Harlequin RIP basic functions
This page applies to Harlequin v13.1r0 and later; both Harlequin Core and Harlequin MultiRIP.
The Harlequin RIP, as supplied, provides interpretation and rendering capability for multiple job data formats and will process these documents to generate raster image data. PostScript language files can also be interpreted for use as control files. Also provided is the ability to process color management and screening operations. A fuller list of features follows in the next section, Capabilities of the Harlequin RIP.
The Harlequin RIP comes in two forms, which have largely the same capabilities:
- Harlequin MultiRIP, an application with an integrated GUI, sold through Xitron (a Hybrid Software Group Company)
- Harlequin Core SDK, an SDK with example backends and a test harness
For input, the Harlequin RIP provides interpretation of:
- PDF files, including various PDF/X versions
- PostScript and Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) language files
- Raster files in JPEG (JFIF), TIFF, HDPhoto (JPEG/XR), PNG, and other formats
A full list of input formats is in Page Description Languages and other input formats.
For output, there are many options for raster image formats:
- Halftoned and continuous tone
- 1, 2, 4, 8, or16 bits per color per pixel
- Pixel-interleaved, band-interleaved, frame-interleaved or automatically separated colorants
- Separations can be colored and progressive
- Up to 8188 colorants in arbitrary order
The Core can also output run-length encoded image data at 8, 10 or 12 bits per color per pixel.
For details, see the Extensions Manual, starting from Color and raster depth: formats supported.
Select these formats using the configuration files supplied with Harlequin Core SDK, or Page Setup and related dialogs in Harlequin MultiRIP.
The Harlequin Core does not write a raster file or directly drive an output device. The host application must provide a function to do this. The Harlequin Core SDK passes buffers of raster data to this function for the host application to process. Examples are provided, see Output methods. As supplied, the Harlequin Core SDK test harness can produce TIFF files. For more information see Test harness functions.