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Sample images coming soon! PDF Raster Output RIP-Kit ($995) PDF Raster Output Plugin for existing RIP-Kits ($795) The PDF Output Plugin creates a PDF of the actual raster file. If you are using v.8 and have the in-RIP trapping option (TrapPro), this PDF output plugin can be used to output a composite (halftone) PDF with traps. Users can even turn on the highlight traps feature to output a composite PDF with the traps highlighted in red or green. The RIP includes the ability to process PDF files going into the Harlequin RIP but this option allows users the ability to output a PDF file directly from the RIP.
TrapPro is an automatic, object-based in-RIP trapping solution available as an option for the RTI RIP-Kit. TrapPro incorporates all of the PostScript ® Language Level 3 (LL3) trapping parameters. It is fully integrated into the RIP for enhanced workflow efficiency and maximum job throughput. TrapPro offers: enhanced / extended support for metallics and varnishes, Shfill support (both axial and radial fills), full N-color support, smaller memory requirements and faster processing times. TrapPro also offers:
TrapPro incorporates all of the PostScript ® Language Level 3 (LL3) trapping parameters and also includes: Sliding Traps When adjacent colors have similar neutral densities,TrapPro automatically slides the trap position from spreading the lighter color into the darker color. This technology allows you to avoid abrupt shifts creating smooth transitions when trapping gradients/vignettes.
Anamorphic Traps Anamorphic trapping is a method of compensating for different degrees of misregistration in the x and y directions in the printing process. Trapping compensates for misregistration in the printing process, but the physical factors influencing this will very often be different in the two axes, x and y. TrapPro compensates for different amounts of possible misregistration in both axes.
Narrowed Traps There are cases where the full width of the trap does not fit into the available spread area. In this case, TrapPro automatically modulates the size of the trap to cover a proportion of the available area. The user can adjust the default value (50%), shown in the example below.
Mitered Traps A trap end style is a parameter that defines how the intersection of traps are formed. TrapPro supports mitered trap ends for trap intersections which allow traps that taper or narrow to avoid unsightly artifacts. Mitred ends are created automatically by TrapPro, with no user settings to configure.
Feathered Traps Instead of having a constant color across its width a feathered trap fades gradually from the full trap color to the background color. The protection against misregistration tails off gradually rather than disappearing abruptly. The visual impact of a feathered trap is generally much less than a constant-color trap of the same size.
Small Object Protection This feature stops traps from obscuring the objects which they are trapping and corrupting the look of the objects. It protects all object types including text.
Benefits of in-RIP trapping In the color printing process each color is laid down separately, one on top of the other. As each color is printed, the possibility of misregistration occurs as the colors fail to line up correctly due to paper shift, paper stretching, an incorrectly aligned press, or other mechanical inaccuracies. To compensate for misregistration, traps must be added to the areas where gaps or overlays are most likely. Traditionally, a skilled press operator allowed for misregistration by spreading or choking the ink in an attempt to make the gaps or overlays less noticeable. Also, the page designers played their part by attempting to ‘design out’ any potential misregistration from the page design. Both methods require great skill and time to perfect. The RIP-Kit's trapping technology handles trapping automatically, as the page is processed by the RIP. A good trapping solution must be flexible enough to support various digital workflows while providing impeccable quality, proofing and previewing. In-RIP trapping accommodates the need for last minute changes of printing conditions without requiring time-consuming human intervention, and it allows users to be able to apply the same page content for multiple purposes. These increase the throughput in prepress systems, resulting in greater profitability. In-RIP trapping is by far the easiest trapping method to implement since, once the trapping parameters have been entered, trapping occurs automatically without the need for further intervention. Trapping programs fall into the two basic categories: raster trappers and object trappers. Raster trappers analyze for traps on a pixel-by-pixel basis, where each pixel in the rasterized page is considered for trapping. Object trappers work on the PostScript® language objects or vector objects that describe the page. This means they have considerably fewer calculations to make than raster trappers when deciding where to place traps, and are therefore considerably faster than raster trappers. Furthermore, object based trapping improves the quality and accuracy of the trap shape. TrapPro is an object-based trapping engine that uses the Device-Oriented Display List that is generated in the RTI RIP-Kit. This allows the trapping engine to trap everything the RIP renders, with pixel accuracy, and with great speed. The traps are drawn with a brush and it maintains color fidelity and traps real device colors so trapping with extra grays is supported. TrapPro provides the following benefits:
If you have an RTI RIP-Kit v.6.4 or later and want to try the in-RIP Trapping before you buy, you can add the TrapPro feature for 30 days free of charge. This will allow you to evaluate the in-RIP trapping for 30 days.
Print Production Manager ($2,500) Print Production Manager allows users to control and monitor job progress through each step of the production environment. This comprises a number of steps and processes that are too often complex, or require costly high-end workflow solutions that may be unaffordable to small and medium print operations. In a typical shop, of any size, the processes could include all of the following: preflight, imposition, trapping, color management, RIP and proofing; RIP and make plates; and/or RIP and output to a digital press. Print Production Manager is a job management tool that employs an easy-to-use Graphical Interface for multiple clients (allowing you to control output from your design computer eliminating the need to go to the RIP to preview or release output to your imaging devices). Simply put, Print Production Manager keeps you informed; allows you to make decisions that keeps work moving. Print Production Manager installs on the RIP computer and interfaces with your RTI Harlequin RIP. Once Print Production Manager is installed on the RIP computer, you are able to access the RIP's job information using a web browser. From the web browser you are then able to dictate the order in which jobs get processed as well as preview jobs with scalable zoom. Users can also resubmit jobs to go to a proofer or other output device without ever having to reprint the job from the design application. Print Production Manager truely is a SUBMIT ONCE OUTPUT MANY application. Users can send jobs once from their design computer and then using Print Production Manager's web browser send the same file to get RIPped to other output devices. This means one user can be updating job information while another user is previewing a job before it gets output. All of this can be done through the internet browser on the design computers. Users can access PPM from any computer on the network capable of running a compatible web browser and there can be up to 5 users at a time accessing Print Production Manager. Supported browsers for accessing Print Production Manager:
Print Production Manager Features Scalable Zoom. Zoom in and out of each plate or preview jobs in full composite color with PPM. Click on any of the images below to take a closer look at the scalable preview feature.
ProofReady Digital Proofing Plugins (starting at $995) ProofReady Plugins - When you purchase an Epson, HP or Encad RIP-Kit or Plugin, you will receive your particular printer plugin along with the following options: HDS Lite (Harlequin Dispursed Screening Lite), Harlequin ColorPro (ICC Profile Processor), Media Saving (Built-in Ganging / Nesting) and *Harlequin Error Diffusion Screening (HEDS1 & HEDS2). *Only available for Epson VSD printer models. The Proofready option offers top quality screening and pre-configured color management profiles. Epson Inkjet RIP-Kits & Plugins
Encad Inkjet RIP-Kits & Plugins
HDS Lite - Harlequin Dispersed Screening Lite (included with Inkjet RIP-Kits or Inkjet Plugins) - Harlequin has developed a screening solution for low resolution output devices which delivers high quality output without compromising speed. The HDS Super Fine setting supports direct output to low-resolution color and monochrome laser, ink jet, and electrostatic printers. This variation reproduces high quality black and white or color images even at the low resolutions of 200 to 600 dpi. Harlequin ColorPro - ICC Profile Processor (included with Inkjet RIP-Kits or Inkjet Plugins) - The Harlequin ICC Profile Processor supports selection of rendering intent based on data contained in the ICC profile. HIPP accepts ICC profiles available from a wide variety of sources, including printer manufacturers and other third parties. Widely recognized as an industry standard, ICC profiles contain specific color transformation data and, in most cases, "input" and "output," or "device-link" profiles. Media Saving (Nesting / Ganging) (included with Inkjet RIP-Kit & Inkjet Plugins) - This feature allows you to configure page setups within the RIP that automatically fit pages onto the output media in a way that makes the most efficient use of the media. For example, when imaging A4 pages they would normally be placed one above the other on the output media. With media saving enabled, the A4 pages could be placed side-by-side thus utilizing more of the media width. The jobs are only output to the device when the page is full. A collection of jobs on a page is known as a 'flat'. For example, you may have a 32 inch roll installed in the output device and a queue of three A4 sized jobs waiting to be output. Instead of printing a single job along the width of the roll, the RIP will fit all three jobs along the width of the roll-ultimately saving media. HEDS1 & HEDS2 - Harlequin Error Diffusion Screening (included with applicable Inkjet RIP-Kits or Inkjet Plugins) - High-quality screening for the Epson Variable Size Dot (VSD) printers that avoids image artifacts in color proofs. The new screening provided with the RTI Inkjet RIP-Kit provides 1bit and 2bit error diffusion screening. This screening is only available for the Epson VSD line of printers. All of the EpsonVSD printers implement a print head technology known as Micro Piezo which uses extremely precise and variable size droplets of ink to produce ultra-sharp resolution prints at high speeds. The VSD printers listed above can produce up to 3 different size dots (essentially small, medium and large) as well as no dot at all. These VSD printers therefore require 2-bit screening information. In most instances, the Harlequin RIP can only supply 1-bit screening information, which effectively tells a printer whether or not to make a dot. To achieve the variable sized dot effect in such cases, the plugin uses a biplane device type to implement 2 color planes. Version 6.0 or later of the RTI Harlequin RIP-Kit allows you to use true 2-bit in-RIP EDS screening by installing an optional plugin, known as HEDS2 (Harlequin 2-bit Error Diffusion Screening) and using a 2-bit device type.
View the In-RIP Simple Imposition Manual (PDF) Simple Imposition provides facilities the ability to impose incoming pages using some of the most common imposition layout schemes used for smaller format presses. Users are able to create and save as many imposition configurations as you wish. In addition to this, once an imposition configuration is created, users can apply that configuration to any page setup by selecting it from a menu in the edit page setup dialog. This feature is available as an option with all Imagesetter RIP-Kits, Heidelberg DI RIP-Kits and TIFF RIP-Kits. Available to run on either a Macintosh or Windows, FirstPROOF Standard allows users to remotely view and approve output from multiple RIPs prior to imaging or proofing. This software allows users to quickly navigate and preview a job, zooming in and out to check both layout and content from the design computer. Once the user has approved the image, they can relase the jobs from the design station to send it out to their imagesetter or proofer. This is a great tool for the high-end printing industry, where exposing film or burning plates can prove a costly excercise when mistakes are made, especially for CTP. It is also a great tool for users that have their RIP in a different building or need RIP control at their design stations because the RIP is in a different room or location. The benefits of FirstPROOF Standard include:
FirstPROOF Professional ($2,000) Available to run on either a Macintosh or Windows, FirstPROOF Professional allows users to remotely view and approve output from multiple RIPs prior to imaging or proofing. FirstPROOF Professional builds on FirstPROOF Standard by offering a large additional toolset for checking and approving jobs. The larger tool set provides sophisticated (but simple to use) advanced tools for checking jobs, which greatly increase the ability to check output prior to imaging. In doing so, users of FirstPROOF Professional can detect many more problems, thus saving valuable time and money. One of the additional features of FirstPROOF Professional is the ability to merge separations (such as P Blue CV & P Blue CVC) and most significantly the ability to also print what has been soft-proofed. This allows for production of a content proof which can be signed of and included in the job bag for the pressman to use when the job is printed on press. FirstPROOF Professional includes the following features:
Download the Windows demo version of FirstPROOF v.5 Download the Macintosh demo version of FirstPROOF v.5 All versions of FirstPROOF support both the Harlequin PGB format and standard TIFF files. Support for Harlequin PGBs allows FirstPROOF to work with any Harlequin RIP, providing a tightly integrated soft-proofing system. HDS - Harlequin Dispersed Screening - FM (Stochastic) Screening ($3,000) View the Harlequin Screening Library Information (PDF) HDS is Harlequin's second generation frequency modulated (FM Screening / Stochastic) screening system. HDS creates reproductions with increased sharpness over conventional screening methods and offers complete freedom from both object and cross-screen moiré. It is ideal for reproducing subjects for which object moiré is a problem (such as scenes with fabric, venetian blinds or picket fences) and where detailed reproduction is required. HDS is also the standard screening method included in the ScriptWorks MicroRIP, a PostScript Level 3 language compatible interpreter designed for low resolution and large format output devices. Like all members of HSL, HDS is also available as a screening option for ScriptWorks.
HCS/HMS Package - Harlequin Chain Screening and Harlequin Micro Screening ($3,000) View Harlequin Screening Library Information (PDF)
CIP3 Printing Press Plugin with PPF Output ($3,000) Start building software links between prepress, press and post-press operations in a printing workflow with the CIP3 plugin. This optional plugin gives users the ability to automatically include press-specific ink key setting data in a RIPped file. This data is then provided to the press operator as a PPF file (Print Production Format file). When the PPF file is read by a CIP3 reader (included with press control systems), it provides instructions for automatically setting ink fountains on press. It saves the press operator time, minimizes errors and reduces waste. Print Production Format (PPF) was originally developed by the CIP3 consortium. PPF files may contain any or all of the following items relating to the front and/or back of fully imposed press sheets:
The CIP3 plugin supports the following printing presses through CIP3 or CIP4:
TIFF-IT Output Option ($4,000) Supports the optional output of Tiff-It files. Tiff-It is a standard file format used widely in the electronic delivery of advertising content for magazine and newspaper publishing.
Supports the optional input of Tiff-It files.
SetGold SetGold is a new utility for device calibration and gray balance. A color printer that has been fully and expertly calibrated and gray balanced is often referred to as being in its "golden state." This golden state becomes the reference point for all further color management and ICC profile creation for that device. SetGold is a new utility that takes most of the guesswork out of the process of establishing a color printer’s "golden state," and reduces the time required to just a couple of hours. Designed around a GUI "wizard," SetGold steps the user easily through the iterative process of output-measure-output and performs mathematical comparisons and adjustments to very quickly establish the best possible gray balance for the selected paper type and resolution. The end result of SetGold’s processing is a golden state calibration profile that can be used as the starting point for full ICC profiling to provide fully color managed color proofs.
The Miramar option allows customers with Windows versions of the RTI RIP-Kit running on Windows XP to publish a shared Appletalk printer. The Windows XP operating system does not include Appletalk, so customers that do not want to use a shared Windows printer to print to the RIP from Macintosh OS X or shared TCP/IP printer to print to the RIP from Macintosh OS 9 can use Miramar as an alternative.
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