Font rendering problem

[mschroeder]

I have a question about the font rendering of 2 ink jet rips being different.
On the GMG the font is sharp and tight. On the Oris rip the font is soft.
I understand the Oris Rip uses the native dithering patterns as opposed to what GMG might be doing.

Which is correct?

 

[Mark H]

Fonts are a tough one, especially if there is some kind of dynamic smoothing or dithering being applied by the RIP. First questions I would are are: What type of font is it? and Is it embedded in the document or brought in dynamically on the machine?

Mark H

 

[mschroeder]

It is embedded in the PDF. It is a open type Helvetica NeueLTStd font.

 

[TerryWyse]

You're sending the same exact PDF to both RIPs?

I'm not sure about ORIS but I've seen PDFs that go through GMG's RIPServer software to create a TIFF have much better type rendering than a TIFF with the same resolution coming from other workflows or methods. It has to do with RIPServer's sampling and anti-aliasing when it renders the PDF to a raster TIFF.

I would look into ORIS and see what options it may have when converting PDF to raster....there might be some anti-alias or resolution settings that need adjusted or experimented with.

For GMG's RIPServer, I generally set the output resolution to 800ppi with an anti-alias (AA) of 3 using the "triangle" sampling method. In any case, you should make sure your output resolution is set to something higher than the native resolution of the printer. Softness can come as much from oversampling (too-high AA value) coupled with too-low resolution. Best to use high resolution and lower AA value than the other way 'round.

Regards,
Terry Wyse

 

[mschroeder]

It is the same PDF. We have the GMG rip here in our plant while the Oris is on site at the customer's site, controlled by another company.

Customer wants to know why the two proofs are different looking.

BTW
Oris also looks like the customer's laser which doesn't go thru a rip.

Our laser goes thru an EFI Fiery rip. Our laser looks like our GMG proof.

 

[TerryWyse]

Is the customer's PDF going DIRECTLY to the ORIS RIP or is it going through some other workflow (Rampage, Nexus, Trueflow, Prinergy, etc.) before getting sent to ORIS? That could make a big difference.

The simple thing to check is making sure you are both rendering the PDF to the same resolution and also using the same output/printer resolution (720 vs. 1440 for example).

Terry

 

[mschroeder]

I think using GMG's 3D sharpness on the Hot Folder setup is causing it. Had it set to 5 on a scale of 1-10.


I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier.

 

[TerryWyse]

I think using GMG's 3D sharpness on the Hot Folder setup is causing it. Had it set to 5 on a scale of 1-10.

I seriously doubt that's the issue. I'll bet a dozen donuts that it's GMG RIPServer that is IMPROVING the type rendering. Type that is too-bold is generally the bane of inkjet proofs but passing the PDF thru RIPServer usually gives you type that looks more like the final press output.

As a test, rasterize the PDF in Photoshop using the same resolution as you're using in RIPServer and save it as a TIFF. Proof this Photoshop TIFF next to the RIPServer TIFF on the same proof and see if there's a difference. My guess is that the PS TIFF will have fatter type.

Instead of thinking that GMG is the problem, consider it's type rendering via RIPServer a *feature*!



Regards,
Terry