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View Full Version : Ripping on a MAC - what software you using?

speedmedia
10-26-2010, 12:46 PM
I know this has been brought up but I couldn't find much in a search. Anyone ripping on a MAC and if so which RIP software have you had the most luck with? We are finally getting rid of our last tow PC's left in the shop and moving our rip stations over to Apple as well. Just sick of all of the problems.

I have heard Wasatch is good but just wondered of any others people are having luck with. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kurt
FatCat
10-26-2010, 01:03 PM
I think Wasatch is a great RIP, but didn't realize they made a version for the Mac. I quickly looked at their system requirements and while it does list Mac, they may be referring to the Mac's ability to also run Windows through Bootcamp or VMware Fusion. (You may want to double-check just in case.)

I'm also a mac user, but I have one dedicated Dell PC setup just for my Wasatch RIP. It is not tied into our network just a straight path to and from the printer only. Wasatch has fantastic output quality and color accuracy. It is very easy to use and has several built-in tools that may help your workflow.

Wish I could be of more help in suggesting a Mac RIP. I found it simpler to just use a standalone PC for my RIP and design on my Mac.
bbeens
10-26-2010, 02:02 PM
Wasatch does not run natively on a Mac. We do allow for Mac clients to send jobs via ethernet to hotfolders. But you must have a PC running for Softrip to rip your files.

Bryan
Rooster
10-26-2010, 02:02 PM
Colorburst is what I've used in the past.
Mosh
10-26-2010, 02:03 PM
I rip on Macs all the time...and their users for being hippies...LOL.
speedmedia
10-26-2010, 02:05 PM
I rip on Macs all the time...and their users for being hippies...LOL.

lol... While I am a MAC user, this is still funny and partly true...

Thanks,
Kurt
speedmedia
10-26-2010, 02:08 PM
Colorburst is what I've used in the past.

Colorburst is what I was thinking.... Sorry about the confusion. I am downloading a trial of Shiraz right now as well, heard that is ok to use.

I would stick with the PC just for ripping but everything else we have is APPLE and it just is a pain to have to upgrade all of the different software and such on each platform. If we just run one platform then I don't have to buy the Adobe suites and upgrades everytime. Just trying to streamline the process over here.

Thanks,
Kurt
CiberSupply
10-26-2010, 02:24 PM
Caldera
John Butto
10-26-2010, 02:26 PM
This is the RIP on my MacBook Pro 10.5 which is used just for the printer and it does a great job on colors from banners to photo paper.
Bill Modzel
10-27-2010, 08:48 AM
I started using PosterJet about 8 years ago for my HP5000. It was a genuine Mac RIP and worked well on my Powerbook believe it or not. It was very fast and printed anything I threw at it.

I had to "upgrade" when I bought my HP9000s and the Mac version of PJ wasn't finished yet. I bought a MacPro dual core and set it up with Parallels and the Window's version of PJ with the promise that the Mac version would be ready within the year. Fast forward 4 years and I'm still running it in Parallels. I check in every 6 months or so and ask when it will be Mac again and it's always 6 months or so. It's a great RIP and I'm hoping it will be Mac native again.

I must say that the RIP runs fine but if you loose the USB connection you may be in for a bunch of restarts of the app and/or XP and/or the HP.

I talked with a rep at Xrite last week and she said that EFI eXpress RIP would run on the Mac. I haven't looked into this yet but I am interested. Caldera is the Unix/MAc RIP usually recommended.

Isn't Colorburst Epson only?
Rooster
10-30-2010, 03:20 AM
Isn't Colorburst Epson only?

Not any more. Epson heads of all flavors (Mimaki, Roland, Mutoh) and some cutter software too.

Damn good rip.
WildWestDesigns
10-30-2010, 08:20 AM
If you use software like Parrells, you should be able run any windows RIP software on your MAC. You just also have to get the PC OS for the virtual drive that is created on the MAC.

I will mention that I have heard through the grapevine that the latest MAC OS is supposedly to come out with support for Windows programs without the need of separate programs. Don't know the validity of that happening or not, but there are ways around the issue.
johnnysigns
10-30-2010, 08:26 AM
We're running Caldera on our mac station.
ProColorGraphics
10-30-2010, 11:14 PM
We're running Caldera on our mac station.

What do you think of Caldera? I am looking at getting the VisualRip+. I was given what I throught was a good price for a RIP. Just trying to decide between that and Onyx.
2972renfro
10-30-2010, 11:22 PM
If you use software like Parrells, you should be able run any windows RIP software on your MAC. You just also have to get the PC OS for the virtual drive that is created on the MAC.

I will mention that I have heard through the grapevine that the latest MAC OS is supposedly to come out with support for Windows programs without the need of separate programs. Don't know the validity of that happening or not, but there are ways around the issue.

Doubtful. You need a valid Windows license to run Windows programs. That should not change. Anything else would circumvent some EULA

It certainly won't happen on Mac OSx Lion

Darwine project is what you are thinking of. Not produced by apple but rather some other developer
speedmedia
12-03-2010, 03:14 PM
So I installed Parallels on my computer hoping to install either Onyx or RasterLink on it but it doesn't support Firewire. Of course it supports everything else but this damn JV3 I have is Firewire, which is the cause of much of my problems anyways.

Anyone know a way to get around the Firewire issue in Parallels?

Thanks,
Kurt
WildWestDesigns
12-03-2010, 03:20 PM
Darwine project is what you are thinking of. Not produced by apple but rather some other developer

Gotcha. I didn't know the validity of it, just what I had heard. I personally like the Parallels program, but I haven't had an issue with it either, so I haven't had to see the other side of it which is customer support. Which on some things have soured their overall appeal to me.
WildWestDesigns
12-03-2010, 03:21 PM
Anyone know a way to get around the Firewire issue in Parallels?


Wish I could help you out with that. I've never used FireWire.
cgsigns_jamie
12-03-2010, 03:32 PM
Make sure you map the Firewire Device (the printer) in Parallels.

I switched from Parallels to Fusion so I don't have the ability to walk you through it at the moment.

Basically you need to open up the preferences for the virtual machine. Then go to devices, select Firewire, and make sure the printer is mapped to the virtual machine and not the Mac.
speedmedia
12-03-2010, 05:21 PM
Make sure you map the Firewire Device (the printer) in Parallels.

I switched from Parallels to Fusion so I don't have the ability to walk you through it at the moment.

Basically you need to open up the preferences for the virtual machine. Then go to devices, select Firewire, and make sure the printer is mapped to the virtual machine and not the Mac.

Does Fusion support Firewire? I am not married to Parallels I just tried that as an option.

Otherwise in Parallels I am trying to do what you suggested but there is no option for Firewire. I was told Parallels doesn't support firewire. Is this the workaround for this?

Any more info is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kurt
speedmedia
12-03-2010, 05:23 PM
Not any more. Epson heads of all flavors (Mimaki, Roland, Mutoh) and some cutter software too.

Damn good rip.

I downloaded their demo and it only lists Epson printers to install. Another dead end... Darn it!!!!

Anyone else have that issue or a way to resolve it?

Thanks,
Kurt
cgsigns_jamie
12-03-2010, 07:10 PM
Does Fusion support Firewire? I am not married to Parallels I just tried that as an option.

Otherwise in Parallels I am trying to do what you suggested but there is no option for Firewire. I was told Parallels doesn't support firewire. Is this the workaround for this?

Any more info is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Kurt

I just researched it and, no, Fusion doesn't support FireWire yet either.

Sorry :(
speedmedia
12-04-2010, 10:19 AM
How about installing it with a print server? Anyone have any idea how that is done?

The reason I am going through all of this is because I keep getting error 10 code constantly and am wasting, time, ink and vinyl at a rapid pace. I am sick of it. Needless to say I have tried several different computers, rips, firewire cards and setups, firewire cables everything you can imagine and it keep doing it. I am trying to see if running it on my other computer, which happens to be an Apple, which has a much better Firewire setup than any of my PC's will fix the problem.

I am open to any suggestions otherwise as well if anyone has any ideas.

Thanks,
Kurt
johnnysigns
12-04-2010, 11:32 AM
What do you think of Caldera? I am looking at getting the VisualRip+. I was given what I throught was a good price for a RIP. Just trying to decide between that and Onyx.

Sorry, I just saw this. It does the job well for us although we're probably only scratching the surface on what it can do in the hands of someone that really knows how to operate all it's tools. I'm quite happy with it and I came from mainly using Onyx.