Methods and printing system using raster image processors configured for processing a job

A printing system comprising:

• a printing device;
• a controller configured to receive an estimation job at the printing device;
• and
• a raster image processor (RIP) system connected to the controller, the RIP system including
• a front end to receive the estimation job, wherein the front end is configured to store the estimation job,
• an estimation RIP configured to process at least one segment of the estimation job to generate an estimate output to be used for a consumable estimate for the print job, wherein the estimation RIP is configured to release resources faster than a standard RIP within the RIP system,
• wherein the front end assigns the at least one segment of the estimation job to the estimation RIP.

A method for estimating consumable use for a job in a printing system, the method comprising:

• assigning an estimation job to a plurality of RIPs within a RIP system corresponding to a printing device having a controller;
• activating an estimation RIP from the plurality of RIPs by the RIP system,
• wherein the estimation RIP is configured from a first standard RIP of the plurality of RIPs by the RIP system;
• processing at least one segment of the estimation job at the estimation RIP;
• and
• generating an estimate output of a consumable for the at least one segment.