(v13) The final output raster

This page applies to Harlequin v13.1r0 and later; both Harlequin Core and Harlequin MultiRIP

In the Harlequin RIP, the properties of the final output Raster, such as the list of Channels, the order of the channels in that list, the way the channels are interleaved, and the number of bits per channel per pixel, are fixed during page-device instantiation (for example, setpagedevice).

These are usually tailored towards the needs of the final output device driver or plugin.

This in turn stems largely from the Harlequin RIP's history of avoiding buffer underruns on film-setter devices and the like.

On occasions, compromises have to be made in the choice of raster format, imposing more work on the final output device driver or plugin, but these are avoided wherever possible.