The Key to Shop Productivity

Kirschner: This is most probably our Ink Saver Option. It is an optional addition that re-separates on-the-fly the color separations being rendered by our RIP. The result is a lesser ink consumption of up to minus 30 percent and 15 percent in average for typical wide-format imaging products. We have customers that have lowered their ink expenses by $5,000 and more per month.

Kuhnen-Burger: Highest color quality (accurate and consistent output) combined with greater productivity and maximum performance.

Schaumburg: One of the biggest benefits to using Wasatch SoftRIP is the ease-of-use and our streamlined workflow. Wasatch gives users powerful tools to work more efficiently, while providing new users an easy interface that they can learn and use immediately. Our easy-to-navigate interface makes job setup and color management simple. With Wasatch SoftRIP, you have multiple options for simplifying your workflow—Wasatch Port Redirector, Wasatch ImageNET, and our Hot Folders.

3. What kinds of developments do you think we’ll see next in RIP software within the next 12 to 18 months?

Derhak: From ONYX RIP software, expect to see more workflow automation capabilities, innovations that deliver vastly superior consistent color, and tools that better complement new printers and printing technologies.

With the latest release of ONYX RIP software, we focused on just these things: the ability to easily create G7-compliant calibration curves and output, an optional JDF module that for automation with other JDF enabled components, and the ability to quickly profile white-ink printers.

Kirschner: RIP software as such will disappear and become part of a total workflow concept from job submission all the way through to final print product delivery. RIP software will transform to an invisible and automated background process that interlinks with all relevant process steps.

Kuhnen-Burger: Integrated workflow solutions from submission to output based on JDF/JMF communication as productivity/automaton, job and cost tracking becomes more and more important. At the 12th annual Connect users’ conference in Las Vegas end of April this year, EFI already demonstrated such type a solution where jobs run through the Digital StoreFront web-to-print solution, to both EFI Pace and EFI Monarch print MIS systems, to Fiery XF production RIP, and then to a new EFI VUTEk printer.

Shahbazi: As cloud computing becomes more widespread and communication links get better and faster, more and more of the software will reside in the cloud and become more centralized. Software on demand is a growth area and will affect the RIP market with consumers running RIP software off the web for their printing.