The new RIP, StudioRIP XF, features an entirely new rendering architecture, designed to take advantage of multi-core computing and 64bit processors, as well as making the software more future-proof.
Marlowe Digital general manager Derek Sizer said: "The RIP has generally been beefed up all over. We've improved the imposition quite a lot, the way we make bitmaps, the way we RIP jobs - its been a huge overhaul.
"We get a speed improvement from being able to deal with multi-core processors and we can use a lot more memory - over 4Gb of ROM on 64bit platforms - but it's really been about putting in place a base that would allow us to be a lot more flexible in future."
One of the things this overhaul has enabled the software to do is to provide support for multiple screen types within a single job - which Sizer said had been a common request from packaging clients.
Sizer added that while the firm had now put in the ground work with the RIP to allow it to move in a lot of different directions in future, it was currently concentrating its development on the flexo market and in inkjet for quality film and plate output.
"We've done a lot on using multiple channels to give faster throughput so, if you're printing black, instead of using one channel you can use one, two or four channels to give you up to four times speed improvement," said Sizer. "So we're really concentrating on particular applications where we can bring a real benefit to the end user."
Other new features include Mac client support and an inbuilt dotmeter package that will run with any USB microscope, which can be bought for around £40.
Marlowe will also use Ipex as the launchpad for its new Quantum service package for owners of rebadged Screen platesetters (such as the old Heidelberg Topsetter); Marlowe is already the exclusive service provider for Screen UK CTP customers.
The distributor's other two product launches are Torrent JetFilm, a lower cost alternative to imagesetting for printers that still rely on film-based workflows, and Torrent JetPlate, an inkjet CTP solution for smaller commercial printers.
"JetFilm and JetInk together allow us to get very high density black," said Sizer. "There are inks on the market that have UV blockers in them but that doesn't work very well - there's no substitute for density.
"If you want to make a conventional flexo plate you need really dark heavy stuff because you have to expose it for so long the light will go through anything almost. Our JetInk together with our matt JetFilm will give us densities of 4.2 and above."
Sizer added: "We've also done a huge amount of work on building the dot structure on inkjet; we control the individual nozzles and the head to give a very sharp dot - it's not 100% of the quality [of CTP] but it's 98% and it's a fraction of the cost."
