A method for processing a print job includes: a) analyzing printer description language (PDL) image data for a print job; b) determining a raster image processor (RIP) orientation for the print job based at least in part on the analysis of the PDL image data, the RIP orientation being selected from a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation; and c) processing the PDL image data for each page of the print job to form raster image data for each page in the RIP orientation and storing the raster image data in the RIP orientation. A printing platform associated with the method includes a parser module, a controller module, a storage device, and a RIP module.