In terms of recent incarnations of the technology, he says that many of the advancements have arisen in an attempt to achieve results similar to direct-to-digital printing.
RIP SOFTWARE FOR EPSON 1100 SOFTWARE
(Inkjet printers are designed to print everything in color and absent a RIP, it would likely attempt to print the halftone as a shade of gray.) It has allowed screen printers to move away from expensive image setters and gives them ability to print high-quality films using affordable inkjet printers, rather than pricey laser printers.īagley has been closely involved with the development of RIP software over the years. An acronym for Raster Image Processor, the software takes files from graphic programs by running them through Postscript and converting them to halftone dots that can be recognized by an inkjet printer, while also allowing the user to dictate the number of passes the jets will make. RIP software is a critical tool towards achieving that capability using affordable inkjet printers.įor those unfamiliar with RIP technology, its function as commonly used in the screen printing industry is fairly basic. When they visit their local screen printer, they’re expecting similar quality and price points. With the rise of the digital age, artists and consumers have become aware of the options available online for customized, limited run products that feature multiple colors and even photo reproduction. After that, they start to look into RIP software,” he says.Ī generation ago, a small mom-and-pop shop could get by simply offering simple one- or two-color prints. New screen printers may still limit themselves to printing one or two colors, but in time it will make it tougher to survive. “The screen printers who are have been in business for more than a couple of years are being forced to bring on more technology that will allow them to compete with direct-to-digital market. As an example of this, Mark Bagley-a consultant and owner of Digital Marketing Solutions in Orlando, FL- believes that RIP software is currently in that life cycle stage where screen printers need to have it simply to exist. Over time, as the technology becomes increasingly accepted in the industry, the competitive advantage largely disappears and new users must adopt it simply to keep pace. They invest their time and money in hopes of leveraging it to improve productivity and gain a competitive advantage. When a new technology is introduced into an industry, there is usually a small band of innovators who hop on board first.