I realize that Digital RIPs in general don't do transparency well; I'm curious on any insights why this is.

Is it just difficulty with the complexity of programming involved? Disagreement about standards? Adobe licensing fees? What is it?

I know very little about the inner workings of software but have been curious about this issue since I started using digital color production devices.

Because PostScript, the language spoken by all Digital Output devices, doesn't understand transparency. The fact that Adobe has abandoned development of PostScript in favor of PDF (which is NOT a programming language), proves how far they've strayed from their roots as a graphic arts vendor, and is a serious mistake on their part.

Very good question...

Transparency came along long after postscript 3 was released.

Some harlequin (non-adobe) RIPs handle transparency without problem. The DFE on the Indigo is a great example of this.

Why Xerox, Creo, Kodak and EFI haven't been able to get transparency support in postscript is an Adobe issue.

However, Kodak did announce back at GraphExpo that Prinergy and the Kodak Nexstation (DFE for the Nexpress) will be PDF Print Engine based which means transparency issues should be solved.

I have not heard similar announcements from Xerox and EFI but I would assume they are working towards fixing this.

There are simple ways to fix it up stream. Print out of Acrobat, use something else to flatten the file back to 1.3, etc.

No doubt it is a pain...

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and think this forum is great!

I do have a few comments to transparencies. I have several customers that insist on designing with transparencies. They always use "white" as a color (which it isn't) and make it transparent. Although, this is ok for on-screen visual you can't print a transparent white because 50% of white is still white.

I find when I print these types of items you get the white boxes around the objects. Same with adding shadows in Adobe programs. Now I don't have that problem with shadows added in Quark. And I agree that it is an Adobe problem and not completely a Rip problem. (I have had long conversations with Adobe and Kodak on this)

What I find is the best output method for these situations is printing or making a PDF using Adobe products with RGB settings and Simulate Overprint checked. This is the closest color match I have found. The Nexpress prints these files very well.



Lorie