RIP是“光栅图像处理器”（Raster Image Processor）的简写，通常指的是把PS文档经过解释运算，转变成光栅点阵数据的处理器或处理软件。它是印刷行业的一种重要软件或设备。所有的输出设备如打印机或照排机等，都需要有一个RIP来驱动。

广义上讲是针对所有页面描述语言的光栅化处理进程都可以称为RIP。但通常我们所说的RIP，主要指PS解释器，即把PostScript文档解释转变成为点阵数据的处理器。

RIP主要进行下列工作：

PostScript 译解，对PostScript文档进行语法分析，对分析结果进行解释，创建数据结构并进行运算；

A raster image processor (RIP) is a component used in a printing system which produces a raster image also known as a bitmap. Such a bitmap is used by a later stage of the printing system to produce the printed output. The input may be a page description in a high-level page description language such as PostScript, Portable Document Format, XPS or another bitmap of higher or lower resolution than the output device. In the latter case, the RIP applies either smoothing or interpolation algorithms to the input bitmap to generate the output bitmap.