Software - RIP Software

Mimaki has announced that its RasterLink Pro 5 and RasterLink 6 RIP software programmes – packaged alongside the company’s range of wide format inkjet printers - now offer full Windows 8 Operating System support.

Customers can take advantage of the latest version of the software by downloading it either from Mimaki’s website or by using the application’s inbuilt ‘web update function’. This simple to use feature is available for customers running RasterLink Pro 5 and all customers who have full versions of RasterLink 6 and allows users to benefit from the latest Windows operating system, along with other performance and profile updates as they become available.

Mimaki RasterLink Pro 5 and RasterLink 6 are fully featured PostScript Level 3 RIP packages, customised to the particular traits of each range of Mimaki printers. Powerful spot colour support and versatile image editing functions ensure users achieve the best results from their systems and integration with Mimaki’s FineCut plugin enables seamless print and cut workflows for users with additional Mimaki cutting plotters.

Further information on the Mimaki RIP software along with the company’s complete range of wide format printing and cutting solutions for the sign and graphics, industrial and textile & apparel markets can be found by visiting its UK & Irish distributor – Hybrid’s – website at www.hybridservices.co.uk

Brazilian wide-format printer manufacturer AMPLA has signed a partnership agreement with renowned software provider Caldera which will see the latter's RIP solutions supplied with AMPLA machines as an OEM product. AMPLA will introduce the new software immediately in order to help both its new and existing users improve the quality and consistency of their output across AMPLA's range of wide-format printers.

"Caldera is honored and proud to be associated with AMPLA products as we share the same values of innovation, quality and customer care," comments Joseph Mergui, chief executive, Caldera. "The choice of Caldera's solutions as AMPLA's preferred software is definitely a strong sign that AMPLA can gain international market exposure, as well as bring progress to its user base at home in Brazil. Caldera's powerful colour management engine, based on X-Rite i1Prism, the genuine Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE) and our print cost calculation module (CostView) are all part of the OEM RIP solution delivered to AMPLA, among many other award-winning features."

"With this partnership we have taken another step forward to improve the digital printing options that we offer clients," adds Adriano Coelho, director of research, AMPLA. "Caldera's technology will give print houses using AMPLA technologies greater control over the printing process, plus the ability to achieve exceptional results in the production of visual communication, decoration and textile jobs."

AMPLA's users will not only benefit from Caldera's powerful RIP architecture driving their machines, but also a number of productivity and quality control tools. The CostView module enables real-time monitoring of both production costs and carbon emissions, to help businesses more proactively control ink and media usage, as well as providing environmental data. In addition, Caldera's integrated colour management solution will ensure consistent, accurate output from job to job and device to device.

The partnership with one of Brazil's leading wide-format printer manufacturers comes at an important time for Caldera as it expands its global customer base with moves into new markets, including Latin America. The agreement reinforces Caldera's decision to appoint a dedicated business development director for the region last year, and gives the company a foundation on which to build its presence and reputation in Brazil and surrounding countries.

AMPLA, which will celebrate ten years in the industry in 2014, manufactures solvent-based, UV-curable and dye-sublimation machines at its 8,000sq m facility in Pinhais, Curitiba. Its Targa, Rio and Samba models are developed with the aim of being the 'first option' for businesses in the Brazilian visual communications sector.

Onyx Graphics today announced ONYX® TV, a new online video resource featuring Onyx Graphics experts sharing their knowledge and tips on the full ONYX software product line. Viewers can now watch instructional videos featuring in-depth information on ONYX ThriveTM workflow software; ONYX ProductionHouseTM, ONYX PosterShop® and ONYX RIPCenterTM RIP software; and the SmartAppsTM line of plug-ins available at http://www.youtube.com/user/OnyxGraphics/videos.

“We want to help our customers get the most out of their software,” said Bryan Manwaring, Director of Product Management at Onyx Graphics. “By offering a visual explanation of technical features and tutorials, designers and print operators alike can benefit from exploring our innovative technologies through ONYX TV.”

In addition to tutorials, Onyx Graphics professionals share their expertise and tips for getting the best results using ONYX software. Multiple categories, including Software Expertise and Product Information, appeal to a wide audience from advanced software users to professionals experiencing ONYX software for the first time.

Exploring ONYX TV

ONYX TV features a learn-at-your-own-pace approach with topics ranging from initiating Quick Sets to Simple Color Management, plus a four-part series on Specialty Ink. Whether users are installing ONYX software for the first time or attempting an advanced design using metallic ink, they can access ONYX TV for step-by-step guidance and quick tutorials. New videos highlighting all aspects of ONYX technologies are frequently added, so users can discover a topic that interests them by subscribing to ONYX TV.

Availability

ONYX TV is available now free of charge at http://www.youtube.com/user/OnyxGraphics/videos. Users can subscribe to ONXY TV for instant notification when new videos are added.

Caldera is preparing to launch a 'raft' of new and updated products at FESPA 2013.  Among the highlights on Caldera's stand will be a brand new web-to-print solution dedicated to wide-format PSPs, specialist textile printing software and the latest versions of its award-winning RIP software, v9.20, and workflow system Flow+ 2.0.

"Since our last major launches, we have been gathering feedback from our customers about our products, and while we have been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response, we know we can always do more," says Sebastien Hanssens, vice president of marketing, Caldera. "The eyes of the world will be on FESPA 2013, so it is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how listening to Caldera users drives us to keep improving our offering. Everything we are launching is as a direct result of finding out what our customers really need to keep their businesses a step ahead of the competition."

To complement its new products at FESPA, Caldera will produce a magazine, Gamut, which will include informative, original articles written by industry experts. With educational and inspiring articles exploring key topics of interest for wide-format houses, plus customer case studies, visitors will understand how products from Caldera and its partners can help them take advantage of any new direction they choose for their business.

One of the most exciting new products from Caldera is WebShop, a standalone web-to-print solution that has been developed to specifically meet the needs of wide format print houses. Incorporating features such as a Variable Size Product listing, designed exclusively to sell wide-format print by number of items or total printed area, and able to integrate directly with the Caldera RIP and Flow+, WebShop is an ideal opportunity for PSPs to reap the benefits of selling online.

VisualTEX+ has been created to help wide-format houses enter the lucrative textile printing market. Based on Caldera's established RIP architecture, VisualTEX+ additionally boasts special tools for tiling pattern repeats, creating multiple colorways, colorbooks and creating custom inksets. With demand for bespoke printed textiles for interiors and new wallpaper-type applications on the rise, VisualTEX+ allows PSPs to apply their existing skills to take advantage of this new market.

Following the release of v9.10 of Caldera's flagship RIP package last year, v9.20 contains even more customer-requested improvements. Among the new features is a True Shape Nesting tool aimed at print-and-cut workflow users, which helps save ink and media by eliminating any need to print beyond the cut contours and more efficient nesting according to the external outline of each individual element to be printed and cut.

A new preflight tool will be available as part of Caldera's v9.20 VisualRIP+ and GrandRIP+ products as well as WebShop and Flow+. Utilising Callas technology, the preflight feature is able to check each PDF against ISO standards at various stages of the workflow.

Flow+ 2.0 boasts a sleek, ergonomic new user interface that is better organised and customisable with shortcuts. The cost management feature previewed in v1.6 has been extended to improve production costing and with the addition of new reporting options. Other updates include a new calendar function, drag-and-drop job management, improved RIP interaction and the ability to create quote templates, manage jobs in several parts and add QR codes to quotes, orders, jobs and stock elements.

As well as these new offerings, FESPA visitors will also have the chance to see Caldera's innovative Variable Display digital signage solution in action [with production monitoring plug-in PrintBoard]. The Caldera team will be on hand to explain how Variable Display can easily be provided as an additional product by wide-format PSPs and sign-makers, as well as promoting efficiency in their own businesses using PrintBoard.

"With these new and improved products, we are putting Caldera at the forefront of wide-format digital production software," says Joseph Mergui, Chief Executive Officer, Caldera. "FESPA 2013 is a major event for us, especially with our recent push into more global markets such as South America and Asia, and we will demonstrate on this world stage that we are committed to creating market-leading solutions. Now our customers, both current and prospective, will know that Caldera is behind them from making the sale to the final delivery."

ONYX has announced the availability of three new Epson Edition RIP packages for the Epson SureColor Channel.  The packages are available this month from UK & Ireland distributor ArtSystems.

The first is ONYX RipCentre Epson Edition - a great value product that will support the SureColor 30600, 50600(4c) or 70600(8c) printers. The price point comes in at 25% below the standard RipCentre retail price, and ensures dependable and reliable colour output to those looking for a value solution.

For users looking for more flexibility and extra value, ArtSystems is delighted to offer ONYX PosterShop and ProductionHouse Epson Editions. Both these Special Editions feature the full driver set for most wide format printers including the 5 and 10 colour Epson SureColor printers and include over £1200 of free extras.   These extras include an additional RIP engine to enable you to process at least two files at the same time, a free one-year membership to the popular ONYX Advantage upgrade and update programme and a free days RIP operator training at the ArtSystems Academy in Nottingham.

Users access their free training day by simply redeeming the Training Ticket included in the box either via a web registration or by calling the telephone number on the ticket and quoting their product serial number.

Andrew Edwards, divisional manager – sign & display at ArtSystems, comments, "To get the most from your new Epson, anything less than a good quality RIP is a false economy – workflow efficiency, dependable and consistent colour and top-class technical support are a given with ONYX products but now we can add extra value too. To this end we are able to offer the new Epson Edition ONYX software packages to suit all requirements of both the Channel and the end user."

The new Epson Edition Packages are available through the Epson wide format channel partners and the promotional offer will run until the end of March 2013.

Roland DG has announced the availability of VersaWorks Version 4.8, a full featured, easy-to-use RIP software package developed exclusively for the company’s wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters.  The new VersaWorks version will ship with all new Roland models and is available to existing Roland inkjet customers free of charge through an Internet connection using the Roland@NET service.

In this latest release, Roland has added a total of six libraries from the PANTONE PLUS and Goe™ product lines - valuable design and production tools for high-end graphics and any application where precise colour matching is vital. These libraries allow users to automatically convert a specific PANTONE spot colour in the design file to a CMYK value that can be reproduced on a Roland inkjet device. This simplified workflow significantly reduces the amount of time required for colour matching and enables quick output of specific colours when working with properly profiled media.

Roland’s latest version of VersaWorks also features a new spot colour replacement feature which allows users to replace a defined spot colour in the design file with another from any VersaWorks library, all without reopening the source file. With VersaWorks, users have access to 16 spot colour libraries, including the new PANTONE libraries and the Roland Color System, Roland’s own spot colour matching solution featuring more than 1,500 traditional and metallic hues. Users can also replace the spot colours in their designs with white and clear ink options supported by several Roland inkjets.

“As a leader in the wide-format printing industry, Roland provides versatile production tools for some of the world’s most creative businesses,” said Andrew Hatkoff, vice president of technology licensing and business development. “We are pleased to partner with Roland to bring all the advantages of PANTONE spot colour matching to these businesses. As the standard for the design and graphics industry, PANTONE provides end users with complete creative flexibility, precision colour matching and enhanced imaging across the applications driving their businesses.”

“With Version 4.8, we have enhanced VersaWorks with new breakthrough colour management features,” said Kevin Shigenoya, Roland DG Global sales executive officer for Roland DG Corporation. “We are proud to offer our first built-in PANTONE libraries, making spot colour matching even easier and more accurate.  As our own bundled RIP software, VersaWorks brings this innovative new capability – and many other advanced VersaWorks features – directly to our customers, free of charge, in an easy-to-use, fully integrated solution.”

Based on the latest Adobe CPSI 3019 engine, VersaWorks 4.8 RIP software works seamlessly with all Roland inkjets and is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems.  Other features include a range of print options that allow users to meet the demands of each job. Users can choose from high-speed mode for production banner printing, the MAX Impact preset for vivid outdoor graphics and Artistic mode for exceptional indoor graphics. VersaWorks also features variable data printing, supports up to four Roland devices simultaneously, and offers support for Roland’s GX series cutters. Embedded ICC profile support, ink level adjustment tools, soft proofing capabilities, and advanced cropping, tiling and nesting options are available as well. For flawless unattended printing, a predictive ink calculator allows users to estimate the amount of ink needed for each job.