Digital Photographer's Software Guide - Bertemes - Net

Comments
It would be difficult to work in the graphic arts industry without coming across
Harlequin RIP technology in one form or another. It is included here for completeness
and because photographers may find themselves using a Harlequin-based RIP or a softproofing
system such as FirstPROOF that connects to it.
Version: Harlequin 8.0 (2008)
OS: Multi-platform
RAM: N/A
Supported file formats: PGB, TIFF, and others
Price level: On application
Address: Global Graphics Software Ltd., Building 2030, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne,
Cambridge, CB23 6DW, United Kingdom;
Global Graphics Software Inc., 5875 Trinity Parkway, Suite 110, Centreville, VA 20120, United
States
www.globalgraphics.com
Ilford Studio
Chapter 31 ■ RIP Software 357
Vendor: Ilford Imaging
Purpose: Fully integrated printing system for photographers with a special software RIP to give
color prints the look and feel of traditional photographs
Description
Designed to help professional photographers make color prints in-house at half the cost
of outsourcing them, Ilford Studio is an integrated printing system with a special software
RIP that gives color prints the look and feel of traditional photographs. Its RIPstar
component is actually a variant of Onyx PosterShop. Ilford’s development team has created
media profiles to match various printer, ink, and media combinations for the best
output quality (the firm supplies its own GALERIE range of papers). Its print-management
facilities include batch printing, job grouping, and nesting images for the most
economical use of the media. By using either the automatic cutting feature or optional
roll take-up, the vendor says you can leave the system to make a print run overnight.
Comments
After making an extensive test of Ilford Studio with an Epson 7600 printer, Professional
Imagemaker magazine concluded that it gave a “flawless performance,” which is high
praise indeed. Being part of the Oji Paper Co., Ilford Imaging has more interest in selling
substrate materials than equipment, but it has put this excellent system together,
supported, it has to be said, by rather poor marketing backup. Fortunately, photographers
know quality when they see it. The output speaks for itself.