Sublimation Software

Overview (Profiles)

To enable you to print accurate colors with a large format plotter you will need to use a piece of software called a RIP.

Small desktop printers do not require any special software to print images. Large format printers are different, and require a software program that will interpret the data being sent to the printer and convert it so that the printer understands it. The RIP will also apply color correction to the image by utilizing what is called and ICC profile which once set up in your software automatically takes care of most color adjustments.

There are many types of RIPS available worldwide and each of them will offer pros and cons but, one thing they all have in common is that they are all relatively expensive, ranging from $2500.00 up to several thousand dollars for a server type RIP. You would think that your printer manufacturer would include a RIP with your printer but unfortunately they don't and those that do only offer limited capabilities so you are much better of purchasing a stand alone package.

The 3 predominant RIPS that are available in North America are Onyx, Wasatch and Ergosoft, and although we offer profiles for the Onyx and Wasatch the RIP we use in house, support, sell and recommended is Poster Print by Ergosoft. Of all the RIPS we have tested we find Ergo Soft to be not only the most user friendly but it also provides print quality second to none. Couple this with the fact that when you need technical support you will be able to speak to either someone at Sawgrass Technologies that uses the RIP 7 days a week producing thousands of products a month in a true production environment or directly with someone at Ergosoft who wrote the software.

Also with a RIP color accuracy counts and here at Tropical we have spent years honing our skills at color management in the real world. We have 100s of customers world wide that purchase imprinted goods from us. We produce products for a wide range of customers from huge theme parks like Disney & Seaworld and over 300 high end stores and art galleries in Florida. We also represent approx. 50 different award winning artists. Oh and did we mention that we obtained a national contract with a retail chain to provide a special imaged fabric that because of our imaging skills we generated a custom profile that allowed the image to penetrate both sides of the fabric.

The bottom line is when it comes to color accuracy "Nobody Does It Better" and if you need a custom profile for a specific substrate we will make it for you.