Wide and grand format

wide and grand format theme
Innovation is driving growth in this segment of the print market, together with increasing popularity of outdoor advertising and demand for point of sale graphics. New technologies have enabled significantly higher performance in recent years, and that trend is set to continue for some time. OEMs need flexible technology to incorporate into their software applications to drive their wide and grand format devices. Global Graphics native PDF and PostScript RIP are under the hood of some of the industry’s best known RIP products.

Proofing, pre-flight and ink estimation

ink estimation Maximise the value of your RIPs in the Digital Front End by using them for other purposes.

Conformance and compatibility

In choosing a RIP for a wide-format solution, an OEM should bear in mind the costs of providing support to their users. Support costs can be minimized by using a renderer that accurately conforms to the relevant page description language (PDL) specifications, e.g. PDF and PostScript®. Compatibility with common applications used to create or view those PDLs is also important in meeting user expectations, especially when they are not precisely aligned with the format specifications.

Performance and footprint

OEMs need software that is scalable, modular and delivers performance across a wide range of use, from traditional design studio devices to high-speed printers for POS and exhibition signage, to huge systems for car, bus and even building wraps. The performance of each solution must match the price point of the device being driven, and the expectations of users, without making the bill of materials for that solution so high that it becomes unattractive.

Customizable integration

Key selling points for wide and grand format systems are workflow, quality and, increasingly, performance. Quality encapsulates accurate rendering, color management and screening. Workflow options are best delivered by an OEM who fully understands the specific requirements of their market segments, but the selected renderer must play its part in delivering against the other targets.

An ideal RIP supplier will enable efficient and secure integration of an OEM’s own intellectual property, e.g. for color management and screening, while providing solid offerings in those areas for OEMs who have not chosen to develop their own.