White Paper Infotrends Harlequin Host Renderer SDK

Analysis
May 2012
Global Graphics Demonstrates Power with

Latest Harlequin RIP
Harlequin well-placed to Benefit from Emerging High-speed Print
Opportunity
Service Areas
Production Workflow Solutions
Prepared for
Comments or Questions?
Analysis Global Graphics Demonstrates Power with Latest Harlequin RIP
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.................................................................................................................... 4
Key Findings ........................................................................................................................... 4
Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 4
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5
The High-speed Printing Opportunity ...................................................................................... 5
Harlequin Technology ................................................................................................................ 6
Key Strengths of Harlequin ................................................................................................... 7
The Rising Importance of PDF in High-volume Printing ........................................................ 9
The Leveled Playing Field of PDF ......................................................................................... 9
Variable Data Processing ....................................................................................................... 10
The Convergence of Transactional and POD ........................................................................ 10
Harlequin Speed Test by RIT .................................................................................................... 11
Test Hardware ........................................................................................................................ 12
Test Suite ................................................................................................................................ 12
RIP Test Results ..................................................................................................................... 14
InfoTrends’ Opinion ................................................................................................................... 16
Company Background ............................................................................................................ 17
Product Lines ................................................................................................................... 17
Partnerships ..................................................................................................................... 17
About the Author ........................................................................................................................ 18
List of Tables
Table 1: Key Strengths of the Harlequin Host Renderer Technology ..................................... 7
Table 2: RIP Test Computer Specification ................................................................................ 12
Table 3: RIP Speed Test File Categories ................................................................................... 13
Table 4: Required # of Harlequin RIP instances (or Servers) by Print Device ...................... 15
List of Figures
Figure 1: Exponential Rise in Continuous Feed Inkjet Printer Placements, North America
and Western Europe .................................................................................................................. 5
© InfoTrends 2012 2
Figure 2: The RIP process explained ......................................................................................... 6

Figure 3: Average Variable Data Page Count in High-volume Environments ........................ 10
Figure 4: Room for PDF/VT next to AFP/IPDS ....................................................................... 11
Figure 5: HP ProLiant DL360 G7 .............................................................................................. 12
Figure 6: Measured Speeds of a single Harlequin RIP by Category ........................................ 14
Executive Summary
Global Graphics, a long standing raster image processer (RIP) developer, has just
launched its Harlequin Host Renderer 3 (HHR3). This product is a highly-configurable
RIP that digital hardware equipment manufacturers can use in their digital front-ends
(DFEs) to drive their print equipment.
To demonstrate the power of the HHR3, Global Graphics asked RIT to do a speed test
and commissioned InfoTrends to write an analysis on its technology and the findings of
the speed test. The results show that a typical configuration of the Harlequin RIP can
easily drive most printers at a speed that is well in excess of the rated speed of the device.
When needed, the architecture is also scalable enough to get more performance by adding
additional RIPs.
Key Findings
 The high-speed (inkjet) printing market is expected to grow phenomenally in terms

of speed, width, and productivity, which will put tremendous requirements on the
RIP in terms of data throughput and processing power. Global Graphics has
demonstrated it can play in this market with highly efficient, scalable, and robust
technology.
 The Harlequin product is based on an architecture that allows for efficient, parallel
rendering using multiple CPUs. Global Graphics has also developed technology that
automatically detects and optimizes variable data jobs, which increases performance
and removes the need for proprietary VDP languages.
 With the PDF-playing field leveled because of PDF being an open standard now,
Global Graphics is well positioned to drive high-end PDF ripping and benefit from
the AFP/IPDS to PDF migration.
Recommendations
 OEMs developing high-speed, high-volume printing equipment should consider

adding Global Graphics to their evaluation list when sourcing RIP technology.
 OEMs that develop mid-range or office type equipment will also benefit from
Harlequin technology. While the scope of this white paper is on the high-end (as
optimization plays a bigger role there), the product comes with flexible and cost-
effective licensing that make it a good fit for those markets, as well.
Introduction
Digital, continuous-feed color inkjet is the fastest growing segment in the printing
industry. High-speed printing, however, puts tremendous requirements on the DFE in
terms of data processing speed and throughput. With its long history and strong
background in high-speed ripping, Global Graphics is in a strong position to benefit from
this emerging high-speed printing opportunity. This whitepaper explores the strengths of
the Harlequin RIP technology and highlights the role Global Graphics plays in shaping
this changing print landscape. The paper also features an independent speed-test carried
out by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to demonstrate the performance of the
Harlequin technology.
The High-speed Printing Opportunity

Digital, continuous-feed color inkjet is rapidly growing. InfoTrends expects worldwide
print volumes for those devices to grow by 40% year-over-year between 2012 and 2017.
Placements will double in the next two years as new models and new vendors are entering
the market.
Figure 1: Exponential Rise in Continuous Feed Inkjet Printer Placements,

North America and Western Europe
15GB
per second is the amount of data
required to run an HP T400 Web
Press at rated speed (600 ft/min)
Source: InfoTrends High-Speed Continuous Feed Color Inkjet Opportunity, 2011
High-speed printing puts a big requirement on the DFE in terms of data processing speed
and throughput, especially when personalization or graphically-intense elements, such as
live transparencies, are involved. As the technological limits of inkjet printing in terms of
printing speed and width are still a long way from being achieved, we can expect the
requirements for faster data processing only to grow phenomenally in the decade to
come.
The Harlequin RIP is Global Graphics’ premier offering in the digital print production
space.
Harlequin Technology
The core of the Harlequin technology is a Raster Image Processor (RIP) that converts
incoming page description languages, such as PostScript or PDF, to a machine readable
output raster using a variety of screening techniques. The Figure below explains the four
key RIP phases.
Figure 2: The RIP process explained
The Harlequin RIP technology goes back to 1988 when it was first released as a PostScript
renderer under the name ScriptWorks, providing an alternative to Adobe’s Configurable
PostScript Interpreter (CPSI). Over the years, Harlequin was extended with the need to
support more data formats; multi-core CPU processing; and various in-RIP capabilities,
such as font emulation, color management, trapping, imposition, and more screening
options.
Harlequin has supported native PDF processing since 1997 and live transparencies since
2002, which is much earlier than other players in the market. As a result, the Harlequin
technology is generally considered to be a mature and a well-performing RIP solution.
Harlequin comes in three product versions:
1. Host Renderer SDK
 A highly optimized, configurable Harlequin RIP component that OEMs

or Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) can use for high-speed RIPing.
 A single DFE can contain multiple Harlequin Host Renderers, and each
host renderer benefits from multi-threading, multi-core CPU processing
and other speed-enhancements capabilities.
i. For light and medium production devices, a single RIP with

multiple threads is typically sufficient
ii. For high-volume production printers, multiple RIPs (with

multiple threads) are typically used in a RIP farm
 The Host Renderer is found in the HP SmartStream Production Pro and

Ultra Print Servers, as well as in other products.
2. Embedded SDK
 This version enables manufacturers of Multi-Functional Peripheral

(MFP) and other office and SOHO printers to use Harlequin technology
to power their embedded controllers. Korea-based MFP provider Sindoh
is a Harlequin Embedded SDK customer.
3. Server RIP
 The Harlequin Server RIP is a flexible RIP server that OEMs or ISVs can
use as a RIP server with their own Graphical User Interface (GUI).
For inkjet or high-speed production print manufacturers looking for RIP technology to
power their products, the Harlequin Host Renderer is the component that is most suited.
Key Strengths of Harlequin

As inkjet is getting faster and enables higher-quality printing, there is a higher demand
for specialized ripping solutions. Global Graphics’ aim is to provide this type of
technology that gives OEMs enough fire-power to meet their growing demands.
Table 1: Key Strengths of the Harlequin Host Renderer Technology
Key Strength Explanation Benefits

Multi-core and multi-threading
capabilities, as well as a “Parallel
Optimized for high- High-speed RIPing at lower cost by
Pages” feature, which allows
speed maximizing available hardware
multiple pages to be interpreted
and rendered at the same time
Flexible architecture that allows for
high scalability—up to hundreds of Harlequin can drive a range of
Scalability RIP instances can be run print devices, from low-end to
simultaneously, depending on the very high-end
architecture of the DFE
No need to break large jobs into
Harlequin is designed to handle multiple smaller jobs; A single PDF
Handling of large files large jobs with a very high number can fill a paper roll, which avoids
of pages the risk of needing to stop the
continuous-feed printer mid-roll
Harlequin comes with screening Strong heritage in graphic arts
Graphic arts output functionalities as well as in-built technology that enables Harlequin
quality color management and color to generate high quality digital
separations for high-quality output output
Key Strength Explanation Benefits

The rendering of graphic files,
especially when they contain live Long standing experience and
Accuracy
transparencies, is a technologically proven technology
complex process
In-RIP workflow Supports trapping, calibration, font-
No need for additional solutions
features handling, imposition, and more
The Harlequin VariData feature
reduces VDP complexity by
enabling efficient reuse of re-
occurring objects. In external mode,
The Harlequin VariData feature
rasters are managed and merged
significantly reduces the amount
Variable Data post-RIP using vendor-supplied
of RIP data, and thus time; it also
Support technology. The internal mode
removes the need to use
provides an easy entrance for
proprietary VDP languages
digital press vendors into VDP
optimization by caching and
merging all rasters within the RIP
itself
Supported since 1997, native PDF
rendering removes the need for Increased print output consistency
Native PDF rendering
conversion to PostScript; PDF/VT is and higher speeds
supported since 2010
64-bit computing enables the
Harlequin RIP to use more than
64-bit on Windows and The Harlequin RIP is available as a
4GB RAM memory (under 32-bit),
Linux Operating 64-bit application under Windows
which helps to gain higher RIP
Systems and Linux
performance at a relatively small
investment
The Rising Importance of PDF in High-volume Printing

The Harlequin RIP supports native PostScript, PDF (including PDF/VT), and XPS
rendering. According to InfoTrends’ latest DFE study (2011), PDF is the top page
description language (PDL) for static and variable print. Close to 99.6% of print service
providers use or expect to use PDF for the production of professional print.
The Leveled Playing Field of PDF

Adobe, developers of the PDF document format, decided to relinquish control of PDF to
the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) in 2008. By doing this, PDF
became an open industry standard for document exchange that helps developers across
the world to achieve compatibility and influence the development direction through
becoming part of ISO’s working groups.
Besides the normal PDF standard (ISO 32000-1), additional subsets have been defined.
The three most well-known subsets include:
 PDF/X: Specialized exchange format for the printing and graphic arts industries that
has additional requirements, such as the embedding of fonts
 PDF/A: Format optimized for the digital preservation of electronic documents by

excluding features that are ill-suited to long-time archiving (e.g., the inclusion of
external references, JavaScript, video or audio files, or encrypted content)
 PDF/VT: Specialized format for variable data jobs that comes with support for live
transparencies; ICC-color profiles; and efficient processing of repeating text, graphic,
or image content
o PDF/VT can consist as a self-contained file or be streamed from the host

application to the RIP software
The PDF subsets have been developed by committees of leading industry experts,
including hardware and software vendors as well as end users. Global Graphics has been
a member of those working group committees, and its CTO Martin Bailey is considered to
be the U.K.’s principal expert on ISO for PDF, PDF/A, and PDF/VT. Not surprisingly,
Harlequin technology supports all PDF file formats natively. Global Graphics is
committed to continue to influence the development of PDF in the future and especially
want to make it work well in high-volume environments.
Variable Data Processing

It is important to realize that the number of pages in a typical variable data processing
(VDP) job in data-driven, high-volume environments is of a completely different
magnitude than what is found in a typical print on-demand (POD)/graphic arts print
shop. In a data-driven environment, the median number of pages is close to 125,000
(U.S. Letter equivalent), while a typical Graphic Arts VDP job has about 500 records
(most promotional VDP jobs are placed 2- or 4-up on a page). As a result, ripping
performance and support for large files is of much more importance in high-speed and
high-volume environments than in graphic arts.
Figure 3: Average Variable Data Page Count in High-volume Environments

Median: 125,000 Pages 1 million to 2.5
million
Less than 10,000
125k
4.1%
4.1%
500,000 to 1 million 10,000 to 25,000

6.8% 4.1%
25,000 to 50,000
250,000 to 500,000 9.5%
125,000 pages is the average page 12.2%

count (median) for a variable data
job in transactional environments.
The average VDP job in commercial
print is less than 500 pages.
50,000 to 100,000
28.3%
100,000 to 250,000
31.0%
N = 74 Respondents that work for a Database Marketing/Direct Mail Company, In-plant Data Center or a Data
Processing Printer/Service Bureau
Source: InfoTrends Digital Front-End Study, 2011
The Convergence of Transactional and POD

As the inkjet revolution has only just begun, faster and higher print quality products will
come on the market in the coming years. We can also assume that the cost per page will
continue to decline as adoption rises and manufacturers are getting more scale.
As a result, more print service providers (PSPs) will invest in inkjet. There is also a need
to fill those machines, which will increasingly happen with a mix of applications. For
instance, service bureaus that primarily produce transactional documents are looking to
capture more POD work, while commercial printers are making steps in the transactional
or direct mail space.
From a data format perspective, InfoTrends firmly believes there is a place for AFP/IPDS
on the high-end (transactional only), but there are increasingly clear benefits for a PDF-
based workflow on the cross-over point, which tends to be more medium-sized providers:
 PDF (including PDF/VT) enables PSPs to continue using their PDF-based workflows,
which includes preflighting, proofing, and imposition solutions
 PDF is a universal format familiar to print buyers
 PDF and PDF/VT can be easily exchanged
 PDF is typically more cost-effective than implementing a AFP/IPDS workflow

Recent research from InfoTrends confirms that PSPs that use native PDF rendering and
AFP/IPDS see a clear benefit of using PDF over AFP/IPDS, see the Figure below.
Figure 4: Room for PDF/VT next to AFP/IPDS

Q: What are your experiences with native PDF rendering versus AFP/IPDS-based rendering?
Very dissatisfied; we
Slightly dissatisfied; tried native PDF Don’t
native PDF rendering rendering, but found know/unfamiliar
did not perform as AFP/IPDS to be better 0.4% Can’t tell; we haven’t
expected, we will stay 1.9%
with AFP/IPDS tried native PDF
3.4% rendering for current
AFP/IPDS jobs
Not satisfied/not 6.8%
dissatisfied; each
technology has its
unique advantages
and disadvantages
9.0%
Very satisfied; PDF

rendering offers some
clear benefits over
Slightly satisfied;
AFP/IPDS
there are advantages
44.7%
with native PDF
rendering, but there
are also disadvantages
33.8%
N = 266 Respondents that use native PDF rendering and AFP/IPDS
Source: InfoTrends Digital Front-End Study, 2011
For Global Graphics, the move to PDF in high-volume environments is important as this
plays perfectly to the strength of their product offering. The speed test from RIT confirms
that the latest edition of Harlequin Host Renderer is well-suited to power this emerging
inkjet print opportunity.
Harlequin Speed Test by RIT

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) School of Media, under auspices of
Administrative Chair and Gannett Distinguished Professor Chris Bondy, has conducted a
speed test to independently validate the processing power of the Harlequin RIP. The
speed test was carried out at Global Graphics’ headquarters in Cambourne, U.K. in March
2012.
The test file suite, developed by RIT, was composed of files in six different categories, see
Table 1. For each category, multiple test files were created with different page counts and
characteristics to reflect the variety in real-world production jobs. Each test file was
ripped twice using a server that consisted of ten RIP instances. The speeds recorded were
then averaged across the two experiments and the ten RIP instances. The average speed
per RIP for each job category is presented in Figure 6.
Test Hardware
The DFE was installed on an HP ProLiant Density Line server. This is a complete server
unit that does not share components (like power and cooling) with other servers. In this
sense, it is not different than a normal computer but it has the advantage that it can be
placed in a server rack and be easily scaled. While HP equipment was chosen for this test,
the Harlequin RIP can run equally well on hardware from other manufacturers.
At time of writing, the retail cost for the HP ProLiant DL 360 G7 unit is around $7,000
(€5,300 or £4,400). As the speed results will show Harlequin RIPs running on a single
server like this provide enough power to drive most of today’s available print devices on
the market. For certain demanding RIP applications, multiple servers are needed.
Figure 5: HP ProLiant DL360 G7
Table 2: RIP Test Computer Specification
Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Model Proliant DL360 G7
Processors 2
Intel Xeon X5670 @ 2.93 GHz
Processor Model
(6-core)
Installed RAM 12 GB
Hard disk 280 GB
Operating System Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)
RIP product Harlequin Host Renderer SDK 3
Test Suite
The RIP print test files were created using InDesign, QuarkXPress, XMPie, and GMC.
These software applications provide good representation of the standard production tools
used to create static and variable data pages for the six sample categories.
The obtained ripping speed is a function that involves many variables including how well
the document is designed, the image resolution used, level of transparency, coverage, and
the usage of variable content. The speed test in this analysis provides an average based on
real-world production jobs and should provide a good indication of how well the
Harlequin RIP behaves in practice.
Table 3: RIP Speed Test File Categories
i Number Pages per

Type Description
of tests test file
Labels
50 From simple address labels to complex labels
with text, image (raster), and graphics
6 125 (vector) variables on each unique label in
500 (4x) multiple-up impositions
Complex VDP Advanced Promotion and Direct Mail. Live

PDF transparency in 10% of the test pages.
500 Complex VDP files also include single-use or
10 5,000 (5x) variable images. Imposition of multiple items
(e.g. postcards) with full-bleed backgrounds
10,000 (4x) selected from a small set of options for each
recipient
Simple VDP
Transaction/TransPromo documents. Image
data in device CMYK color space and no live
5,000 transparency. Simple VDP documents have
8 considerable re-use of page elements.
10,000 (7x)
Reoccurring objects were placed in the same
location, scale, and rotation on the page
Publication 8 Books, Magazines, and Manuals. These test

files are designed with standardized U.S.
16 letter page size and designed to be bound on
5 32 the left edge of a portrait page with
ring/comb-binding, or saddle-stitched or
64 perfect bound. PDF transparency is used for
98 approximately 10% of the pages
Commercial
General Office/Presentations, Proposals &
1 Reports, and Promotional Brochures.
2 Typically very few pages, from a single side
5 to a single 4/1 or 4/4 page with heavy
4 coverage. Generally half-folded, z-folded,
8 (2x) gate-folded, or can be a small saddle-stitched
booklet
Photo Book
The photo book test files have heavy image
coverage, typically with RGB images and
5 24 (5x) have live PDF transparency on approximately
5% of the pages.
Note that the difference between simple and complex VDP does not relate to the
complexity in designing the document or the sophistication of business rules, but to the
complexity that is found from a ripping perspective (e.g., level of coverage, variable
elements, or transparencies).
RIP Test Results

Figure 6 shows the speeds that RIT has measured for the different print types. Pages were
rendered at 600dpi to CMYK, representing a typical digital press. Output was in 8 bits-
per-pixel contone with a mask; suitable for use in post-RIP aggregation technologies.
For VDP and labels, a single Harlequin RIP instance of our test server ripped, on average,
between 1,905 ppm and 3,269 ppm. Please note that the Harlequin VariData optimization
technology provides additional speed benefits here (See Table 1). Ripping speeds slow
down when heavy coverage and imagery is introduced, as those characteristics limit the
amount of optimization that can be applied. Nevertheless, even when large amounts of
calculation are required, the Harlequin Host Renderer 3 provides enough firepower to
drive most printers with a single server, certainly on the cut-sheet side. It is also
important to note that every page in the test file is unique. In real-world production,
publication and commercial applications especially have run lengths that are longer than
one which equates to faster speeds as the DFE can re-use those pages and does not need
to rip them again.
Figure 6: Measured Speeds of a single Harlequin RIP by Category
Labels 3,269
Complex VDP 2,073
Simple VDP 1,905
Publication 192
Commercial 121
Photo Book 82
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500

In Pages-per-Minute (ppm)
Table 4 provides an overview of selected printer models and the number of Harlequin RIP
instances that are required to drive those machines based on the speed test results from
RIT. The first and second column states the model and speed of the machine in pages per
minute (U.S. Letter equivalent). For the label printing presses, we have calculated print
speed based on the linear speed of the device and the number of n-up pages that fit the
printing width (2-up landscape for the Xeikon and 1-up portrait for the Indigo).
We also multiplied the stated engine speed by 2.5 to account for the fact that jobs are not
always well-designed and some of those may impact performance. Assuming that the RIP
speeds as mentioned in column ‘PPM 2.5x’ would be able to drive a machine at rated
speed, we then provided for each application category the number of Harlequin instances
required, as well as the number of servers between brackets. The speeds shown below
each category description are results from RIT, see Figure 6.
It is important to note that the number of RIP instances and servers are theoretical
values based on measurements using average hardware. In practice, the number of
servers on the high-end can be reduced by using higher-spec hardware and the Harlequin
RIP can be further configured to the specific demands of each unique print category.
Table 4: Required # of Harlequin RIP instances (or Servers) by Print Device
RIP once, Every page is unique

Re-using cached elements
print many (single run length)
Complex Simple Photo
Publ. Com. Labels Publ. Com.
VDP VDP Book
Print PPM 14,400 6,050 3,269 2,073 1,905 192 121 81
Device PPM 2.5x ppm* ppm** ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
HP T410
162 258
Color Inkjet 5,000 12,500 1 (1) 3 (1) - 15 (2) 16 (2) -
(16) (26)
Web Press
Kodak
117 185
Prosper 3,600 9,000 1 (1) 2 (1) - 10 (1) 11 (1) -
(12) (19)
5000XL
Kodak
112
VersaMark 2,180 5,450 1 (1) 1 (1) - 6 (1) 7 (1) 70 (7) -
(11)
VX5000
Océ
52
ColorStream 1,010 2,525 1 (1) 1 (1) - 3 (1) 3 (1) 32 (3) -
(5)
3500
HP Indigo 12
240 600 1 (1) 1 (1) - 1 (1) 1 (1) 7 (1) 18 (2)
W7200 (1)
HP Indigo -
143 358 - 1 (1) - - - - -
WS6000
Xeikon 3500 129 323 - - 1 (1) - - - - -
HP Indigo
120 300 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 3 (1) 6 (1) 9 (1)
7500
Xerox iGen4 110 275 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 3 (1) 5 (1) 8 (1)
Ricoh C901 90 225 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 2 (1) 4 (1) 6 (1)
Konica
Minolta 80 200 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 2 (1) 4 (1) 6 (1)
C8000
Canon
imagePRESS 70 175 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 1 (1) 2 (1) 3 (1) 5 (1)
C7000VP
* Based on an average run length of 75; ** - based on an average run length of 50; the number of RIPs
required depends on the average run length as well as the type of content (e.g. color vs. monochrome, raster
or vector data, etc.). The data here is just an indication. The italic values in dark grey represent options that
are not or hardly used in practice but they do demonstrate the ripping power that is required to drive the top
end of the market
This overview shows that the Harlequin Host Render 3 satisfies a very critical market
requirement to deliver pages to the printer at speeds in excess of the rated speed of the
print device and, where necessary, can scale up to offer a greater performance. By
delivering pages at over twice the performance of typical production printer, service
providers using the Harlequin RIP will be assured of running the print device at rated
speeds, which is a fundamental requirement in today’s competitive market and also often
cited by end-users as a barrier to digital high-end printing.
In addition to this overview, RIT reported that Harlequin rendered all files flawlessly and
performed efficiently across all files, even on the most complex documents. Further
information can be obtained by contacting Global Graphics.
InfoTrends’ Opinion
Global Graphics is well positioned to benefit from the growth in the high-production
inkjet market. Its high-quality RIP technology is mature, consistent in output, extremely
efficient, robust, and scalable. As the independent speed test has demonstrated, the
Harlequin Host Renderer 3 can deliver pages to printersat speeds that exceed the rated
speeds of the print devices.
By using the latest developments in computer hardware, such as multi-core processors

and 64 bit development, as well as using RIP-optimization features that are marketed as
Harlequin VariData and Parallel Pages (See Table 3), Global Graphics ensures that the
latest version of the Harlequin Host Renderer remains top of the bill.
As we are only at the beginning of the inkjet revolution, we can expect to see faster, wider
and more productive inkjet products coming onto the market in the next few years. High-
speed printing puts a big requirement on the DFE in terms of data processing speed and
throughput, especially when personalization or graphically-intense elements (such as live
transparencies) are involved. Companies that invest in inkjet printing should carefully
consider their RIP partner as speed requirements for RIPing tend to rise exponentially,
which may form an important cost to the overall printed product.
Hardware vendors that are looking for RIP technology to drive their digital print
equipment should include Global Graphics on their evaluation list. With 20 years of
experience, a very focused approach to engineering, and a range of high-performing
products, Global Graphics is a company that should not be overlooked.
Appendix: Global Graphics Company Profile

Company Background
Global Graphics is a European software company active in the digital printing space. The
company was founded in 1996 in France, is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in
Brussels, and has its corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Product Lines
The company is active with three major product lines:
 Harlequin: A robust RIP on the market that can natively process PostScript, PDF,
and XPS. The Harlequin RIP is found in digital print DFEs, such as the HP
SmartStream Pro and Ultra, as well as in other solutions, such as workflow
management solutions marketed by Agfa.
 Jaws: A native PostScript and PDF RIP kernel designed for integration with OEM
solutions, Jaws is extensively used in DFEs for the wide format market. It can also be
found in print-related software solutions that require on-the-fly interpreting or
rendering capabilities, such as VDP or Workflow Management systems.
 gDoc: Global Graphics’ latest product line, it focuses on electronic document

conversion, merging of incompatible document formats, as well as PDF and XPS-
based document creation.
This analysis focuses on the Harlequin technology since that technology is most suited to
drive high-end production printers.
Partnerships
Global Graphics sells to a wide variety of business partners ranging from digital or wide
format print manufacturers to workflow software or variable data printing providers.
Customers include Agfa, Canon, Compose, Corel, Delphax, FujiXerox, Hewlett-Packard,
Kodak, Presstek, Quark, Rampage, Ryobi, Onyx, Miyakoshi, Screen, and Showa
Information Systems.
This material is prepared specifically for clients of InfoTrends, Inc. The opinions expressed represent our interpretation
and analysis of information generally available to the public or released by responsible individuals in the subject
companies. We believe that the sources of information on which our material is based are reliable and we have applied
our best professional judgment to the data obtained
About the Author
Kaspar Roos
Associate Director
[email protected]
+ 011 44 75 8550 6114
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter
Kaspar Roos is an Associate Director for InfoTrends’ Production Workflow & Custom
Communications Solutions Services. Mr. Roos is responsible for conducting market
research, providing forecast analysis, consulting with clients, and creating editorial
content for product and market analysis reports. His primary focus area is on the graphic
communications industry and data processing markets.
Comments or Questions?
i The images do not reflect the actual files used for the RIP test. Images are sourced from:
Labels: Harkwell Labels, http://www.harkwell-labels.co.uk/
Simple VDP: DocPath, http://www.docpath.com
Complex VDP: Aztec Mailing Centre, http://aztecmailingcentre.co.uk
Commercial: Snell Vliet, http://www.snellevliet.nl
Photo Book: Bonus Print, http://www.bonusprint.co.uk
Publication: http://myzerowaste.com

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Analysis

Global Graphics Demonstrates Power with

Production Workflow Solutions

Key Findings ........................................................................................................................... 4

The High-speed Printing Opportunity ...................................................................................... 5

Harlequin Technology ................................................................................................................ 6

Key Strengths of Harlequin ................................................................................................... 7

The Rising Importance of PDF in High-volume Printing ........................................................ 9

The Leveled Playing Field of PDF ......................................................................................... 9

Variable Data Processing ....................................................................................................... 10

The Convergence of Transactional and POD ........................................................................ 10

Harlequin Speed Test by RIT .................................................................................................... 11

Test Hardware ........................................................................................................................ 12

Test Suite ................................................................................................................................ 12

RIP Test Results ..................................................................................................................... 14

InfoTrends’ Opinion ................................................................................................................... 16

Company Background ............................................................................................................ 17

Product Lines ................................................................................................................... 17

About the Author ........................................................................................................................ 18

Figure 2: The RIP process explained ......................................................................................... 6

 The high-speed (inkjet) printing market is expected to grow phenomenally in terms

 OEMs developing high-speed, high-volume printing equipment should consider

The High-speed Printing Opportunity

Figure 1: Exponential Rise in Continuous Feed Inkjet Printer Placements,

Source: InfoTrends High-Speed Continuous Feed Color Inkjet Opportunity, 2011

Figure 2: The RIP process explained

Harlequin comes in three product versions:

1. Host Renderer SDK

 A highly optimized, configurable Harlequin RIP component that OEMs

i. For light and medium production devices, a single RIP with

ii. For high-volume production printers, multiple RIPs (with

 The Host Renderer is found in the HP SmartStream Production Pro and

 This version enables manufacturers of Multi-Functional Peripheral

Key Strengths of Harlequin

Table 1: Key Strengths of the Harlequin Host Renderer Technology

Key Strength Explanation Benefits

Key Strength Explanation Benefits

The Rising Importance of PDF in High-volume Printing

The Leveled Playing Field of PDF

 PDF/A: Format optimized for the digital preservation of electronic documents by

o PDF/VT can consist as a self-contained file or be streamed from the host

Variable Data Processing

Figure 3: Average Variable Data Page Count in High-volume Environments

500,000 to 1 million 10,000 to 25,000

125,000 pages is the average page 12.2%

Source: InfoTrends Digital Front-End Study, 2011

The Convergence of Transactional and POD

 PDF is a universal format familiar to print buyers

 PDF and PDF/VT can be easily exchanged

 PDF is typically more cost-effective than implementing a AFP/IPDS workflow

Figure 4: Room for PDF/VT next to AFP/IPDS

Very satisfied; PDF

Source: InfoTrends Digital Front-End Study, 2011

Harlequin Speed Test by RIT

Figure 5: HP ProLiant DL360 G7

Table 2: RIP Test Computer Specification

Table 3: RIP Speed Test File Categories

i Number Pages per

Complex VDP Advanced Promotion and Direct Mail. Live