Big Picture - August 2016 - (Page 30)

RIPGOOD It, RIP It Wide-format providers are reassessing RIP software as part of their overall workflow and print ecosystems. BY M A R K V RUNO ONCE UPON A PRINTER, raster image readying them for printing. That is all RIPs did of the device." Caldera is also developing a supervision solution, called Streamline, which identifies what is happening at which stage and quantifies time and costs to better document productivity and profitability. or were expected to do. CONNECTIVITY AND INTEGRATION Times have changed dramatically, of course, especially in the wide-format space. The commoditization of software has rendered RIPs as, well, so much more than PostScript converters. Today's RIPs can control the management of spot colors and spot layers. They can set bleeds and printer's marks, coordinate grommet location on vinyl banners, and even connect to web-to-print and MIS systems. It's true that the entry-level RIP software, which is bundled with many wide-format printers, still has fairly basic, barebones functionality. "Bundled RIP software typically does not have the better features like custom spot color matching and finishing tools," explains Dean Derhak, product director at SA International (SAi). But, he adds that those features are becoming more of a necessary standard and can even help bring in new business. Traditionally, PSPs looked for RIP software to justify their hardware ROI by helping to increase production and reduce costs. Even production tools such as color management and multichannel profiles can impact ROI. As Kerry Moloney, EFI's field and channel marketing manager, says, "We don't call our products RIPs" - they're simply more than that. Some wide-format print firm owners and managers think that the automation of prepress and other workflow features are not important because their profit margins are better than those of general commercial print work. But don't be lured into complacency, warns Mergui. "Automation is becoming critical," he says. "Speed of devices requires [PSPs] to have some level of automation and also some preflight and web-to-print capabilities to expand business." Derhak argues that "Because they have razor-thin margins, it's very important for higher-production businesses to have automation features that eliminate steps entirely from the print production workflow. However, these rely on prepress controlling more of the production settings and implementing JDF throughout the workflow." But he adds that smaller sign and print businesses may have different priorities, which is where automating bleeds, grommets, and fold marks can make a huge difference in turning around a job like a same-day banner order. Shops should also consider connectivity to web-to-print/ digital storefront systems and MIS, the latter of which can monitor productivity and costs. Derhak sees more print buyers going online for their wide-format purchases. SAi's Flexi RIP software, among others, includes cloudbased tools for customer artwork approval, job quoting, and file sharing. Cloud connectivity capabilities leverage the internet to improve the competitiveness of sign and print businesses. Like other RIPs, Flexi software also comes with a companion mobile app, so business owners can see jobs and production trends on the go. Many developers have elected to partner with one another to leverage one platform's MIS capabilities with another's RIP foundation. Onyx has adopted an open approach interface for web-to-print, digital storefronts, and MIS systems, introducing an Enfocus Switch connection earlier this year. Caldera has partnered with Nexio "to deliver a bridging, bidirectional platform using JDF or XML to connect third- processors (RIPs) converted PostScript files, BIG PICTURE August 2016 INTELLIGENT RIPS 30 Today's RIP software is built to control components such as spot colors and spot layers. Setting bleeds and printer's marks have become standard features. "RIP is much smarter than it was," says Joseph Mergui, CEO of Caldera. Moloney concurs with Mergui about the power of smart RIPs, emphasizing capabilities like layout, step and repeat, nesting, auto bleeds for decals, labels, and cut-outs, and even taking control of cutting devices. Mergui says software should offer a holistic vantage point of the entire prepress, press, and postpress process: "We knew four years ago that RIP was not the only issue. It's the workflow and the printing conditions ecosystem," he explains. "Of course spot colors and layers matter, but soft proofing [does], too, to visualize in good conditions what is getting out

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - August 2016

Big Picture - August 2016
Contents
Insight
Wide Angle
Upfront
Business + Management
Dynamic Signage
Touching the Future of Print
How I Got the Job: Sino Tour
RIP It, RIP It Good
R+D
Job Log

Big Picture - August 2016