Ernst, my choice back then had little to do with wisdom, StudioPRint was at the time the perfect tool for utilizing multidensity K inksets, particularly with wide format. Even though I had many years of color management, it was all RGB, I worked into CMYK and then N channel later. It has been a very long road working with this RIP and the various versions since 2003. There were periods when some things didn't work at all, and the interface and user controls are so extensive that there is a huge learning curve to even begin printing. There are not many I would have recommended it to guilt free. But v14 is working beautifully, wonderful. It was expensive but required for 9900 support, then even more expensive for the postscript version when i1Profiler finally arrive, and big big surprise- only generated N channel charts as postscript files. Imagine my day when I finally discovered that. Monaco Profiler would generate N channel as tiffs with extra alphas, but my brand new long awaited i1Profiler??? Noooooooooo.. IF I start talking Xrite I will need much more excedrin.
Related to some of the other posts in this thread, there are Epson RGB environments that can be set up as well for the x900s with true Epson supplied screening, and HTM environments for older Epsons that use Epson screening but then allow ink channel linerization and limiting for greater control. SO you can do OEM screening but all the production features of a RIP. There are OEM screening drivers for HP and Canon as well.
The vast majority of my RIP experience is with Ergosoft, so my comments on these issues revolve around it. I am not touting it or trying to convince anyone to use it. But any discussions about ink control will necessitate me to be in that context.
I can't do what I do without a RIP, I've done custom inksets this will drive stunningly... like 5 density partitioned Ks, with two color ink spot channels for hue control, and the remaining channel with gloss optimizer as another spot channel... Or wonderful alternative media.. Japanese or gorgeous fine art papers that require very careful ink control. For me all this carries over from the fine print darkroom days.. what paper? Developer? Toner? Addative? etc etc.. or handcoated processes....
There's a lot of amazing things going on outside the mainstream... and some amazing people doing it... quietly.
Tyler
http://www.custom-digital.com/http://theagnosticprint.org/Tyler,
Thank you, a good summary. Several years ago I made the wrong choice between Wasatch and Ergosoft, though I had both in view. For my own excuse; it was before Studio became available and before N-color printers became that wide spread. I have lost confidence in the Wasatch SoftRip some years back and wrote about that. There is little chance I will buy another RIP while it could make some plans possible that are hard to achieve with an application like Qiamge and the OEM drivers. You made a good decision without doubt.
met vriendelijke groeten, Ernst
Shareware now:
Dinkla Gallery Canvas Wrap Actions for Photoshop
http://www.pigment-print.com/dinklacanvaswraps/six-canvas-wrap-actions.htm
