THE IMPORTANCE OF RIP SOFTWARE IN DIRECT-TO-FABRIC PRODUCTION

Speciality applications such as direct-to-film (DTF) and direct-to-garment (DTG) production are some of the fastest growing areas in the digital-print industry. Customers now demand increasingly shorter runs, quicker turnarounds and higher quality. As a result, maximising the capabilities of speciality printers is more important than ever.

Thankfully, advancements in RIP software have revolutionised print applications and are now seeing growth in this area of print as well. This helps everything from big apparel makers to custom t-shirt designers to optimise workflows and get the highest quality results. Modern RIP software – such as Fiery’s Digital Factory – is the key to unlocking this digital transformation in DTF and DTG printers.

Raster Image Processor (RIP) software has been the core of digital cut-sheet printing for years. However, in the world of DTF and DTG printing, the benefits of a good RIP are not yet fully recognised. RIPs translate digital image files into a format that printers can understand and output accurately. They play a vital role in digital printing – helping to determine the colour, pattern and resolution of the final printed product. A good RIP will significantly enhance colour accuracy, workflow automation and print quality. In addition, it will do so through an intuitive, user-friendly interface.   

“A good RIP will significantly enhance colour accuracy, workflow automation and print quality”

RIP software packages generally come with pre-configured settings that align with the capabilities of the printer and are optimised for general printing. This provides a baseline for printing that balances factors such as colour accuracy, quality, speed and ink usage. These aspects help with the automation of the basic functions of printing onto film or garments.   

One of the most immediate ways a RIP can improve production is colour accuracy. Most RIPs provide a level of control over colour layers. This is especially relevant on t-shirts – or other garments – with a white under-base layer. This layer makes colours ‘pop’, enabling the use of less white ink and reduction of the possibility of flooding. Additionally, it helps produce a better hand feel for graphics on darker garments.

Some RIPs, including Digital Factory, also offer features allowing users to boost white layers. This can be achieved by setting different highlight and under-base ink volumes in a single-head pass. The RIP will automatically look at the file to be printed and, when using white, will simply apply extra amounts in the white areas of the design. This automation is a key advantage to modern RIP software. Automation delivers the benefits of efficiency, while maintaining output quality and consistency.

Each time an inaccurate colour output needs to be corrected, it leads to a waste of time and resources. This is another area where the power of the RIP can be seen. A good RIP will display the right colours on the preview screen and communicate directly to the output device. This ensures that when colours are matched, the machine gets the right message. By adjusting or creating new colour profiles in the RIP, a company’s ‘brand shade’ is assured. It will be consistent across different output devices, inks and substrates.

Software RIPs also greatly assist in streamlining tasks such as file preparation, colour correction and job queuing. This means that workflows can be efficiently managed, in addition to delivering accurate results for each job. Software RIPs enable the avoidance of costly misprints and free up time for more production. Digital Factory, amongst other advanced RIP solutions, offers even broader features. For example, it works seamlessly with pre-press and post-press components and creates an ecosystem that optimises the entire production chain.

This RIP software changes the size, shape and layout of images imported in bulk. It also alters areas of a design that include text to sequential numbers, such as serialised badges. In addition, Digital Factory assigns images to different areas of a design – an entire folder could become ID badges. It sends files to a specific print queue with custom settings, as well as generating cut lines around images. This can be useful when making stickers. Finally, Digital Factory sets up a custom action to apply to a file, when importing it to the RIP. 

More automation tools are available, with the increase of RIP features. The RIP provider likely offers short how-to videos and support documentation. This support makes it easy to automate repetitive actions and streamline job preparation.   

The advanced capabilities offered by modern RIP software are a game-changer in the world of DTF and DTG printing. From simple settings changes – such as white layers – to advanced workflow automation. A good RIP significantly improves the quality of output, while simultaneously making print operations easier and more efficient. For a long time, the world of cut-sheet printing has known that, for the best quality and efficiency, the RIP makes the difference.