In graphic arts and prepress, RIP is the abbreviation for:
- Raster Image Processor
- Rest In Proportion
Raster Image Processor
A Raster Image Processor is a software module used in a printing system to convert a description of the content of a page into information that can be output on paper, film, plates, or any other substrate. If that software runs on a dedicated computer, the entire computer is sometimes called the RIP. A RIP is nowadays sometimes also referred to as a renderer.
- The data sent to a RIP are the pages or the artwork that needs to be output. This content is described using a page description language such as PostScript, PDF, XPS or using a bitmap file.
- The output of a RIP is a bitmap image that the engine writes on the selected media, such as paper, printing plates,…
- The processing that is carried out by the RIP is either called ‘ripping’ or ‘rendering’. More information on that proces can be found here.
Rest In Proportion
An instruction when giving sizes to artwork or photographs that other parts of the artwork are to be enlarged or reduced in proportion.