Optimizing Performance
Ergosoft RIPs are delivered with a set of default parameters designed to provide reliable performance across a wide range of applications and production environments.
This User Guide provides an overview of key settings that directly influence RIP performance and explains how they can be adjusted to better suit individual workflows and production requirements.
The first section, Optimizing RIP Processing Performance, focuses on parameters that affect rasterization speed and overall processing performance. The second section describes settings and optimizations that can improve User Interface Responsiveness and system usability.
Optimizing RIP Processing Performance
Resolution
Print resolution has a direct impact on rasterization speed: higher resolutions increase processing time, memory usage, and raster data size. Users should therefore select the lowest resolution that still meets the visual requirements of the application and viewing distance to optimize RIP performance and production speed.
Dithering Method
Digital Printing Applications (Stochastic 3f) is the recommended default in current Ergosoft RIP versions, offering the best balance between quality and performance.
All other, including legacy methods can be accessed via Show All if required. Smooth Diffusion provides excellent quality but slower raster speeds, while Stochastic 3e rasterizes faster and is suitable for large-format applications such as banners, where viewing distance reduces dot distribution requirements.
PDF/EPS Interpreter Settings
Ergosoft RIPs provide several special settings concerning the handling of PDF/EPS files. By optimizing these settings, processing time can be significantly reduced.
Memory Assignments
The interpreter memory setting is located under:
Tools > Application Defaults > Application > PDF/EPS Interpreter Settings.
It defines how much RAM the PDF/EPS interpreter may use while processing files. Increasing this value can improve performance, especially for large or transparency heavy PDFs, by reducing disk usage during interpretation.
However, caution is required: insufficient remaining memory can affect other RIP components, parallel engines, or the operating system. As a general guideline, we recommend not exceeding 50%, depending on the available physical RAM, particularly on shared or multi engine systems.
Raster Resolution Reduction
The dynamic rendering resolution optimizes performance by rendering PDF/EPS content below the printer’s native resolution when full detail is unnecessary, reducing RIP time, memory usage, and raster data size without visible quality loss at normal viewing distances.
Resolution reduction is computed by integer-only division of the printer’s native X/Y resolution and is constrained by a user-defined minimum DPI (Tools > Application Defaults > Image > PDF/EPS Parameters).
If a reduction factor would drop an axis below this minimum, that axis is not reduced, which can result in asymmetric or skipped reduction even when a target resolution is set.
For Best-Practice recommendations check out Optimize Rendering Performance.
Common Causes of Performance and Stability Issues
Based on real‑world customer support cases related to performance and system stability, the most common causes are not misconfiguration of the RIP. Instead, the issues most frequently observed are the following:
Insufficient Free Space on Storage Drives
When storage drives are critically low on available space, the system is forced to continuously delete temporary data while simultaneously processing new data. This behavior can significantly degrade performance and may lead to unstable production conditions.
Recommendation: Use Ergosoft SystemGuard to monitor storage usage and prevent critical low‑space scenarios during production.
Limited or Unstable Network Performance
In some environments, the connected local area network (LAN) is either too slow or frequently reaches its maximum data transfer capacity.
Typical symptoms include slowed raster performance when multiple artwork files are read simultaneously, as well as delayed or unstable data transfers to printers. In severe cases, this can reduce printer throughput or even cause print failures.
CPU Capacity and RAM
Thirdly, when evaluating actual hardware performance bottlenecks in RIP configurations, system limits are more commonly reached by CPU capacity or insufficient available RAM than by the data throughput of modern SSDs.
Please also visit System Recommendation.
Solid State Drive Management
Although modern solid‑state drives (SSDs) handle concurrent read and write operations far more efficiently than traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), storage‑related performance limits can still occur. When they do, they are typically caused by the maximum throughput capability of the SSD or the bandwidth of the storage interface in use (for example, SATA or PCIe).
Determining the Relevant SSD Configuration
To apply the correct SSD configuration recommendations, first consider the following:
Does your printer setup consist of devices that receive/use final print files from a local folder on the RIP system?
No → Proceed with this section right below: Configurations for Printers with Direct Interfaces or External PCS
Yes → Continue with second section: Configurations for Printers with Local File Output and local PCS
Printers with Direct Interfaces or External PCS
Printers connected directly to the RIP system via Local Area Network (LAN: TCP/IP) or USB are considered to use direct communication interfaces.
For the purpose of high performance SSD configuration, printers controlled by a Printer Control Software (PCS) running on a separate computer or hardware device are also included in this category, provided that the final print files are transferred from the RIP system to the PCS over the network.
How many physical SSDs are available in the RIP system?
Recommended
| 3 Physical SSDs | Hosted Data | User Configuration Action |
| SSD 1 | Operating System | |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft Program Folder | Follow the default Ergosoft RIP installation routine; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 2 | Ergosoft User Data Folder | During RIP installation, move the User Data Folder to the physical SSD 2. |
| SSD 2 | PDF/EPS Temporary Raster Data | Automatically relocated with the User Data Folder; no additional configuration required. |
| SSD 3 | PrintQueue Spool Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the intermediate print spool data folders to the physical SSD 3. |
| SSD 4 or 1 HDD / LAN | Artwork and Image Data | Store on shared company storage (LAN) or on a dedicated local HDD/SSD, depending on workflow requirements. Store on SSD 1 if no dedicated storage drive is available. |
Minimum
| 2 Physical SSDs | Hosted Data | User Configuration Action |
| SSD 1 | Operating System | |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft Program Folder | Follow the default Ergosoft RIP installation routine; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft User Data Folder | By default located under the local Windows public user directory (C:\Users\Public\Documents\EsRip). In default or single‑SSD installations; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | PDF/EPS Temporary Raster Data | Automatically relocated with the User Data Folder; no additional configuration required. |
| SSD 2 | PrintQueue Spool Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the intermediate print spool data folders to the physical SSD 2. |
| SSD 3 or 1 HDD / LAN | Artwork and Image Data | Store on shared company storage (LAN) or on a dedicated local HDD/SSD, depending on workflow requirements. Store on SSD 1 if no dedicated storage drive is available. |
Printers with Local File Output and local PCS
The RIP system also hosts the manufacturer’s Printer Control Software (PCS). Final print files are stored locally on the same system and are transferred to the printer via the locally installed PCS.
The RIP system also hosts the PCS. How many physical SSDs are available in the RIP system?
| 4 Physical SSDs | Hosted Data | User Configuration Action |
| SSD 1 | Operating System | |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft Program Folder | Follow the default Ergosoft RIP installation routine; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 2 | Ergosoft User Data Folder | During RIP installation, move the User Data Folder to the physical SSD 2. |
| SSD 2 | PDF/EPS Temporary Raster Data | Automatically relocated with the User Data Folder; no additional configuration required. |
| SSD 3 | PrintQueue Spool Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the intermediate print spool data folders to the physical SSD 3. |
| SSD 4 | Local Print File Output Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the final print file output folders to the physical SSD 4. |
| SSD 5 or 1 HDD / LAN | Artwork and Image Data | Store on shared company storage (LAN) or on a dedicated local HDD/SSD, depending on workflow requirements. Store on SSD 1 if no dedicated storage drive is available. |
Recommended
| 3 Physical SSDs | Hosted Data | User Configuration Action |
| SSD 1 | Operating System | |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft Program Folder | Follow the default Ergosoft RIP installation routine; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft User Data Folder | By default located under the local Windows public user directory (C:\Users\Public\Documents\EsRip). In default or single‑SSD installations; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | PDF/EPS Temporary Raster Data | Automatically relocated with the User Data Folder; no additional configuration required. |
| SSD 2 | PrintQueue Spool Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the intermediate print spool data folders to the physical SSD 2. |
| SSD 3 | Local Print File Output Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the final print file output folders to the physical SSD 3. |
| SSD 4 or 1 HDD / LAN | Artwork and Image Data | Store on shared company storage (LAN) or on a dedicated local HDD/SSD, depending on workflow requirements. Store on SSD 1 if no dedicated storage drive is available. |
Minimum
| 2 Physical SSDs | Hosted Data | User Configuration Action |
| SSD 1 | Operating System | |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft Program Folder | Follow the default Ergosoft RIP installation routine; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | Ergosoft User Data Folder | By default located under the local Windows public user directory (C:\Users\Public\Documents\EsRip). In default or single‑SSD installations; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 1 | PDF/EPS Temporary Raster Data | Automatically relocated with the User Data Folder; no additional configuration required. |
| SSD 2 | PrintQueue Spool Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, move the intermediate print spool data folders to the physical SSD 2. |
| SSD 1 | Local Print File Output Folders | When creating or configuring a PrintQueue, make sure the final print file output folders remain on physical SSD 1; no additional configuration is required. |
| SSD 3 or 1 HDD / LAN | Artwork and Image Data | Store on shared company storage (LAN) or on a dedicated local HDD/SSD, depending on workflow requirements. Store on SSD 1 if no dedicated storage drive is available. |
Configuring Processor Threads and Parallel RipEngines
Ergosoft RIPs allow users to configure how many processor threads each RipEngine can run in parallel. This setting determines how workload is distributed across the CPU and directly affects rasterization speed, throughput, and system responsiveness.
By default, 4 threads per RipEngine and 2 RipEngines are enabled to ensure stable operation on most systems. Performance can be optimized by adjusting the number of active RipEngines or thread allocation to better utilize available physical CPU cores.
As a best practice, the thread count should not exceed 4 threads per RipEngine, and the total number of threads should not exceed the number of physical CPU cores, as higher values may cause excessive context switching and reduced performance.
Rule of Thumb Recommendations
For most production environments, running at least two RipEngines in parallel provides the best balance between performance and stability:
- 8 CPU cores → 2 RipEngines → 4 threads per RipEngine
- 12 CPU cores → 3 RipEngines → 4 threads per RipEngine
- 16 CPU cores → 4 RipEngines → 4 threads per RipEngine
These configurations balance high single core performance with controlled parallelism to maximize raster throughput while maintaining stable system behavior.
To modify this setting, open Control Center > RIP & Programs and close all running RipEngines. Adjust the Threads per RipEngine parameter as required, then restart all RipEngines for the change to take effect.
Antivirus Software and RIP Performance
Real time antivirus scanning can impact RIP performance, as continuous verification of files being read and written may slow raster processing and overall system responsiveness. In some environments, performance improvements have been observed when antivirus software is configured to limit scanning of specific RIP related directories.
Any changes to antivirus settings must be evaluated and approved by the responsible IT or security department and implemented in accordance with internal security policies. Ergosoft does not recommend bypassing or weakening security measures without proper authorization.
Depending on the system configuration and IT policy, it may be appropriate to define scanning exceptions for Ergosoft RIP program and user data directories, such as:
- C:\Program Files\Ergosoft
- C:\Users\Public\Documents\EsRip
If custom locations are used for program files, user data, temporary raster data, or printer spool folders, those paths may also need to be reviewed.
Faster and More Responsive User Interface
Snapshots
Snapshots (previews) used by the Ergosoft RIP JobComposer represent image files within the user interface and can significantly impact UI performance when large numbers accumulate. To maintain optimal performance, Ergosoft recommends regularly removing stored snapshots, either manually or automatically.
Existing snapshots can be deleted via Tools > Options > Application > Snapshots using the Delete Snapshots option, followed by removing unused snapshot folders from the server list. To prevent future buildup, snapshots can be automatically cleared after a defined number of days using the Delete Snapshots after setting, which removes stored snapshots during RIP startup.
Store Snapshots in Image Folder – Multi RIP Setups
By default, Ergosoft RIP stores snapshots in the RIP user data folder (Tools > Options > Application > Snapshots), ensuring reliable access and centralized management.
In workflows with multiple RIP installations accessing the same image folders, this option can be disabled so snapshots are stored directly alongside the image files. This allows all RIP systems to share a common set of previews, preventing redundant snapshot creation and improving overall efficiency. When using this configuration, full read and write access to the image directories must be ensured, as insufficient permissions can prevent snapshot creation.
Suppress Snapshot Display for Jobs with Many Images
For jobs containing a large number of images, temporarily suppressing snapshot display can significantly reduce system resource usage and improve overall performance. This setting is available under Tools > Options > Application > Snapshots by enabling Suppress Image Display.
When activated, image previews in the job view are replaced with simple placeholders that maintain the original image dimensions. This reduces memory and processing overhead and can greatly improve responsiveness, especially on systems handling complex or image heavy jobs.
Hardware
The hardware used to run the RIP is also one of the most critical factor influencing overall performance. Processor speed, available memory, storage performance, and system configuration directly affect rasterization speed, job handling, and user interface responsiveness.
For detailed guidance on selecting and configuring suitable hardware for Ergosoft RIP, please refer to the System Recommendations article.
Related Articles & Links
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