User`s manual

Chapter 1 - Introduction
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FastRIP 10.0 User’s Manual
A New Era for Inkjet Printers
FastRIP and an inkjet printer now offer a low cost solution to film output. Traditionally printers
have had to use large format laser printers for film output.
Although this has been a standard practice for years, “mis-registration” has been an ongoing
struggle with no solution. Laser printers use fusing rollers to heat up the media, thereby caus-
ing shrinkage and poor registration. e lack of good toner deposit and the matte finish of laser
acetate and vellum have caused screen printers headaches for years. Often the only solution has
been adjusting exposure to times that are too short for screen durability.
For those who demanded better registration and denser images, the only option was to use a dry
thermal system. At $7,000 to $15,000 per system, one got excellent registration but lower resolu-
tion than an inkjet. Film Imagesetters were the final solution. ey have excellent registration,
high resolution for sharper images, and very dense Black areas, but they come with a very hefty
price tag. Starting at $20,000 and going up from there, these systems are generally not a viable
option for most garment decoration businesses.
e combination of FastRIP and an EPSON 4000, 4800, 4880, 7800, 7880, 9800 or 9880
inkjet printer allows you to produce “near-Imagesetter” quality images without requiring you to
take out a second mortgage on your home. It is now possible to get excellent registration, dense
Black and sharp edges using standard off-the-shelf ink and clear film that is readily available in a
variety of sizes.
th e tR a d e -o F F
ere are trade-offs to using an inkjet that are greatly minimized when you compare the cost sav-
ings. An inkjet printer is not as fast as a laser, dry film system or Imagesetter. A color separation
that might normally take five minutes for each film to print, may take up to eight or nine min-
utes for the inkjet. While this does not seem like a big issue, when outputting dozens of films per
day, this may be a bottleneck for some shops. Computer processor speed and RAM have a huge
impact on the computer “ripping” time.
If speed is an issue, invest in another EPSON, a second copy of FastRIP and a computer work-
station. e cost savings over a traditional Imagesetter will still be substantial.
Also, inkjet film needs to dry for a few minutes. You may need to find a system for hanging film
(we used to do this when we had cameras). An inkjet may require a little more maintenance than
traditional systems. Regular head cleanings should be performed.
Printing from the Epson 4000, 4800, 4880, 7800, 7880, 9800 and 9880, will get you excellent
registration with roll or sheet media.