LFP - Large-Format-Printing
Mimaki releases new versions of RasterLink Pro RIP and Profile Master workflow software
Friday 01. February 2008 - Colour Management on JV-series is now made easier with upgrades to both software packages. RasterLink Pro III RIP now includes advanced ICC profiling and Profile Master II enables equalisation of multiple output devices for greater productivity.
Mimaki Engineering, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers and cutting machines for the sign/graphics, textile/apparel and industrial markets, announces the availability of Raster Link Pro III and Profile Master II. These greatly enhanced versions help printers to easily attend to everyday tasks such as advanced ICC profiling and printer equalization.
Another new feature in RasterLink Pro III is smooth 16-bit rendering. Especially rapid gradations of tone values tended to show tone jumps in the past. This is now eliminated, as the new 16-bit rendering outputs smooth gradations. RasterLink Pro III also automatically converts users existing 8 bit profiles into new 16 bit profiles, suitable for both 8 bit and, of course, 16 bit rendering. Despite the additional RIP processing required for 16-bit rendering overall RIP thoughput is maintained or even improved.
Mimakis White Layer Print functionality has also been enhanced. Prints on transparent materials are printed simultaneously with white either underneath or over the image to create very vivid and beautiful prints. Additionally the white layer can be applied to graduated tints on transparent materials by means of the colour replacement feature.
Very useful and popular is the ink cost calculation feature in RasterLink Pro III. On the basis of ink coverage, the software calculates the ink usage while ripping. The system then displays the consumption for each colour for a selected profile. Thus printers are able to calculate and invoice the exact costs of jobs to each client account.
Effective and efficient nesting of images for enhanced productivity and waste reduction as well as the renowned easy to use image editing functions of RasterLink Pro such as tiling, trimming, rotation, scaling etc., support high operator productivity and performance.
RasterLink Pro III can be used in hybrid environments of Windows and Macintosh computers. Within Mimaki Profile Master II the new calibration and equalization functions offer printers a new threshold of printing accuracy and consistency.
Traditionally print head replacement results in slight colour variations. Profile Master II takes care of this and calibrates your printer in such a way that these differences are detected and adjusted, so that every print looks the same – even after print head changes.
In addition Mimaki Profile Master IIs equalization feature creates a consistent and highly accurate colour environment for all identical printers in a shop. It allows printers to quickly respond to bulk orders by clustering. The equalization feature allows the use of several output devices simultaneously as it calibrates all printers to the same colour values thereby enhancing performance, productivity and accuracy at the same time.
“We are proud that we can offer our customers such encompassing workflow and mature colour management tools for streamlining and enhancing their productivity and performance while using our JV-series of large and superwide format printers”, says Sakae Sagane, Managing Director Mimaki Europe B.V. “In using Mimakis high quality printers our customers have already decided for top of the class equipment to execute their jobs. We are now happy that we can support them with similarly state-of-the-art software products for todays demanding market.”
RasterLink ProIII is in the box with every purchase of JV33 series (JV33-130/JV33-160) and JV5 series (JV5-130/JV5-160/JV5-320) printers.