OUTPUT

Back in the days where RIPs were starting to show they brought more to the party than a set of algorithms designed to tell your printer what data to put where, Caldera was a product which sat on its own. In a world dominated by the Windows platform, there were few exceptions taking the Linux and, even, the Macintosh route. But this Strasbourg-based company was one of them.

Both Caldera's Linux and Apple interfaces have always featured a GUI which is logical and easy to work with, and this hasn't changed in version 9 of its software. There are arguments for and against, but the company has continued to incorporate Adobe's latest print engine updates which, with APPE 2.5, reflects greater emphasis on PDF rendering and workflow in the wide-format space.

Control of colour, and the importance of its fidelity in final output on a variety of devices, has always been one of the strong points of Caldera's software, too. This latest revision incorporates additional tools, including simplification of last-minute revisions and corrections, and a multi-page PDF document of reference colours to make it easy to produce accurate shades, essential for branding and other colour-critical applications.

Caldera has also introduced its Global Rasterisation option for previewing files, including documents with transparency or overprint information, and an advanced Spooler. This lets users re-open a job within the print window and check or resubmit it using different parameters and settings. The LiveSpooler option has an exchange protocol, based on XML, so that it is straightforward to monitor offline devices and improve production workflow.

The integration of APPE 2.5 also carries additional benefits, such as improved memory management and the potential for Form XObjects which allows repetitive elements to be stored once in a PDF file yet be referenced multiple times. In terms of speeding up workflow and RIPping times, this is a valuable feature for jobs incorporating variable data and versioning.

Among the new features in the options for colour profiling is a neat relinearisation tool that lets users resynchronise an ICC profile with present printing conditions, such as print-head behaviour and shifts in ink density. This EasyMedia option is particularly useful with machines which have been idle or had a head change.

One of the tools designed to improve smoothness and colour rendering is the integration of i1Prism V2, X-Rite's i1Profiler engine geared to add flexibility to digital workflows. Caldera has also joined forces with Alwan whose InkPerformer is designed to optimise and reduce ink usage, with savings generated of around 20 percent.

Computer users only familiar with the Windows operating systems might shy away from moving their RIP platform to a Macintosh or Linux based option. But, with its simplicity and today's networking, this doesn't mean that existing workstations running editing and everyday software are affected. Likewise, Apple users who haven't made the move to 10.7 Lion can rest assured that Caldera v9 will run quite happily on 10.5 (Leopard) and 10.6 (Snow Leopard). For Linux, the software is compatible with Caldera's custom versions of Kubuntu and Debian.

Target audience
Users wanting to get the flexibility of working with a production software package that incorporates APPE 2.5 are going to be those who need advanced RIP features. Caldera is particularly strong in environments with multiple devices all needing consistency of output and efficient workflow.

Relevant applications
Caldera v9 is suitable for any wide-format or nested applications where fast production speeds and advanced colour accuracy are key.

Price
Prices start at £877, but typically from £2,643 for VisualRIP+. Upgrade from Caldera VisualRIP+ v8 to v9 is from £843.

Pros and cons
This is a fully functioning RIP and production software package which includes advanced features that not everyone might need on a day-to-day basis. It comes in a variety of options from a single driver up to multiple high-end production printers, so there's plenty of choice for getting the right level of product. Devotees to the Windows platform might not want to move to Apple or Linux but, with latter, the learning curve is only minimal.

Verdict
Caldera v9 software is a robust option for display producers who want a comprehensive range of options in their production software. It might not be the easiest to learn, either from scratch or from having experience of alternative RIPs, but the time spent getting to grips with it is definitely worthwhile.

Ease of use: 3/5
Speed: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Versatility: 5/5