if I were to buy a new Mimaki, how do I deal with the old files?

[gabagoo]

My printer is 8 years old and I was considering updating to a newer Mimaki. I print from Flexi, but hear that Mimakis run their own rip now. How does one convert the files and colour info across to the new platform? Can it be done or do you basically re work all the files?

 

[BIG EASY DOES IT]

Can't speak on the new RIPs but, If your current printer is correctly profiled to correctly print pantone colors or RGB or whatever colors you use in your design. As long as your profile your new machine to correctly hit those colors then you shouldn't need to change your designs at all.

 

[signcrafters london]

Mimaki has always had rasterlink. I'm assuming that's still what they call their rip. Not sure why you couldn't still keep using flexi if that's what you're comfortable with.

I've always designed in flexi. Even when I briefly used rasterlink that came with my JV3, I still designed in flexi and converted to eps or other format before ripping in rasterlink.

 

[eahicks]

I can't imagine a scenario where a new printer would affect your design files. Regardless of printer make or your RIP software, your files don't care what you use.

 

[ProPDF]

Get an X-rite device and build your own profiles or have someone do it for you if you have not already. Anything less is putting yourself in a box and at risk for redesigning if you get a new printer, new rip or your old generic profiles don't work on new setup. Some guys don't care, they just use a generic profile that works for several medias know what color codes and settings are "good enough".... assuming they will probably never reprint that file at a later date. Some do what works for right now instead of doing it correctly for long term in mind.

 

[gabagoo]

I have no idea if Rasterlink excepts flexi files to start..... My Mimaki never came with Rasterlink as it had not been invented yet...

 

[jfiscus]

Keep using your same RIP if you can, We run Onyx RIP here for all of our printers. (HP, Mimaki, Epson)

 

[signcrafters london]

If you use your old flexi files, you have to export them as eps or pdf or whatever and then import into rasterlink. But your flexi rip should still work fine I would imagine.

 

[Solventinkjet]

Rasterlink doesn't accept Flexi files but newer versions of Flexi have an output to Rasterlink button. You could also export to EPS, PDF etc. as stated above.

 

[Mike Paul]

You should still be able to rip your files from Flexi to the new printer.

Flexi always supported Mimaki printers unless something changed. Go to setup in Production Manager and see if it's listed.

 

[SightLine]

What version of Flexi are you using? To an extent things will depend on what model Mimaki you are wanting up upgrade to. If for example a good used JV33 (or CJV) which are an order of magnitude easier to deal with than an older 4 head JV3 you would need to be running Flexi 8 or higher. While a JV33 is a discontinued model they are still fully supported and excellent machines if you find one in great condition. In excellent condition you can find one for 5 to 8k or so if you are patient and find the right one, sometimes even less (for a JV33-160, a -130 would go for even less). We have been running a JV33-160 for quite a long time now and I recently just added a second smaller one (JV33-130) that I picked up used so we could increase production. Had to replace the head and went ahead and replaced the dampers and the complete capping station and with the cost of the machine and parts I'm still under 4k in it in total. Faster, better print quality, and far less maintenance and fiddly than the old JV3 machines.

Now if you are looking at a current new model like a JV150 or JV300 you would probably need to have the very latest version of Flexi for one of those since those are really only about a year old. Otherwise you would have to try using Rasterlink and change everything about how you are used to running. We also use Flexi to drive our Mimaki's and Summa and its nice to not have to jump around between programs. Also the older SS2 Mimaki inks are near identical in gamut to the newer SS21 inks used in the JV33 and newer models so your older Flexi files will print darn near if not just the same in Flexi on the newer Mimaki. That's what I found years back when I upgraded from our old JV3 to a newer JV33. We were originally running Flexi 7 and had over time upgraded to version 8 prior to getting the JV33 and then upgraded to 8.6v2 and ran on that for a couple of years.

 

[player]

I would stick with Roland. It's what you have, so there would not be much of a transition. Give Tom a call....

 

[SightLine]

I would stick with Roland. It's what you have, so there would not be much of a transition. Give Tom a call....

??? He has been running a Mimaki JV3-130SPII for years not a Roland....