Marc,
Not only should one ask what the RIP needs to work (N-channel profiles = N-channel profile creator) but a friend with a Canon iPF9000 called and he told me that the Scanvec RIP he uses had an iPF9000 driver but it ignores the RGB inks including the linearisation of the RGB inks. Nothing new as the first Epson 9600 driver on that RIP (and he had to wait very long for that one) didn't use the grey ink of the 9600 :-)
I see that the HP Z drivers in the Wasatch SoftRip fall in the optional category (extra price) and the Canon iPF ones are not in that category. They are so special ? Does that mean a special B&W print mode as well ? Something I asked them a long time ago when I converted an Epson 9000 to quad inks. Can you tell more about the special features like how the gloss enhancer is used. The use of LG, MG, PK, MK on matte paper. Any user influence on the partioning of the grey inks ? How did you set the RGB ink substitution: on hue angle or saturation + hue angle ?
Ernst Dinkla
try: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/
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The Wasatch Z3100 is a standard driver in the softrip package version 6.1. I'm still under service contract so I got the upgrade for free. You could check with Miranda at Wasatch, she handled the process for me, no problems on the upgrade.
Setup is relatively straightforward. After adding the IP address, you choose the printer model on an open channel. Options include 24 or 44" models. The printer property box gives you access to the initial settings, such as paper types that are similar to those available in the Z3100 itself, pass count and uni-or bi directional, borderless, as well as the gloss enhancer setting.
From that point, using the printer via the RIP is the same as any other printer in Wasatch. They provide 7 color linearization targets, Channel ink limiting sliders, Total Ink limiting, and color work flow hookups.
The first profile we made has GE turned off, because the material, although gloss, is always laminated, so I can't comment on the GE on it with any detail. Let me know if there is a specific test you need, I'll get it done for you next week.
I asked Wasatch about the PhotoK/Matte K switch and they said it was tied to the paper type selected. Not sure what they are doing regarding the LG,MG, inks on Matte. I hope to calibrate and profile some matte stock next week to do some B&W work.
The RGB ink substitution is controlled by the profilng software (Monaco). No special controls needed or available in Wasatch for this.
I did notice that the color separations rules button is dimmed, so that particular set of mysterious controls is not available to me (which is really ok, I'm not loosing sleep over it!)
Most of the time getting the first material linearized and profiled was determining the ink limits. Once these were established, the profiling patches printed clear and dry, and everything went smoothly. I haven't done a direct comparison between the RIP prints and the HP direct prints. My need for the RIP was to handle tiling for multiple panel tradeshow displays. Not sure if this is all needed for anyone doing fine art work. I do plan on checking out some APS profiles and comparing them to the no-APS profiles for work being printed out of PhotoShop.
Hope some of this helps.