A 2004 RIP and CAS Buyers’ Handbook

A 2004 RIP and CAS Buyers’ Handbook A no-nonsense list for buying (or upgrading) choices Darek Johnson and Anya Rao This year’s buyers’ handbook for RIPs includes 18 companies’ RIP products, but isn’t all-inclusive (some producers didn’t provide information by the print deadline). Additionally, some RIP producers may remain unknown. However, Wuhan MainTop Technology Development Co. Ltd. (Wuhan, Hubei Province, China) makes its first appearance and has provided its RIP details. The RIP producers’ technical and marketing departments prepared the following descriptions. However, to trim space, we’ve condensed their text. Certain phrases have survived — "easy to use" describes an uncomplicated system; "powerful" denotes fast, high-capacity RIPs preferred by superlarge-format printmakers; "enhanced" tells you the firm’s software engineers have modified the system. If you’re a RIP- or signmaking-software producer, and your product doesn’t appear here, please contact us so we can include your software in future surveys. 3M Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Div. (800) 328-3908 St. Paul, MN www.scotchprint.com 3M Scotchprint®Graphic Maker Version 6.0 software simplifies printing with an easy-to-use graphical interface; it also employs a Postscript® Level 3 processor and the tools necessary to print small- to grand-format images. New features include enhanced custom-tiling tools and interface; accelerated linearization with ink-limit control; expanded ICC support including embedded-profile support and an online help system.

Graphic Maker software supports most manufacturers’ four-, six-, and eight-color, large-format printers. The software accepts TIFF, EPS, JPEG, PostScript, and single- or multi-page PDF files, and runs on Microsoft® Windows® XP and Windows® 2000 Professional operating systems or the Solaris operating system.

Agfa Corp.
(201) 440-2500
Ridgefield Park, NJ
www.agfa.com

The :SherpaProof RIP uses ApogeeX technology to drive the Epson Stylus 4000, Stylus 7600 and Stylus 9600 models, as well as the HP Designjet 30 and 130. It also allows proofing on non-Agfa inkjet printers. The RIP incorporates ICC profiles and automatically compensates (between the proofer and the press) for color-range differences. It also includes Agfa’s print-engine optimizing, quality-management technology.

Amica Software Inc.
(949) 300-7213
Irvine, CA
www.amicasoftware.com

Amica Software Inc.’s ColorPrint Server 2.0, a full-featured, professional RIP software, includes the latest software technologies for wide-format outdoor signage, POP and print-for-pay printing. ColorPrint features integrated, industry-standard color management; easy-to-use, job-management workflow; an interface for efficient, job-print production; and a fast RIP speed. ColorPrint offers integrated color-profiling tools, as well as direct support for ICC color profiles and tools.

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Aries Graphics Intl.
(800) 294-7273; (760) 752-7640
San Marcos, CA
www.aries-graphics.com

Sign Wizard Pro Aries’ top-of-the line signmaking-software package contains features for designing and producing vinyl, screenprinted, neon, large-format printed, routed and engraved signs. It features color vectorizing for custom graphics, network plotting, and shadows and tools for manipulating color bitmaps; it also imports and manipulates color bitmap files.

Sign Wizard Scribe digitizes an on-screen bitmap image. Text effects include automatic welding and inline/outline/offset, plus 100 signmaking fonts, clipart and borders.

Sign Wizard Letter provides text-handling and editing features. Its signmaking fonts retain their shape when scaled to very large sizes.

|2223|
31(0) 40 25 193 99
Eindhoren, The Netherlands
www.aurelon.com
www.signalize.com

Sold through OEM partners, the Aurelon Signalize! RIP independently drives third-party hardware for large-format printing. Available for both Mac (OS9/OSX) and Windows NT/2000/XP, it incorporates a standalone, visual PDF and PostScript Editor®, a separate cut-and-rout module and an ICC-compatible calibration application. Aurelon Signalize! is scalable from one printer to a cross-platform, multi-user, networked environment.

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Its CAS production engine outputs vector-based data for cutting and signmaking devices. You may create, pre-flight or edit PostScript and PDF jobs (PDF v1.4). The product also features a tile/panel tool, media saver, bleed control, chromatic error diffusion, screenprinting functionality, spot-color support, automated nesting, template printing, color-profile management and hotfolder technology.

|1633|
(613) 247-0850, (800) 545-9581
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.photoscript.net,
www.signlab.ca, www.cadlink.com CADlink Technology Corporation

PhotoScript Digital Factory provides signmakers and screenprinters with a professional, production interface between popular graphic-design software and various output devices. The PhotoScript Sign Specialty Advantage package includes Contour Cut Pro™, a spot-color module, the Calibration Wizard™ remote print-and-cut manager, and a screen-separations module.

The PhotoScript Digital Factory supports multiple cutting and printing devices with simplified production workflow from existing graphic and sign-design software. Its enhanced design and workflow systems work for large-format inkjet and thermal-transfer printers including the Gerber Edge®. It also imports such popular file formats as PostScript 3, PDF, TIFF, DCS-EPS, Illustrator®, SignLab, Gerber, FlexiSign and more.

With workflow and output-device management systems for small and/or networked production environments, PhotoScript comprises accurate color matching and onscreen color previewing, a unique vinyl-cutting capability, simplified media profiling, and tools for variable-data, print-and-cut, large-format printing, screen separations and more.

Caldera Graphics
(33) 0388 21 00 00
Strasbourg, France
www.caldera.fr (available in
English and French)

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Caldera Graphics offers its Visual series of professional, large-format printing servers for color processing. VisualRIP, for large-format, color, inkjet printing, meets the requirements of service providers and photo labs. The software processes data from all platforms and graphic applications, and features a PostScript RIP as a standard; it drives various printers simultaneously. Visual’s features include ICC support, hotfolder, spooler, spot-color support and separate processing for vectors and images.

Visual also supports EasyMedia, a complete solution for ICC color profiling, built on an intuitive wizard with a print/measure/build process. It manages all linked printers, and you can set such parameters as ink transitions (light and dark), linear-ization or the ink limit. Standard profiles may be imported and modified. The system also offers pre-defined targets, which can be printed directly from the system.

CiberCat
(914) 967-2957
Rye, NY
www.cibercat.com

CiberPrint’s 4.2 RIP helps position various-sized images and mix vector and raster files in different colors. Three different modes are available: fast-layout, low-resolution preview, and a high-resolution final mode, which allows test-color matching and ICC-profile application. You can also select and define tile dimensions.

Ciberprint 4.2 will also create specified multiple copies (or separations), and select and trim a document segment to obtain a final, 1:1 proof. The RIP detects identified colors within a design and allows you to match it visually or by coordinates.

CiberCut 5.5 signmaking software helps you create simple or complex signs. It features an interactive or automatic tracer, text and node editor, special effects, and design and cutting tools.

ColorBurst Systems
(703) 404-1795
Sterling, VA
www.colorburstrip.com

ColorBurst is a PostScript Language Level 3-compatible RIP available for the Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Color-correction features include ink limiting, linearization, custom ICC-profile creation, spectrophotometer support, SWOP®-certified ICC profiles, Pantone® color matching, and neutral black-and-white environments that prevent printed inks from shifting hues when viewed under different light sources (metamerism).

ColorBurst for Windows offers automatic "best-fit" image nesting, image preview with zoom, cropping, tiling, scaling, rotation, and up to 50 unique, spooled queues for automated output. ColorBurst Pro and PrePress supports Epson, HP, Encad, and Roland printers up to 72 in. wide.

|2336|
(800) 772-6735
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
www.corel.com

CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite 12 features integrated graphics applications including CorelDRAW 12, Corel Photo-Paint 12 and CorelTRACE for signmakers. The products work with more than 100 file formats, including PDF, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop® and AutoCAD. Features include dynamic guides, snap-to-objects, the smart drawing tool, and the touch-up brush. The suite also automatically recognizes shapes, smoothes curves and interprets freehand line drawings. CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 is available in 10 languages.

ErgoSoft U.S.
(603) 882-0248
Merrimack, NH
www.ergosoftus.com

PosterPrint is a digital-print production system for large-format, inkjet, color printers. It features an intuitive user interface; an integrated, native-color-management system; and a Level 3 PostScript interpreter. The PosterPrint RIP drives most popular inkjets (Epson, Roland, |2159|, Mutoh, HP, Canon and Kodak/|2127|, |1974|, Zünd, |2136| and others. PosterPrint is currently available for use with Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows ME®. Mimaki, DGI, Gandinnovations

Fusion Systems Intl.
(503) 255-5800
Portland, OR
www.fusionsystems.com

The Fusion RIP for Unix-operating environments includes enhanced font support and a wide range of file formats. Fully compatible with PostScript’s Language Level 3 specification, it has input and output mechanisms and a wide range of add-on options.

Features include improved RGB-to-CMYK, in-RIP conversion, Linux (Redhat server) support and Mac OSX, N-Color and Gray ICC profiles, color management and trapping settings, plus recombination of pre-separated files into a composite file for output to color proofers.

|1742|
(909) 718-0248
Walnut, CA
www.gccworld.com.

JoyCut signmaking software, designed for use with GCC’s cutting plotters, has an easy-to-use interface that helps design and cut images. Its functions include array, copy, auto string, baseline, contour, mirror horizontal, mirror vertical, trans-curve and welding. Further, it allows you to import images in various file formats, including JPEG, TIFF, Targa, PCX, PNG, Windows ICON, Windows Metafile and Adobe Photoshop. JoyCut is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, and XP.

|1137|
(860) 643-1515
South Windsor, CT
www.gspinc.com Gerber Scientific Products

Available products include ImageRIP Pro and ImageRIP Plus, both by Onyx. The ImageRIP family of software provides optimal output for large-format, inkjet printers and plotters. The Advanced ImageRIP by Onyx™ series of products offers a high-level RIP solution with PostScript Level 3 import, advanced color-management and workflow options.

Omega 2.0 is a signmaking design and production software package for signmakers and specialty-graphics providers. The design and output suite can be used for cut-vinyl and digitally printed applications.

Kodak Polychrome Graphics (KPG)
(800) 293-4284
Norwalk, CT
www.kpgraphics.com.

Kodak Polychrome Graphics Matchprint Color RIP v2.6 software for large-format inkjet printers offers DCS2 and PDF/X3 file capability, remote-proofing features that ensure color consistency between sites, and extended printer support for the Epson Stylus Pro 7600, 9600, 10600 and HP DesignJet 5500.

Matchprint Color RIP v2.6 drives the Matchprint inkjet system, an inkjet-proofing solution that delivers accurate simulations of Matchprint analog proofs. Matchprint Color RIP v2.6 includes the licensed Pantone Color Library for the Matchprint Inkjet proofer models 5542 and 5560, switchable hot folders, and horizontal and vertical job scaling that allows job resizing.

|2151|
(800) 477-7714; (952) 944-9330
Eden Prairie, MN
www.colorspan.com Macdermid ColorSpan Inc.

ColorMark Professional Software RIP is a full-featured RIP for ColorSpan’s DisplayMaker® inkjet printers: Esprit, Series XII, X-12, 72s/72sr (Gator) and 72uvr. The software includes a ColorMark color-management system with more than 100 built-in color profiles. It will network to a Mac or PC, and can be installed as an application on a workstation or as a dedicated print server. It also supports DisplayMaker’s built-in automation eye or other external color-calibration devices.

|2327|
(800) 996-8864
Tempe, AZ
www.mutoh.com

ISIS Print Manager, Mutoh’s PostScript Level 3-compatible software RIP for Windows 2000 and XP, drives its entire line of large-format printers, including the RJ4100 and 6100/Plus, Falcon II, Toucan and Falcon/Outdoor series. ISIS, which is ICC 4.3-compliant, supports third-party color profiles created with most CMM applications: PostScript and PDF files, and more than 50 raster formats (including TIFF, Targa, JPEG2000, PSD, SGI, PNG and SCT) and many vector formats. ISIS Print Manager features include large-image tiling, step and repeat, color test, crop, scale, rotate, flip, mirror and more. ISIS is free to any registered Mutoh printer owner.

The Mutoh Thunderbird/PS print server is a dedicated PostScript 3-compatible hardware RIP, designed to drive the Mutoh Toucan and Falcon II series printers on a network with multiple users. The ICC 4.3-compliant print server supports Windows, Macintosh and UNIX clients on the same network.

|2169|
(801) 568-9900, (800) 828-0723
Midvale, UT
www.onyxgfx.com Onyx Graphics

Onyx ProductionHouse™ and Onyx PosterShop® (both are version 6.0) color-production software includes a web-based user interface for job submission and queue management that allows you to view and edit job settings. Job-queue order can be controlled from most web browsers.

The PosterColor™ color-rendering system helps colors reach saturation levels on any media, using any ink. It also works with spot-color matching tables to ensure matches to corporate-identity pieces. Smooth Screen is an exclusive screening technology that minimizes banding on solvent-based and grand-format inkjet printers.

Onyx ProductionHouse, intended for high-volume shops with multiple printers, includes contour-cutting support for any printer and cutting device. Icut® device support is optional.

|2323|
(800) 542-2307
Irvine, CA
www.rolanddga.com Roland DGA Corporation

Roland’s newest printer/cutter, the VersaCAMM™ SP-540V, comes with VersaWorks™, a powerful software RIP with an easy-to-use interface and precise color management for high-end use. VersaWorks features the latest Adobe Postscript Interpreter, Windows 2000/XP support, network support, contour cutting, and advanced tiling and nesting options. Other features include five-color management presets, separate matching methods for raster and vector images, embedded ICC-profile support, ink-level adjustment tools and software-proofing capabilities. In addition to Postscript, VersaWorks prints from TIFF, JPEG, EPS and PDF 1.5 files.

Bundled with Roland’s Pro II printers and printer/cutters, Roland COLORIP® includes simultaneous RIP-and-print capability, enhanced color management, contour cutting and several layout options. In addition to Postscript, it supports TIFF, JPEG, EPS, PS, PDF 1.4 and DCS 2.0 files. COLORIP offers full Adobe PostScript Level-3 compatibility, custom ICC input- and output-profiles support, CMYK plus LcLm- and OrGr-printing support, and cropping, nesting and tiling features.

Roland ColorChoice® II (RCCII), an optional RIP for Roland inkjets, offers cropping, nesting, tiling, PDF 1.4 support, control of up to three different printers simultaneously, custom media profiles and a built-in, color-calibration tool. It accepts BMP, DCS, EPS, JPEG, PDF, PS and TIFF files and features Adobe PostScript Engine CPSI 3015 and color profiling.

|1756|
(610) 521-6300, (800) 229-9068
Philadelphia
www.scanvecamiable.com Scanvec Amiable

PhotoPRINT SE™ is an entry-level RIP solution for the single-workstation environment. You can send jobs to RIP and print directly from such popular design applications as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Quark Xpress® CorelDRAW, and all major CAD/AEC/GIS engineering solutions. PhotoPRINT DX™ includes a layout package with design capabilities for text, shapes and effects, and can RIP and print to two devices simultaneously. This integrated solution facilitates the design and output of print-and-cut decals.

PhotoPRINT SERVER™ is a client-server RIP solution for networks and large production environments. It features such productivity tools as Job Priority, and Page and Job Nesting. These tools will workflow to multiple printers from multiple design applications and clients (both MAC and PC). PhotoPRINT Server-Pro™, a complete client-server RIP solution, includes extended capabilities and cost-saving features. Additional features include an extra editor station for layout and design, plus ICC-profile editing and creation using the Color Calibration Wizard.

The FlexiLETTER™ entry-level layout and cutting package features file import and export, full text manipulation and direct drivers for the industry’s most popular vinyl cutters. FlexiSIGN™ is a mid-level signmaking package that provides exceptional tools to produce high-quality signage without a large initial investment. FlexiEXPERT™ is designed for the signmaker who requires advanced vinyl-cutting and bitmap-editing tools without the need for wide-format printing output.

|1953|
(617) 338-2222
Cambridge, MA
www.posterworks.com S.H. Pierce

PosterWorks Version 5.0 (for Mac or Windows systems) large-format production software helps you create layouts up to 250,000 sq. ft. for output on any PostScript device. Features include nesting tools, print-direction controls and performance enhancements for large- and grand-format printers. You may also specify custom sizes (panels can be sized from 2 x 2 in. to 500 x 500 ft.) and modify overlaps, gaps, margins and bleeds.

Other features are the tool palette, view options and rulers. The layout assistant feature lets you configure printer and layout settings, plus apply print-direction controls, and nesting, crop, cut, registration and specialized marks (which identify overlap, bleed and rainlap areas).

|1972|
(800) 527-7778; (206) 527-1050
Seattle
www.summausa.com

Summa ColorControl 7.0 RIP + Cut is the latest version of Summa’s proprietary RIP software for its line of thermal-transfer printers — the DuraChrome and Summa DC2 printers and Summa DC3 and Summa DC3 Plus printer-cutters.

The high-speed PostScript Level 3-compatible RIP is designed to take advantage of thermal-transfer technology, with its multi-layer printing capability. Output options include controls for process and spot-color printing, color order, screen angles and shapes, as well as advanced options for specialty applications when printing onto clear substrates. Drivers for Summa DC3-class printer-cutters include additional features that allow users to assign a cut-line for outputting labels and contour-cut images in a single production step.

|1269|®
(603) 279-4636
Meredith, NH
www.vutek.com

Vutek offers its Pantone-certified, ColorBurst RIP that drives all of the company’s UltraVu® solvent and PressVu® UV inkjet wide-format printers. ColorBurst allows you to standardize on an optimized RIP. PostScript® Language Level 3 compatible, the RIP operates on both the Windows and Mac OS X platforms. Standard with all Vutek wide-format inkjet printers, the RIP provides color correction using ICC profiles; it also features various productivity tools. It will also drive non-Vutek wide-format printers. The new ColorBurst RIP, a free upgrade for all Vutek customers, can be obtained by logging onto the customer-support section of the Vutek website.

Wasatch Computer Technology Inc.
(801) 575-8043, (800) 894-1544
Salt Lake City
www.wasatchinc.com

The Wasatch SoftRIP, designed for beginners and professionals, allows anyone to immediately produce color work and match spot colors. More advanced digital printmakers will find a full suite of ICC-workflow tools as well as interface capabilities for all major color-management instruments. SoftRIP offers sophisticated color-control and color-management features and will manage your workflow on a single printer or a complex multiple setup.

SoftRIP Light, for printmakers who drive a single printer and don’t require heavy-duty production features, includes the color quality and hardware flexibility of the Wasatch SoftRIP.

Wuhan MainTop Technology Development Co. Ltd.
Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
27 87164801, 87164806
www.maintop.com.cn/english/product/print/rip.html

MainTop DTP&PS RIP will export photo-like effects and can set fill, gradual change and shadow to graph and words. With professional Chinese — and other language — typesetting, it allows you to design graphs, artistic posters and advertisements. The RIP software will produce multipage typeset files and can vary the image export size; it will also panel images, divide jobs in either a horizontal or vertical direction, or fit them to the media size. MainTop allows you to adjust the printer’s ink and colors to retain consistency with various media. It supports PDesignJet5000, 800, 500, 1050C/1055CM, 2X00CP/3X00CP, 450C, 488CA, 750C; and Encad NovaJet500/505/630/700; Epson Pro 9000; Roland HiFi-JET; and Kodak, Mimaki, Calcom and Canon. It will export TIFF, JPG, EPS, PS files through MAC and PC platforms.

Other RIP or Signmaking Software Companies

CGS Publishing Technologies Intl. (ORIS)
(612) 870-0061
Minneapolis
www.cgsusa.com

BESTColor USA Inc.,
a division of EFI
West Chester, OH
(513) 942-7111
www.bestcolor.com.

ColorProof Software Inc.
Tampa, FL
(813) 963-0241
www.colorbytesoftware.com

CREO Inc.
Burnaby, British Columbia,
Canada
(604) 451-2700
www.creo.com

Dupont Imaging Technology
Wilmington, DE
(800) 441-7515; (302) 774-1000
www.dupont.com

SignMAX.us
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
(514) 644-3177
www.signmax.us