Hi Robert, I'll try to give an answer based on my experience but there are some out there who are better authorities than me! If you are using papers and inks recommended by Epson and you are printing photographic images only, there is very little to be gained from a RIP of any sort. Some minor improvement in color control but at the cost of a good bit of learning. If you want to print on fine art material or print with archival inks, and do not have a professionally made RGB profile especially designed for your printer to adjust for the new ink colors and paper response, then a RIP may very well help you gain control you need to correct manually what the profile would do for you automatically. But again the learning cost is high. If you have a traditional print making background (ie intaglio, silkscreen, etc.) and just like working with channels that directly reflect the inks then a RIP is essential. But you still need a good bit of new learning (believe me) to translate that printmaking experience into inklet-land (some very real differences). If you want to work in quadtone inks with channels that directly control the inks you probably need a RIP (but I've come up with a couple workarounds for the RIP-deficient). If you insist on a process that gives you absolutley all the control you can possibly get (even if that only results in a slight increase in color quality) then you need a RIP -if only to keep you from worrying about what you might be missing! If you want to power multiple printers simultaneously from one computer then you need a software application that does that and most RIPs will work that way. However you have to buy multiple copies (one for each printer) to do it. StylusRIP is functionless unless the printer has been intitialized for it and that is done with a one time floppy (except the 3000 where it comes built-in as part of the cost of the printer). You can't defeat the cost of buying the RIP. Birmy PowerRIP will only print one image at a time unless you install multiple copies (you can make three installations from the initialization floppy but you would be in violation of the license - the extras are for back-ups). I don't know how the upcoming Adobe PressReady will work. But I will say again, as I've said before, I don't believe most people who use inkjet printers for photographs need a RIP. They are good to have around and understand in case you want to print a vector file or something from the strange graphics world of PowerPoint and other MS stuff with graphs and things in it, but most of you all out there ought not to be using one for standard quick but nice color photos. RIPs allow you to work in CMYK but that is a specialized area that requires a good bit of learning. Don't expect to pick up a RIP, do a simple mode change to CMYK and toss of a quick one. At least that has been my experience. But I wouldn't give up the ability to do at least last minute work in CMYK for anything. Just too much fun! But when I need a quick color print for the folks- I always use the regular driver. Dan Culbertson Robert Hildebrand wrote: >Hi Dan' > Sorry for all these questions. > Sense I am a photographer into fine arts and never use any nasty post script >files and print all my images on a Epson Photo Ex, in RGB and never CMYK, is >there any reason for me to use a RIP other than a rips ability to power more >than one printer at a time? Which brings me to the next Question, If I >should later wish to print with >more than one Epson Photo EX on one computer, Am I doomed to use CMYK >files on a very pricey >StylusRip? And Dan, How pricey is the Stylus Rip and is it useable more >than once or must I buy a StylusRip >for every printer becouse of sereal Numbers? >Robert Hildebrand -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Please: Stay on topic. Trim quoted messages. http://www.leben.com/lists for list instructions.