the exceptional quality and reliability found in proven Adobe technology and is fully interoperable with other products in the company’s portfolio, such as Illustrator and InDesign.

All colour spaces are supported, including RGB, CMYK, L*a*b (CIELAB), as well as spot and indexed requirements. Font rendering is accommodated to include unicode (UTF) and double-byte fonts which allow the use of complex and extended character sets. The Shiraz Adobe PDF Engine plug-in is efficient on multiple CPU systems in a thread-safe manner and offers excellent memory management.

The release of this new, essential option now gives existing and new users of our products the ability to conform with industry standard PDF work-flow which is rapidly becoming an essential requirement within the wide-format digital printing industry, states Ramin Shahbazi, Shiraz Softwares business development director. We've put our Adobe PDF Engine plug-in through intensive and rigorous testing world-wide prior to bringing it to market and this solution will now provide reliable, accurate and supported implementation of the latest Adobe PDF specification.

Shiraz Software provides software, work-flow management and RIP solutions for all users of wide-format ink-jet printers, with products including its Server options for businesses running multiple printers and Signature, which is designed as an entry-level stand-alone solution. All versions are fully upgradable and are available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms.

A low-cost image management and printing option, Shiraz Focus, is also available for professional photographers. All current releases are fully compatible with Windows 7 and Macintosh OSX Snow Leopard (10.6)