Multi-Layer in CalderaRIP - Overview

Intended for users of printers that support multi-layer printing. Please visit the dedicated section to review the technote for your printer and to explore the capabilities of its Caldera driver. 
You may need a specific license to access this feature. Contact sales for more information.

This article outlines the multi-layer feature available in CalderaRIP. Introduced in earlier versions of CalderaRIP, the multi-layer manager is included in the Print module for printers that support this printing technique. By using the manager alongside other Caldera modules and products, users can print images in multiple layers with various types of ink.

Multilayer in the Print Module

The Multilayer feature is available at the bottom of the Print Module and is composed of:

• A drop-down menu, for selecting the layer;
• A trash button, for quickly deleting all the layers (available after CalderaRIP V17.3);
• An ellipsis button [  ], for managing the layer.

Manage Layers pop-up

The behavior of the settings you will see below may vary depending on the capabilities of your printer. Do not hesitate to visit the dedicated section to consult the technote of your printer.

Layers tab Configurations tab Settings tab

The Layers tab can be divided into two main areas: the current configuration and Add layers:


 

Current Configuration

On the left you have the current layer configuration (if any), and on the right the following buttons:

	Edit: Edit the properties of the selected layer (rename it or change its repetition)
	Delete one: Delete a selected layer
	Delete all: Delete all layers
	Up: Move a selected layer up in the list
	Down: Move a selected layer down in the list
	Save: Save the current layer configuration

 

Add Layers

 

At the bottom of the first tab, you can add layers: Either single layers or pre-defined configurations.

You can add several configurations or add the same configuration several times.

  Info

When adding a layer or a saved layer configuration, if there is an image already loaded in the Print Module, this image will be set for all layers. If not, you will have to manually add an image for all layers. See more details here. 

 

Add a Single layer 
(Only available for printers that support media's rewinding)

When selecting Single and clicking Add, a new window appears:

 

Here, you can choose a name for the layer that will be used in the interface and fill in the layer Count (if you want to repeat it).

 

Add a Configuration

  Warning

The "Configuration" field will be disabled the first time. Create single layers and click on the save button, to be able to manage the configurations.

 

When selecting Configuration, the drop-down menu is activated and you can select a pre-defined configuration:


 

The Add button of the configuration part behaves like an import, which is why you can't choose a name or a count.

A preview of the selected configuration is displayed under the drop-down menu.

  Info

The new layers from the configuration will be added to the current layers.

The Configurations tab can be divided into two main areas: the list of the existing configurations and their Preview:

 

The first part of the window displays the list of existing configurations. These are the actions that you can carry out here:  

	Edit: Rename the selected layer configuration
	Delete: Delete the selected layer configuration
	Export: Export the selected layer configuration to a file
	Import: Import a layer configuration from a file
	Up: Move the selected layer configuration up in the list
	Down: Move the selected layer configuration down in the list

The second part just displays a Preview of the selected configuration.

In the Settings tab, 3 options are available:

• Bottom layer first in the list: You can enable the Bottom layer first in the list option, which will invert the display order. However, the first layer printed will always be Layer 1.
• Set image to all layers on drop: When enabled, the same image is used for all the layers. If not, different images can be used on each layer.

• Reload layer print configurations: When enabled, if another layer has already been selected in the Print Module, the print setting configurations (presets) are reset to their original state.

    Warning

  This setting was developed for experienced users looking to combine the use of presets with CalderaRIP's multilayer printing, however, this combination is not fully recommended as it has several limitations. Read more.

Multilayer in the Spooler Module

During the printing process, CalderaRIP will send the job to the Spooler and process it.

You will be able to see which layer is being printed, but you will not be able to view the other layers already printed, or waiting to be printed.

Once the job is printed, you can see the details in the Layer line. Also, you can switch from one layer to another by pressing the arrows:

Multilayer as of CalderaRIP V19

Many new UV and latex printers now have "white-capable" functionality, allowing for efficient printing on blockout media and various substrates. This improvements makes the multi-layer manager a valuable tool for a wider audience.

With the release of CalderaRIP V19, new automation features enable the automatic processing of PrimeCenter multi-layer files, enhancing support for users of Caldera software and compatible printers.

Also, to avoid some of the limitations mentioned at the end of this article, certain incompatible options in the Page Setup are now automatically disabled when handling multi-layer files:

• Left Panel Actions
• Main Tab:
  • Image Size and Position section
  • Double-Sided Printing section
  • Multi-Page section
• Marks Tab sections
• S&R Tab sections
• Most sections of the Cutting Tab

This adjustment ensures smoother processing of multi-layer jobs.

Driver Compatibility

All drivers for printers that can handle multi-layer printing now include the ability to automate the processing of files from PrimeCenter. This means you can use them without needing to change any settings.

However, the following printers now have dedicated drivers due to the complexity of their multi-layer printing technologies:

Users of the previous multilayer drivers do not need to purchase a new driver; however, only one driver can operate at a time.

Multilayer Automation using PrimeCenter + CalderaRIP

With PrimeCenter V4.4+, users can prepare files for automated multi-layer printing in CalderaRIP (version 19 and above). This new integration enables seamless configuration of multi-layer files, ensuring the correct layer settings are applied upon sending to CalderaRIP.

To utilize this workflow, follow the standard steps for creating a multi-layer configuration with your printer. Enter this configuration name in PrimeCenter, complete the multi-layer setup, and the file will automatically embed the relevant settings. 

Once you are done, you can transfer the final file to CalderaRIP manually or via hotfolders for printing, benefiting from the increased integration of Caldera products.

You may be interested in reading: How to import a multilayer-ready file from PrimeCenter to CalderaRIP?

Limitations

• Printer/driver: Depending on the printer's capabilities, the multilayer feature can be limited to a certain number of layers and/or other configurations. Each driver's documentation keeps track of these constraints.
• Presets (QuickPrints): 
  • While you can send an image to print in various ways (e.g. from the menu bar or an automated workflow), if you want to print multilayers using presets, you must do the operation manually and directly in the Print Module.
  • Note that when switching between different presets, the multilayer configuration will not be honored unless you save it in each case (both the preset and the multilayer configuration). Nevertheless, when you stop the print server, the changes made may not be properly saved.
  • If to change the images of your layers and presets, you are dropping them directly into the Print Module but they do not load, make sure that the "Set image to all layers on drop" option is correctly set.
• Image dimensions: All images used for multilayer printing must have the same dimensions (with 1px accuracy).
• Missing image: The Multi-Layer printing feature requires one image per layer, so if one of the layers is missing its image, you will be warned when pressing the Print button.
• Step&Repeat and Nest-O-Matik: Not supported in combination with the multilayer feature.
• Multipage: Multipage document support is limited. There is no automatic split for a multipage document into multiple layers. You can only add one page per layer.

• Cut: Cut is supported through our VisualCut module, except for the instant cut.

    Warning

  Only one CutContour can be enabled per multilayer job. An error will happen while clicking on the Print button if several layers already contain CutContours: