Raster Image Process

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The raster image processor ( RIP for short ) is a term used in digital prepress .

Modern layout and prepress programs write their output data in a PostScript file or send PostScript data directly to the output device. The output devices must now generate a raster graphic for the exposure from the vector-based page description . This task is taken over by the RIP, which processes the PostScript data, calculates the individual graphic objects and creates a template that can be exposed in all its details.

One differentiates

• Hardware RIP s, d. H. the computing process is carried out by specially designed hardware
• Software RIP s, d. H. the computing process runs as a process or service on the computer of the output device

In the early days of desktop publishing, hardware RIPs had clear advantages in terms of speed, but they were more expensive and often could not be upgraded to newer PostScript versions, or only at great expense. Software RIPs are standard today, since the computing power of modern processors is sufficient. Most of the time, these computers are equipped with several processors and large RAM and can be easily upgraded with new software versions.