Printing in full colour and the capability to print books and booklets are traditionally only done by an operator who is an experienced printer and colour management expert. The reason for this is simple: full colour printing used to be an art as much as it is a science.
The rise of digital printing and the associated technologies promised to significantly lower the threshold for printing like a professional printer. Using Postscript as printing ‘language’ and a Raster Image Processor (RIP) as the ‘translator’ between Postscript and the printer’s native ‘tongue’, users would be able to print like pros.
In those early days of RIPping, the technology proved to be more complicated than anticipated, and so digital printing remained an expert’s job. EFI has always been at the forefront of RIP technology and has relentlessly pushed the boundaries of what has been possible with digital printing. In close cooperation with hardware developing partners, EFI has constantly improved upon its Fiery RIP, the best and best known RIP in the market.
The current version of the Fiery RIP — System 9 Release 2 — can be found in some of the world’s most capable high-volume printers, or optionally purchased in order to control those printers. In some cases, buying the Fiery RIP implies an extra expenditure for the buyer of the printer.
The question than becomes: has an EFI Fiery RIP functionality that justify its extra cost? Does it earn back the investment, and can it perhaps make or save money where others fail?
Based on our tests and experiences with the Fiery System 9 Release 2 RIP, we should like to answer those questions positively. The EFI Fiery RIP has evolved into a true RIPping powerhouse. It has been so optimised by the EFI engineers that it can process files that other RIPs choke on. The Fiery System 9 Release 2 RIP is capable of processing files in minutes whereas others take at least half an hour.
Most importantly, the Fiery RIP does not require an operator who has a degree in colour management or ink savings methodologies to print even complex designs for the lowest cost or at the highest possible quality — although an expert will be able to get the most out of the Fiery RIP in terms of its professional-print capabilities.
The Fiery System 9 Release 2 Report is a free download.
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