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<P><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">Ok, now I did a little on-line research on the PS vs. non-PS versions of the HP large-format printers, which brought me to the subject of RIPs (raster image processors). The discussion went something like this. Large format plotters need some help, because of their image size, to "smooth" jaggies on fonts and to "blend" colors on images, such as photos (including aerial photos). The hardware/software that accomplishes this is called a RIP.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">PostScript is the most common RIP, however, the hardware versions usually pre-installed in your printer are excruciatingly slow compared to stand-alone software RIPs. However, the tab for software RIPs can run anywhere from $3 - 7k, so there is a trade-off (plus many of the RIP software vendors are very small companies, without a great deal of solvency). So, you can either go without a RIP (e.g., an HP 5500), go with a hardware RIP (e.g., an HP5500ps) or go with the former (HP5500) and buy a software RIP.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=4 FACE="Arial">Any suggestions, or is this all new territory for y'all, the same as it is for me????</FONT>
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<P><B><FONT SIZE=5 FACE="Monotype Corsiva">-- John</FONT></B>
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