Epson P800 - standard vs designer?

[GregShapps]

Does this printer need the Fiery Express RIP or is the Epson driver the better option?   I ran Imageprint for 12 years on a now dead 4800 and never used the Epson driver, is the RIP still teh best option?

Thanks,
Greg

[unesco]

Does this printer need the Fiery Express RIP or is the Epson driver the better option?   I ran Imageprint for 12 years on a now dead 4800 and never used the Epson driver, is the RIP still teh best option?

Thanks,
Greg

Nowadays, drivers give very good print quality. RIPs can add some difference, but I don't think it is significant.
Personally, I have bad experience with Imageprint on modern Epson printers (significant color shifts), but does not want to criticize someone's opinions. I prefer to invest in spectrophotometer instead, and make own profiles.
If you are a fan of B&W, then QTR rip could be an option (but not easy to operate).

[BobShaw]

I just bought the standard. You can usually get a deal with a roll paper attachment and perhaps Mirage Print or similar. I don't make my own profiles. I don't build my own computers or my own cars either.

I think that the best thing about a RIP or Pseudo RIP like Mirage using the driver is that the print comes out exactly the right size every time. I doubt that it has any effect on colour.

[digitaldog]

Does this printer need the Fiery Express RIP or is the Epson driver the better option?   I ran Imageprint for 12 years on a now dead 4800 and never used the Epson driver, is the RIP still teh best option?

Thanks,
Greg

In a word: No. Not unless you need a true Postscript RIP to rasterize Postscript data.