Re: RIps v. Epson driver
Re: RIps v. Epson driver
- Subject: Re: RIps v. Epson driver
- From: "Stanley Smith" <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:07:55 -0800
Mike-- your conclusion confirms what I've long suspected, but not really tested myself-- that the Epson drivers are superior to most RIPs.. We use RIPs here only for workflow purposes (Onyx), and they have proved to be difficult to maintain. I'm wondering if our gain in workflow benefits are really worth it-- mostly we just need to be able to manage the queue and linearize the printers for consistency.
I would like to ask the list if anyone is successfully using OSX Server Print Services for the functionality that is normally associated with a RIP-- queue management, security, logging use, etc. A cursory look at Apple's guide for OSX Server seems to suggest that this functionality is there, but is anyone using this in lieu of a RIP? Do we really pay a price in productivity using the Apple services? I ask, because I am ready to dump Onyx in favor of something a little less convoluted and tortuous, but not really wanting to spend the dollars or time necessary of going to a high-end RIP solution such as GMG....
Stanley Smith
Manager, Imaging Services
J. Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1687
(310) 440-7286
>>> Mike Strickler <email@hidden> 2/8/2008 8:50 PM >>>
>
Rob,
Let's try to parse these issues a bit first. The allocation of light
v. dark inks is a function of the driver, whether the Epson stock
driver or one used in a RIP, and not a function of the profile, which
nothing of how the printer combines inks to make the primaries. So we
can hold Profilemaker harmless for any problems there. Epson has
already dialed in the right formula to give a smooth transition from
light to dark inks; sometimes this needs to be adjusted in the RIP,
assuming that the RIP allows the user to change this. Black
generation is an area of great importance in maintaining neutrality.
Here nominally neutral combinations of C, M, and Y are replaced with
black ink to give more stable gray balance and reduce total ink. This
is handled inside the Epson driver in the conversion of RGB to CMYK.
When RGB files are sent to a RIP, however, this black replacement is
normally handled by the printer profile, and here Profilemaker and
Monaco Profiler give user control. (You'd be well advised to use an
extremely aggressive GCR, even "Max K", with a black start of
something close to zero). In the end the results using the Epson
driver with the right media settings (these control ink limits and
linearization) and a well made RGB profile and those made with a
properly set up RIP and CMYK profile are very similar, but the latter
depends on adequate controls within the RIP and some knowledge on the
part of the user. Sometimes one can download complete "print
environments" with ink limits, linearization files, and profiles for
the paper one is using--and often not.
My advice: Unless you have a really good RIP that linearizes properly
(GMG, EFI, ORIS, Ergosoft, and Caldera come to mind) and you have
someone who can set it up properly, the Epson driver and a good
profile will probably give better results. You'll pay a price in
productivity, but that's a trade-off you'll have to evaluate.
Mike Strickler
MSP Graphic Services
423 Aaron St. Suite E
Cotati, CA 94931
707.664.1628
email@hidden
www.mspgraphics.com
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:08:13 +0000
> From: robcrow <email@hidden>
> Subject: Will my RIP ever produce photographic output to beat the
> Epsondriver?
> To: email@hidden
> Message-ID: <C3D0890D.216C%email@hidden>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> I am running Proofmaster RIP on a number of Epson 4800's and have
> noticed
> that with the current profile the neutrals are less neutral with
> the rip
> than with Epsons driver (they are slightly green). PM seems to use
> less of
> the light blacks than Epson in their provided profile.
>
> I am fairly new to CMYK profiling but am prepared to put in the hours
> building custom profiles if I can produce a photographic output to
> rival or
> beat that from the Epson driver. Is it just a matter of plugging
> away it? Or
> are there things done by Epson in the driver that I will not be
> able to
> control with PM? (For example Epson's Advanced black and white mode
> lays
> down almost no colour ink at all).
>
> Any advice gratefully received
>
> Rob.
>
>
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