No new version, no new features this time. At the Printing United 2025 trade show in Orlando, Caldera chose to strike a different note. The French publisher announced a complete overhaul of its software offering. Caldera is abandoning the former VisualRIP and GrandRIP ranges in favor of a unified model.
A single Caldera RIP name and three levels
Historically, Caldera marketed different RIP solutions according to user profile and equipment controlled. This segmentation gave rise to several references, VisualRIP+ for small formats, GrandRIP+ for more complex equipment, with sometimes redundant configurations and options.
From now on, its entire RIP offering is grouped under a single name: Caldera RIP. This single platform is structured into three clear levels: Essentials, Pro and Max, defined not by the functions available, but by production capacity and the type of equipment used.
Essentials is aimed at smaller workshops with limited production volumes. The Pro level is aimed at intermediate structures, while Max supports the most complex configurations, including flatbed printing and automated finishing lines.
Full functionality right from the first level
This new organization is no longer based on the option model. All levels include full software functionality: color management, cutting tools, nesting, ICC profile creation.
This choice eliminates the need for complex arbitration between modules, and makes a shop's evolution more fluid. For example, a shop can start out with an aqueous inkjet printer and migrate to a flatbed system without renegotiating its entire software environment.
Two ways to access the software
Another evolution: users can now choose between a perpetual license, with optional updates, or a subscription-based formula, with continuous access to the latest versions.
Both methods are based on the same software, guaranteeing configuration continuity in the event of a change of business model. This dual system is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of investment profiles, particularly in organizations juggling between hardware depreciation and budget predictability.
For Caldera, this redesign is more than just a marketing repositioning. According to its management, it reflects a desire to adapt to the real needs of print shops, which are often forced to rapidly upgrade their production without changing their software architecture.
The editor also emphasizes the new system's readability, offering comparative level grids to enable users to immediately see which version is compatible with their current configuration, and the possible margins for improvement.
Caldera's international strategy supported by local contacts
Caldera, part of the American Dover Corporation group since 2017, also took advantage of the show to reiterate the importance of its localized distribution and support network. Present on several continents, Caldera boasts an international presence thanks to field teams in North America, Europe and Asia.
"Guaranteeing our customers local support that they recognize, trust and can work with on a daily basis has become a central part of Caldera's strategic philosophy." said Sébastien Hanssens, Vice President Marketing.
