Adobe Embedded Print Engine

A Raster Image Processor (RIP) is a mission-critical software component in printing systems. When printing documents (typically containing text, photos, illustrations, and graphics), the first step is converting the document data into a format the printer can understand. This format is called a Page Description Language (PDL). The printer driver software generates the PDL file, including instructions for text placement, font selection, graphics rendering, color management, and more.

The RIP takes over after the PDL file has been sent for printing. As the brain of a printer, the RIP accepts the PDL input and generates a raster output (grid of dots) that the printer subsequently marks on paper. The rasterization process involves converting the document data (such as lines, curves, text, etc.) present in the PDL file into a raster image, representing how the final printed page will appear, with each pixel containing information about toner or ink color, intensity, and position.

The RIP ensures that the complexity and richness of the original design are faithfully reproduced in print. The RIP also orchestrates precise color and font management and navigates transparencies, halftoning, and more.

Adobe Embedded Print Engine is Adobe’s cutting-edge RIP technology for A4, A3, and entry-level large-format printers. It powers millions of printers worldwide across a diverse spectrum of device types and ensures that every print mirrors the quality and intent of the original design.

Trillions of PDF documents are currently in circulation worldwide. Its prominence as a document format lies in its ability to ensure that the document quality and appearance are reproduced accurately, whether viewed on-screen or brought to life in print. PDF epitomizes device independence, allowing the document to be reproduced across various devices while preserving content integrity and formatting. PDF also enables last-minute object-level operations and optimizations and offers unmatched flexibility.

In addition to being a document format, PDF is also a PDL understood by many printers and multi-function printers (MFPs) used today. This makes PDF a universal language, standardizing the end-to-end print workflow and ensuring that cross-platform and hardware compatibility is never an issue. All mobile print services support conversion to PDF. In addition to that, PDF also supports Digital Rights Management. Embedding support for PDF in the printer as a PDL at the device level brings consistency in performance attributes such as print speed and output finesse, ensuring reliable and uniform printing experiences.

Desktop devices can now print any document as PDFs and send these jobs to the printer via the Microsoft IPP Class Driver, the printer driver in Windows compatible with Mopria Certified printers, and AirPrint in macOS. With the help of PDF-enabled printers, users get a consistent experience with what they see on their desktop and in their print output. Another critical component impacting current and future PDF use is its support within a mobile and cloud computing environment. PDFs are increasingly sent to printers from mobile devices using services such as AirPrint (for Apple iOS devices) and Mopria (for Android devices), as well as cloud print platforms (e.g., Microsoft Universal Print). PDF doesn’t just uphold the traditional office printing norms but also seamlessly integrates with the dynamic landscapes of mobile and cloud computing.

One can unlock a world of advantages with printers equipped with native-PDF printing support. These benefits translate into enhanced print performance, quicker processing, and more predictable output (especially for color). Some other advantages include:

• Accurate output: Experience accurate output that faithfully replicates what you see on your screen. Our “what you see is what you get” (“WYSIWYG”) technology ensures your print results match the content displayed on your desktop or mobile device screen. Whether it’s reports, images, presentations, or engineering drawings, native PDF printers authentically represent your content on paper.

• Consistent print output across devices: Thanks to native-PDF integration, achieve consistent print output across various devices, whether a personal printer in a home office or an enterprise-class device in a traditional office setting.

• Superior color quality: Elevate your color printing experience with support for International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles, delivering precise color representation.

• Seamless cloud and mobile printing: Print from anywhere easily, thanks to cloud and mobile support. Experience two critical processing efficiencies:

1. PDF’s compact document size enables efficient transmission over mobile networks with limited bandwidth.
2. Achieve superior print quality by printing at device resolution (versus raster format), especially when using mobile devices.

• No conversion hassles: Say goodbye to format conversion headaches. Native-PDF support eliminates the need for conversions between PDF and other formats supported by the printed, such as PCL, PostScript, or raster. Experience increased processing efficiency and faster printing times.