🚀 go-pugleaf

Firstly, I�m making this identical post to the InDesign, Color Management, and Postscript forums, so no need for anyone to read this post in more than one place.

This is probably a question that can best be answered by Epson, however Epson Tech support has not responded to my three emails to them.

The Problem: I just purchased Epson Stylus RIP (PC version) to use with my Epson 2000P printer in order to achieve reasonably accurate color proofs before I send InDesign and Illustrator CMYK jobs to press. So far the results I�m getting are not good. I have always gotten good accurate color in an RGB workflow using the non-RIP Epson driver and the 2000P paper profiles provided by Ian Lyons. I can�t figure out if the problem is how I am configuring the Postscript dialogs or if the problem is with the Epson RIP.

The Epson Stylus RIP progress screen always reports that the quality is set to 720x360dpi Bidirection, no matter what paper selections I have made. The highest dpi this printer is capable of is 1440x720, and that�s what I should get for the Epson Semigloss and photo papers I�m using. My prints are coming out with fine white lines throughout, suggesting that there isn�t as much dot gain on the paper as the RIP is accounting for. (Printing using the non-RIP RGB driver produces good solid colors. The prints are also overall duller than what I expect.

In InDesign, the PPD for the Epson RIP is given as Epson StylusPhoto2000P v3010.106, which looks right. For print space in the InDesign print dialog I have tried using the Epson profiles (CPS StylusPhoto 2000P Premium Semigloss Photo paper) as well as SWOP. In the printer driver settings I have selected the correct media, I have selected SWOP press simulation, and a print quality of 1440x720dpi. For ICM method I have tried Host , Printer and disabled. I�m guessing that Printer is where it should be set. ICM intent has options of Graphics, Picture, Proof and Match. Proof or Match seem like the most logical choices. It would be great if I could find some guide to the implications of all these various settings. I have not gotten that from Epson. Is there Postscript documentation that explains these?

So, to summarize, I know that the output I�m getting from Epson RIP is not similar to what the press will deliver, and it�s terrible compared to the prints I get when going through the regular (non-RIP) Epson driver. I need documentation or advice that will help me achieve an accurate proof, and it doesn�t look like I�m going to get that from Epson.

I look forward to any thoughts anyone has.

Rob