[Omni]

Just got an Epson 1430. Looking to get a RIP and have been reading about Film maker. Do I first install Epson 1430 print driver before installing Film maker? Does Film maker support Stochastic or Random Dot Pattern printing? Can Film maker print from other art programs besides Photoshop and Corel programs? I have a couple of Lettering/Art programs I use for designing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tj Ryonet Tech]

They are not set up for the 1430. 1400 and 1410 yes but not the 1430.

 

[sben763]

TJ Filmmaker V3 does support the 1430. Install your print driver first. Then install filmmaker. You will have to then install the printer under devices in filmmaker. Choose to get the driver off the web that box is not checked by default. After that you will need to go to the queue and choose the port. Choose the 1430 port that you installed earlier. I don't have any affiliation with filmmaker but if you have problems you can pm me and I will even help you on the phone if needed. No stochastic dot. It has variable dot support so it uses the variable dot tech that epson built in the printer no other RIP does this. The only RIP that supports stochastic dot is Wasatch that I know of. Someone here said that there might be a add on with stochastic dot but cadlink would neither confirm this when I asked.

Also I believe that if you have V2 the upgrade to V3 if free but I am not positive.

Filmmaker can print from any program as long as you install control panel from it. It put a icon in you devices and just choose this when printing.

I will be available in a few hrs if needed

 

[Tj Ryonet Tech]

Good to know. Thank you. I did not see it as an option when I downloaded the trial.

 

[sben763]

TJ I wish you guys would make a deal and become a reseller, I know you guys sell accurip and it's is an great RIP but filmmaker is an excellent RIP. I did trials a few times before choosing. For everyday halftones either does a great job. But where filmmaker excels is gradients and tonal changes and has a slightly better price point. Downside is harder to set up especially when printing all channels in black. Accurip has the advantage when it comes to easy setup.

 

[Omni]

SBEN....Thank you for the info, I greatly appreciate it. Also I appreciate your offer to talk, and I may give you a call when the time comes to set a RIP......Can you clarify what you mean when you say Variable Dot? You also mention "Choose to get the driver off the web that box is not checked by default"......What do you mean by this?

 

[ScreenFoo]

As I understand it, it uses the piezo-electric head with weaker or stronger currents to deposit more or less ink to accurately control the dot size. --Don't quote me on this, but I believe accurip uses the variance in current--but only as an opacity tool, not to control the dot size. I'm always interested in learning more about that stuff...

Have they integrated mixed dots (ordered and stochastic) halftoning yet? I think it was Pierre that mentioned a while back that it's already been programmed into the engine, but that the interface hasn't been implemented yet.

 

[sben763]

Tyson answered the first question and basically spot on but the electrical pulses charge the ink to control the size of the dot if I understand it correctly and depending on the resolution your printing will determine the 3 dot sizes that will be used when printing. [media]http://pos.epson.com/lp/epson-color-works/pdf/Micro_Piezo_White_Paper.pdf[/media]. Some info on the actual technology. I do not know what accurip actually uses for its density but by their own admission the only print 1 size dot for halftones and the 2 different projects I tested it was very evident in the gradients when printed. I printed form both RIPs and there were some major differences in gradients hold the films up and on solid halftone areas the lined up almost exactly but in the gradients it was very different. I changed the setting in filmmaker to only print the #2 size dot and the they lined up even in the gradients. I spent a lot of time testing to make sure I was spending the best dollar I could. I was willing to spent the full price on accurip if it was the best choice for me. The bonus was I had fastrip 9.0 with dongle from a shop I bought out years ago and it didn't support my printer but found out I could upgrade that to filmmaker for around $200.

Question #2. After installing epson print driver and After installing your rip you have to install a rip device in the rip software there will be 2 boxes 1 say something about searching the CDROM the 2nd box say search something about search dedicated servers. The first one is checked the second is not. Checking the second box will will greatly reduce any errors.

 

[bluemoon]

As I understand it, it uses the piezo-electric head with weaker or stronger currents to deposit more or less ink to accurately control the dot size. --Don't quote me on this, but I believe accurip uses the variance in current--but only as an opacity tool, not to control the dot size. I'm always interested in learning more about that stuff...

Have they integrated mixed dots (ordered and stochastic) halftoning yet? I think it was Pierre that mentioned a while back that it's already been programmed into the engine, but that the interface hasn't been implemented yet.

I was told almost a year ago that they stochastic dot engine is done and that the interface is not ready. They started to work on it but got pulled away for another project. I'll drop them a line to see what they say.

As far as Film Maker, it is incredibly powerful and it produces a spectacular gradients. The almost infinite adjustability comes at a price as it requires some clicking to print the film (it is possible to configure it to print without interaction if needed) and some knowledge to take advantage of all the features. AccuRIP's simplicity is brilliant and is a tool any screenprinter can use. Film Maker is more of an advanced RIP with all the bells and whistles.

pierre

 

[sben763]

Pierre was one of the reasons I even looked into filmmaker. Please post here what you hear from them.

I spent some time tweaking and some research getting everything perfected

Note in post #8 there was a link that went to a PDF <http://pos.epson.com/lp/epson-color-works/pdf/Micro_Piezo_White_Paper.pdf> it either didn't embed or was edited. This explains the technology epson uses.

 

[Omni]

Thank you all for the input....I come from the dark ages of the darkroom and lith film......Ran out of film....Got the 1430 for less than a box of lith film, and do see the efficiency of the computer for making positives....