Maybe I should rephrase this ...
I understand the need for a RIP if printing multiple colors where the dots must align correctly.
But, if I am only printing 1 color and have no need for dot alignment, why do I need a RIP?
Alex
When printing with inkjet technology, different papers absorb the ink at different rates. Epson's own driver knows this and has profiles that adjust ink density (the amount of ink laid down), correctly for each ink and each paper substrate.
If you pick an alternative function for your inkjet printer, such as Polijet, JetPlate or Glunz & Jensen's iCtP then the ink can not be absorbed... SO the volume of ink that is laid down is critical.
A normal proofing RIP can output in colour composite only, or you can force the colours to Monochrome. Trying to make the image Magenta only doesn't always work, as a standard proofing solution / the Epson driver will use 25% Light Magenta in highlights to help balance the tonal range... This will not give great results..
A good RIP can be set to direct a single channel's output to any of the Epsons' printing channels (Depending upon the RIP). The Wassatch SoftRIP can do this, the Jetplate RIp and teh G&J PlateWriter RIP.
In addition the G&J RIP goes further, and, can set the transfer function of when a small dot becomes a medium dot, and medium to large, or how many large / medium / small dots there are in a given solid area.
Without this control, solids over ink and reverse text fills in..
Back to why a RIP is important...Irrespective of which solution you choose, other than using it to seperate your jobs, and directing it to the correct channel for outputting...it controls the volume of ink delivered to the substrate. Without it, you are likely to "FLOOD" the area with ink.
If the over inking is too server,the amount of calibration required to try to reduce it, will also reduce the number of levels of grey within the image, thus creating steps in the gradients.
If you ONLY print text and line work... the only artifact you are likely to see without the RIP, is some degree of the text becoming fatter, or reverses filling in.
But, as soon as you add solid areas, halftones or gradients the need increases.
