Raster Image Processor
Software that converts an image into the precise droplet pattern a printer lays down, replacing the standard driver.
In depth
A RIP gives control the manufacturer's driver does not: linearisation, ink limiting, custom screening, precise nesting to save paper and consistent output across several machines. For a studio printing in volume, the paper saved by nesting alone often justifies the cost.
Examples in practice
A RIP nests five differently sized prints across one roll width, cutting paper waste by a third.