RIP software

[meakai]

Do RIP softwares really enhance a b&w print or is it the quality of the profile and printer that really make the difference? Who provides the best profiles for art papers on an Epson with K3 inks??    

[jjlphoto]

The K3 inks and the current Epson drivers give a totally neutral B&W on my 3800. Sure, years ago when the stock printer drivers were sub-par, and the inks prone to metamerism, it took the sophisticated algorithms (and the expensive highly educated team of software developers) of expensive RIP software to get anything decent out of those things, but now, the need for RIP software for good B&W is no longer necessary. But as with any method, there is no substitute for a good profile.

[meakai]

The K3 inks and the current Epson drivers give a totally neutral B&W on my 3800. Sure, years ago when the stock printer drivers were sub-par, and the inks prone to metamerism, it took the sophisticated algorithms (and the expensive highly educated team of software developers) of expensive RIP software to get anything decent out of those things, but now, the need for RIP software for good B&W is no longer necessary. But as with any method, there is no substitute for a good profile.
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Thanks. It is difficult getting by all the RIP sales hype. Is the RIP software intented to improve print quality or just make bulk printing easier?  

[jjlphoto]

If you are a graphic artist, a Postscript enabled RIP will print vector graphics better, print type better, and if you are doing production work, you can gang different jobs together on a roll easier. Since this is a sheet-fed only printer, the production efficiency advantages are greatly reduced if you want a RIP for that purpose.  

In the old days, print quality may have had a slight improvement printed via RIPs, as RIP software used thier own proprietory dithering methods, but as stated earlier, the drivers Epson now has for these wide format printers produces superb dithering patterns, and may be indistinguishable from those from even the most expensive RIP software.

[meakai]

If you are a graphic artist, a Postscript enabled RIP will print vector graphics better, print type better, and if you are doing production work, you can gang different jobs together on a roll easier. Since this is a sheet-fed only printer, the production efficiency advantages are greatly reduced if you want a RIP for that purpose. 

In the old days, print quality may have had a slight improvement printed via RIPs, as RIP software used thier own proprietory dithering methods, but as stated earlier, the drivers Epson now has for these wide format printers produces superb dithering patterns, and may be indistinguishable from those from even the most expensive RIP software.
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Thanks again John. You not only saved me some money, but you confirmed my suspicion about RIP software. Appreciate it. -Bill