Following last week's release of the Roland DG VersaExpress RF-640, Caldera has released a set of drivers to support the machine. Compatible with all products in its suite of wide-format print control software, including GrandRIP+ and CopyRIP, the drivers ensure seamless operation, meaning that print houses can take full advantage of the 1.6m roll-to-roll engine's high throughput speeds and broad color gamut immediately.

The drivers available for the VersaExpress RF-640 are for both its eco-solvent and water-based ink sets, ensuring that color management and other RIP data is translated error-free to the machine. The print modes co-operate with Roland Intelligent Pass Control at certain print speeds, which controls dot placement between passes to enhance quality at high speeds, while advanced operators will be able to override certain print mode parameters. Caldera's controllers also guarantee optimized speeds for its fast-four eco-solvent configuration and excellent color control when using the extended six- and eight-color sets available with water-based ink models.

The RF640-ESOL driver is suitable for use with Roland Eco-Sol Max2 inks and can help users attain the full output capability of up to 48.5sq m per hour at single-pass 360dpi in draft mode, or 3.6sq m per hour at 1,440 x 720dpi ten-pass production. The Roland-RF640-WBASE-4C fast-four driver, which handles Roland FPG Aqueous inks as well as third-party products, offers speeds of up to 56.8sq m per hour for 360dpi one-pass draft and 5.4sq m per hour for 1,440 x 720dpi twelve-pass printing.

Caldera's drivers offer support for Mac, a crucial factor for the growing number of Roland users using Apple devices to control print engines. The RF-640 drivers are likely to suit sign and graphics houses looking to complete high-productivity jobs that require a rapid turnaround. With a range of options for different ink configurations, a wide variety of applications become available, including vinyl graphics, banners, billboards and back-lit posters.

"The Roland VersaExpress RF-640 is a powerful machine that can truly benefit from an equally powerful RIP engine," comments Frédéric Soulier, chief technology officer, at Caldera. "With our drivers, users can be sure that they will be able to push their printer to drive not only productivity but also quality, while reducing machine downtime. This is sure to be a popular model amongst Roland users, both new and old, and we anticipate that Caldera's support for it will be similarly appealing."