Jaws® 3.0 PDF and PostScript RIP SDK

The Jaws RIP is a fast, compact and architecturally open PostScript and PDF RIP kernel designed for speed, compatibility, flexibility and easy integration. The Jaws RIP is available for Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms. OEMs get full access to the graphics pipeline via the unique Jaws “device class interface” and can implement a wide variety of features such as custom screening, image enhancement algorithms, and color management.

Since 2000 more than five million copies of the Jaws RIP have shipped to users worldwide.

Because of our work focused on maximizing the use of system resources, Jaws 2002.6 customers can expect to see performance improvements of 3-500 per cent (dependent on available resources including number of cores and available memory).

Jaws natively interprets and renders PDF files without first having to convert the data to PostScript. Direct PDF rendering means smaller files, faster processing, and unique capabilities for page-independent output.

Extensive example code is provided and access to our development team can be offered by special arrangement.

The Jaws RIP is used by leading industry players, such as Pitney Bowes, Wasatch, Onyx, and Canon Finetech to drive wide format printers, high speed label printers and high speed production presses. It’s also suitable for specialty applications such as textile, ceramic and silkscreen printing.

Jaws 3.0 - internal structure and connection to OEM code

New in Jaws 3.0

Multi-threading - In Jaws 3.0, portions of the interpretation and rendering steps make efficient use of multi-threading to significantly accelerate output.

Full Parallel Processing

With Jaws 3.0, the full resources of modern systems are available to the RIP. Jaws 3.0 can use all the memory and all the cores on the system to process up to 16 pages (PDF) or 16 jobs (PostScript or PDF) in parallel. OEMs can accept the default Jaws allocation of memory and cores or configure this themselves.

In addition to processing jobs or pages in parallel, Jaws 3.0 also executes multiple parallel threads for a number of processes including transparency blending and color space conversion.

Optimised Transparency Blending

In Jaws 3.0 we look for every opportunity to use multiple threads across multiple cores to accelerate transparency blending. The result is better resource utilization and faster output for today’s high speed devices.

Extensive example code and documentation

Jaws 3.0 is supplied with an up to date reference manual as well as HTML help on the complete Jaws API and function dependencies. Example code covers a wide range of functionality from integrating color management and color substitution, to dealing with encrypted PDF files. The example test harness provides a simple introduction to how the Jaws library is integrated into a larger RIP solution.

Dynamic Memory Allocation

Jaws 3.0’s memory management has been re-written and, in addition to supporting 64-bit addressing, Jaws now dynamically allocates memory based on total system memory. This results in default memory allocations suitable for many more use cases yielding better performance with less customization.

More new features in Jaws 3.0

• Optional pre-display list downsampling can improve performance by reducing excess image resolution before extensive RIP processing occurs
• Improved transparency tiling dynamically selects tile sizes yielding better performance
• Large canvas support for all platforms.
• All example device drivers now support ICC color correction
• Files in excess of 2Gbyte are now supported
• 16-Bit Blend support.

Additional Font Features

In Jaws 3.0 our engineers did a full re-engineering of our PDF font systems to assure improved font handling and compatibility. Jaws 3.0 continues to provide our Font Emulation feature for PDF files. New in Jaws 3.0, users can configure unique default (fall-back) fonts for Roman and CJK font.

• Global Graphics’ Jaws 3.0 offers users a fully native PDF 1.7 and PostScript Language Level 3 RIP suitable for applications proven in applications such as wide format printing, label printing and production print
• Jaws 3.0 brings a fully multi-threaded architecture to a compact, fast and fully features RIP kernel solution
• Our new 64-bit memory manager combined with dynamic memory management and multi-threaded architecture makes this new version of Jaws, by far, our fastest ever with performance improvements of between 300% and 500%
• The Jaws RIP’s open architecture has been developed to be the foundation on which you build your RIP solution. Whether you are building a product to drive wide format printers, convert PostScript to another Page Description Language or print on birthday cakes, the Jaws RIP has the flexibility to allow you to engineer a solution to fit your specific needs
• With Jaws you may use our available AM and FM screens or you may easily include your own
• Jaws 3.0 ships with a basic set of PostScript fonts as well as suitable default fonts for Roman and CJK fonts. Of course, it’s easy to configure Jaws to use the wide range of font technologies available in the marketplace today including Morisawa font support
• Jaws 3.0 supports a range of pixel, band and frame output formats as well as composite and separated output. Jaws 3.0 supports Device N output. Example code is provided for all of these and customers may write their own output device drivers that support these and other output formats
• Jaws 3.0 provides an API to link 3rd party Color Management Systems
• Jaws 3.0 ships with both extensive example code and supporting documentation.

Onyx Graphics has used the Jaws Rip for both Postscript and PDF file processing to drive large format printing systems since 1999. The Jaws RIP has implemented native interpretation of both Postscript and later PDF files from day one. I love the architecture of Jaws. Its object oriented approach has allowed us to implement customization of the entire rendering chain without the need to get custom “call back” modifications from the RIP provider. I find it much easier to extend and customize than other core RIP engines that I have dealt with. We look forward to integrating the new multi-threaded based implementation of Jaws 3 into our products.

Max Derhak, Senior Software Architect, Onyx Graphics, Inc.

• With Jaws 3.0 you have one RIP suitable for use across the three most popular RIP platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
• Jaws is a proven RIP solution. With more than 5 million copies in use, world wide, in applications as diverse as PostScript to PDF file conversion, wide format printing and high speed production print, Jaws is an industry tested RIP solution
• We release updates the Jaws RIP 8-10 times per year which means your issues are addressed in a timely manner
• Global Graphics backs the Jaws RIP with more than 25 years’ experience in the PostScript and PDF RIP business
• While the Jaws RIP is a solid RIP solution, as important is the team that backs it up. The Global Graphics Support team has an average of over 12 years experiencing support our technology and direct access to our Jaws development team. This means quicker help for you when it’s needed.

Onyx Graphics is a market leader in the large format printing industry. Key to the success of ONYX has been the use of the Jaws RIP engine which we use for both Postscript and PDF file processing. Our customers have come to rely on the quality, consistency, and reliability produced by the Jaws RIP. I have personally been impressed and pleased through the years at the ease at which we are able to integrate each new update of the Jaws engine into our product. We are currently implementing the Jaws 3 technology, and are excited to take advantage of the new multi-threaded capabilities. Global Graphics has been an excellent and critical partner to the success of ONYX.

Kendall Madsen, Director of Engineering, Onyx Graphics, Inc.

Supported Platforms and Build Environments

Libraries for 32 and 64 bit operating systems are provided for all platforms.

File Format Support

• PostScript Language level 1, 2, 3 (3015.102)
• PDF 1.2,1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7 (ISO-32000-1)

Fonts Options

• 35 Type 1 as (CFF)*
• Type 0, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 42
• Multiple master fonts
• TrueType® fonts, directly and as Type 42
• CID fonts (CID Font Type 0, 1, 2, 4)
• Morisawa OEM encrypted Kanji fonts**
• Monotype Imaging MicroType II PostScript 3 136 font set***

Graphics Support

• Separated/composite output:
  • monochrome 1 bit
  • greyscale 4, 8, 16 bit
• composite output:
  • 24-bit RGB (8 bits per colorant)
  • 48-bit RGB (16 bits per colorant)
  • 32-bit CMYK (8 bits per colorant)
  • 64-bit CMYK (16 bits per colorant)
• Anti-aliased 8-bit, 24-bit or 32-bit color

Screening

• Proprietary ‘Accurate Screening’ solution
• FM Screening solution
• Supports arbitrary threshold arrays

Color Output Support

• Composite or separated
• PostScript DeviceN color support

Color Management

• Supports PostScript CRDs
• API to link to 3rd-party Color Management Systems

Typical Applications

• Wide format inkjet printing
• Specialty Graphics such as textiles, signage and Point of Sale displays
• High speed file conversion
• Color proofing
• Embedded systems
• Label printing

Code Size

• Code size approx 2.5MB + fonts + PostScript resources
• Available optional fonts and resources:
  • 1 MB for 35 standard fonts
  • 3.7MB for fallback CJK font
  • 7MB for PostScript resources (mostly CJK support)

• * Requires separate license agreement with Global Graphics
• ** Requires separate license agreement with Morisawa
• *** Requires separate license agreement with Monotype Imaging