Getting Started with Wasatch SoftRIP

Setup with SoftRIP is an easy, straightforward process. Begin by selecting one of the available print units from the drop down Unit Window at the top right of the main screen. Setup is then an easy three step process:

To make these selections, select Setup from the Print menu or click on the "Blue Gears" icon, in the upper left, to launch the Setup screen (Illustration 1).



Illustration 1: Starting the Setup Window


1. Select a Printer Model

Select your printer from the Printer Model drop down list on the Setup screen (Illustration 2). There are sometimes multiple listings for one printer model to reflect variations in inkset, print mode or resolution. Select the printer listing that matches your specific print scenario.



Illustration 2: The Setup Window


2. Select an Imaging Configuration

The SoftRIP Imaging Configuration includes all of the settings that will affect your final color output. Click the Imaging Configuration drop down list to select the Imaging Configuration that matches your ink, media, and print settings. If you select an Imaging Configuration that is based on a different print mode than you have selected, SoftRIP will automatically update the Printer Model to be consistent with the Imaging Configuration.

Note that the drop down list will only display Imaging Configurations that have been installed to your hard drive. Click the Download button to install additional Imaging Configurations. Not all printers have Imaging Configurations available.

To learn more about the Imaging Configuration and printer controls that can be accessed from the Edit button on the Setup screen, visit the online help content about Imaging Configurations.

NOTE: The Imaging Configurations available for SoftRIP have been generated by the Wasatch technical staff, or by associates of Wasatch Computer Technology. Although these configurations are "generic", they should provide excellent results under most conditions. These Imaging Configurations are based on optimum printer settings for the print conditions described. SoftRIP also provides several levels of additional operator color control, described in detail in the color section of online help.


3. Select a Physical Connection

On the Setup window, select the Physical Connection you will use to connect to the printer. Ethernet (TCP/IP), USB, and Firewire connections are recommended for most current wide-format printers. A Setup button (or TCP/IP button) is located to the right of the Physical Connection window. Read more about this topic in the Physical Connections, in the Printers section of online help.


Other Settings

The other options on the Setup menu (Paper Width, Print Origin, Crop Marks and Register Marks) are described in the discussion of print controls. These settings are not required for making an initial test print. The Setup screen also shows contour cutting controls. These settings are grayed out unless you have enabled the optional Contour Cutting module.

Making your First Print

Once you have made your setup selections, click OK. The System tab on the main screen now shows your Printer Model selection in blue.

Before printing a "real" job, we suggest making at least one test print to ensure your system and connections are in working order. This process will also familiarize you with the basics of RIPing and printing a job. For a quick print test, try the color.ps file, located in the psfiles folder installed with SoftRIP on your hard drive. Otherwise, you may select any appropriate image file supported by SoftRIP.

To print your test file, select the Job tab at the top of the main screen and use the File menu to Open your test image. A Raster Image Processor (RIP) will launch on your task bar that displays the process of the preview being loading. When the process completes, a preview of your file will display on the Job tab. Select RIP and Print from the Print menu (Illustration 3).



Illustration 3: Rip and Print Selection

A Raster Image Processor (RIP) will launch on your task bar during RIPing, followed by a Print Spooler. Clicking on either of these in the task bar will launch windows providing processing status information with a progress bar. As your job is processed, you will see changes on the System tab. As a job is being RIP'd in Unit 1, "Job Waiting" will briefly appear next to RIP Queue 1, followed by "Output Waiting" next to Print Queue 1.

Important Note!

You must always make sure that the Queue Processing Active box, at the top left of the main screen, is checked. When this box is unchecked NO new jobs will begin processing. This safety setting is useful when you need to stop your production in a hurry, but can create problems if it is unchecked by accident. When the box is unchecked, it will flash red and read Queue Processing Not Active.   Jobs are not RIP'd or Printed when the box is unchecked.