Everyone using a wide-format printer should know what a RIP is and the part it plays in outputting successful results. These days it is most common for this to be in the form of software, either supplied with the device or purchased separately, with most being relatively easy to update or to add new productivity options as demands grow.

Unlike a standard printer driver which takes the data on screen and outputs it onto a desktop unit, a RIP is able to perform various other functions and the more complex jobs become, the greater the need for powerful capabilities. There are many people who believe that this software is unreasonably expensive when compared with the hardware it's sitting in and driving. But it should be remembered that today's products are the results of years of development and have resulted in solutions which handle every production need likely to be encountered.

Having moved on from merely being able to rasterise paths and vectors into pixels which could be output on a printer, today's RIPs have evolved to become all-singing and all-dancing tools. They need to interpolate algorithms suitable for output, and handle complex tasks that produce consistent results.

Colour management and workflow can also come within the parameters of the RIP, along with essential PostScript handling and compatibility with the latest versions of the PDF format. Additionally, there is the requirement to acknowledge output profiles and a host of other functionality including the ability to drive multiple devices, handle nesting, tiling, cutting data, batches and queuing.

As new printers have been developed, so older machines keep going with both needing to have RIPs to drive them. A developer's life is a busy one, particularly now that the software's specification isn't just focused on printing but is, in many cases, expected to handle multiple devices, proofing, contour cutting, plus job tracking and status of ink and media. Colour handling has also become more complex with spot colour emulation, and the need to handle white and varnish now being par for the course.

Thus, a RIP today has extended far beyond being a solution to handling PostScript. With integration becoming a must, there's also the need to link with MIS and JDF workflows, providing a quantifiable element in the production chain, as well as acceptance of the increase in the use of PDF format and the growing use of variables, such as personalisation.

Many printer manufacturers offer a choice of RIP options with their machines and, similarly, a PSP investing in additional engines is probably not keen on the idea of having to run multiple programs when one will do. Independent developers and vendors realise that versatility is a must so produce the necessary drivers for most print platforms.

Some printer manufacturers have developed their own options, with Roland's VersaWorks being an obvious example. Supplied with its own devices, the only downside is that this proprietary software can't be used with third-party machines. Others, such as Mimaki, provide an out-of-the-box option for their printers but realise that users ultimately might want to move elsewhere for overall cross-platform compatibility.

Now that areas outside mainstream digital production are demanding associated software products for file preparation and output, so products are becoming available which are tailored for specific processes. Textile printing has its own specific parameters when it comes to the RIPping process, from stitching for repeat patterns to the physical droplet placement to take into account the behaviour of fabric. Similarly, the photographic segment is now catered for by dedicated programs designed to simplify and optimise output from digital cameras onto photo papers and other media, such as canvas.

In terms of platform preference, Macintosh users now have a good base of RIP products from which to choose, with Caldera, EFI's Fiery XF and Shiraz numbering amongst developers who've ventured beyond the Windows environment. Historically, Apple's resource handling on its machines has been favoured by users who don't want to be hampered by buried layers of system requirements incumbent in Microsoft computers. Yet not every RIP available today has multi-platform options, with the likes of ErgoSoft, ColorGate and Wasatch sticking resolutely to PC versions. At the end of the day, choice can boil down to personal preferences.

RIPs represent a significant investment to wide-format printer users but they are worth every penny. No-one should ignore the fact that they are the key to producing good quality results, with their clear interfaces and easy-to-use tools hiding powerful engines that generate and drive what we produce today.