The Big Picture - June 2012 - (Page 17)

Destination RIPs Nearly 50 RIPs to help map your way to output. Before the development of GPS and online mapping services like MapQuest, we were often left to our own devices when it came to traveling to unfamiliar destinations. Which, for many, meant relying on that decade-old map in the car’s glove compartment that had creases so severe that entire cities were sometimes obliterated. As a result, there was often no guarantee that the route chosen would be the most e cient, quickest, or most cost-e ective – or even get us to our ﬁnal destination. With more up-to-date technology, however, we’re now directed every step of the way, warned against possible bumps in the road, and even given an estimate on cost. Modern RIPs are a print provider’s MapQuest, helping best route jobs through the output process. A quality RIP can ensure optimal image quality, perform critical color matches, and streamline workﬂow. Plus, continuing advancements in RIPs have synched them to the latest print technologies while also allowing them to perform functions that were not previously part of the “RIP universe,” such as monitoring the use of consumables. To help you in selecting your best RIP, we asked RIP suppliers to provide us with information on each RIP model and each model’s features. For purposes of the charts on the pages that follow, we’ve limited this group to “third-party” RIPs – those RIPs typically purchased from a non-printer OEM – because these are generally engineered for more than one manufacturer’s printers. Various printer OEMs also produce (or have produced for them) RIPs for their own machine models, and we certainly encourage shops to investigate all options when it comes to RIPs. This year, we’ve updated our chart features to include: white and metallic ink support, G7 support, step and repeat, hot folders, Web-browser interface, consumables savings and tracking capabilities, cutting options, and more. Keep these points in mind as you study the charts: • We only included RIP models that were geared toward or could handle wide-format output, according to manufacturer specs. • We list 26 RIP features, and indicate if each feature is standard (S) or optional (O) on that particular RIP. If a cell is left blank, you can assume that the feature is not o ered. • Printers and ﬁle formats supported: In the interest of space, we list only the number of printers the RIP supports; see the RIP company’s website for complete information. This is also true for ﬁle formats. • We list a price when provided by the RIP supplier (most did so). • The “Notes” section contains additional information not included elsewhere in the charts. Finally, keep in mind that these charts are designed to be a staging area for your RIP research. Your next best step is to contact the RIP manufacturer/supplier to see how a speciﬁc RIP might best suit your individual operation and needs. www.bigpicture.net 17 http://www.bigpicture.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Big Picture - June 2012

The Big Picture - June 2012
Contents
InSight
Wide Angle
Up Front
Business + Management
Floor Your Clients
Destination RIPs
Back to Work: ISA Sign Expo
Job Log

The Big Picture - June 2012