Comparing Fiery Rip controllers for the Konica Accurio Press
Confused by which RIP to buy for your AccurioPress (if you are even offered the option, availability can be hit and miss) Me too! and I've been doing this since 1989. It's important to keep up to date on what's what in your industry, so I took some deep dives when comparing RIP's for a customer recently and decided to publish what I learned. Most of it I already knew: Boring stuff, but you're better off making the right choice. Although most of these models will do most of what any printer needs, some are just faster and more powerful with variable data. Printing a catalog with individual addresses on each doc? Is your customer a nightmare about Pantone matching? Then you need the big daddy. Otherwise, any RIP will do. Availability on the used market (and support & maintenance from the notoriously awful efi company) is another big consideration, but let's get into the your application of this tech:
Picking the Perfect RIP for Your AccurioPress C3070
A plain‑English comparison of the four image‑controller options (plus the two little add‑ons that can make a big difference).
1. Why the RIP matters
Your press’s digital front end (often still called a “RIP”) is the gatekeeper between customer files and finished pages. The controller you bolt onto (or embed inside) the AccurioPress C3070 dictates:
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How quickly complex PDFs, VDP jobs or long‑sheet banners queue up.
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How accurately spot colors, transparencies and graduated tints render.
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How easily operators can automate, impose, proof and re‑print repeat work.
Pick too little horsepower and you’ll watch an 70 ppm engine sit idle. Spec a unit that’s overkill for the work you run and you’ll tie up capital you could have spent on marketing or inline finishing instead.
2. The four contenders at a glance
Note: Every Fiery or Creo option needs the VI‑509 Video Interface Kit to handshake with the press controller, and the IC‑605 needs UK‑104 + UK‑218 if you want Adobe PDF Print Engine and the extra 500 GB scratch drive.
3. How to match a RIP to your shop’s reality
| Your top priority | Best‑fit controller | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest acquisition cost & single‑operator simplicity | IC‑605 (add UK‑104/218 if you handle lots of layered PDFs) | Already inside many base configs, no extra video interface, lean UI. |
| “I just need Fiery”—starter volumes | IC‑417 | Gives you CWS, spot‑on Fiery color presets and entry VDP at the cheapest Fiery price point. |
| Speed + advanced color/automation | IC‑313 | Quad‑core CPU, full Graphic Arts package, faster spooling keeps the 70 ppm engine fed. |
| Data‑driven mailers or Kodak shops | IC‑314 | Creo’s VPS/IPDS workflow, multi‑drive architecture and unbeatable spot‑color editor. |
4. Final thoughts
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Spec for 80 % of the jobs you sell—not the once‑a‑month monster booklet. It’s often cheaper to farm the odd 200‑page VDP run than to own the horsepower year‑round.
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Don’t forget color discipline. Whether you’re on Fiery or KM’s Color Centro, daily calibration and a decent spectro are what really keep customers loyal.
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Used units are fine—but validate licences. Fiery Graphic Arts, Impose/Compose or Creo’s Remote Job Ticket utilities add real resale value only if the keys transfer.
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Budget for RAM & SSD upgrades. All four controllers respond nicely to maxed‑out memory and an SSD boot drive if you’re pumping heavy 350 gsm banners.
Choosing the right RIP is ultimately about balancing throughput, toolset and total cost of ownership. Nail that mix, and your AccurioPress C3070 will crank out profitable color all day—without your team (or your cash flow) grinding to a halt.
Dan Fischer
6/1/2025