JDF: Can we provide a perfect workflow for network printing?

When a printer decides to invest, he should have a deeper understanding of what JDF can achieve from the manufacturer and ask them to show it to him.

Printing equipment manufacturers have been working hard for the goal of "network printing shop". At drupa, where JDF (Job Definition Format) and "Networked Production" are the focus of attention, people have seen the implementation of this concept. In production, the first step in a continuous, networked workflow between prepress, printing, and postpress is already feasible. What actually changed in JDF? What is the perspective of experts in this field on the latest developments?

Drupa 2004 is undoubtedly centered on JDF. It proposes digital communication between machines and for the first time realizes the dream of continuous systems and live delivery in the printing industry. In the past, even if communication between machines and workflow were possible, it was difficult to achieve. On the one hand, software and job processes are perfectly matched, but on the other hand, software often does not control the hardware well or requires a dedicated software interface and high costs. Different workflow systems have been developed specifically for prepress and printing different production applications. Nowadays, some famous suppliers mainly focus on the pre-press field. Some of them are dedicated to pure CTP workflows and some deal with digital printing or gravure printing, lithography; some of them plan an open, combined system, and some But through a closed, proprietary solution to ensure safety.

Some manufacturers also provide systems that cover the entire prepress area, and even the data needed to complete the job. However, what the printing companies need is a fully integrated system that can help achieve a single workflow - from printing Pre-printing - communication and data exchange. In the stage of increasing automation and diversifying production processes. Only with the help of this system can we achieve a value chain that communicates with existing management information systems. Data on some of the workflows currently available in the market, when these data based on the CIP3 standard have been applied in printing or subsequent folding, cutting, and binding, the direct connection of the information management system is still rare.

The future development has already been seen in Ni Duan: CIP3, which has now been developed as CIP4, is an international alliance of printing and media industry manufacturers who have assumed the task of integrating prepress, printing and postpress processes.

What about the current state of development? There are already some examples of machine operation procedures that do not exist. Thieme's printing company in HeiBen, Germany, can be called a leading company in the production of networking. This vibrant printing company in eastern Germany has grown to become a powerful company in the past 10 years with its 33 employees. During the company's development, the company owner and manager Ulrich Thieme placed anti-corporate value on continuous development and full networking. Networking is already under consideration when planning and creating a company. When Ulrich Thieme planned to network a single production process from the beginning, the company's value was also placed in the network of all future machines.

This printing company, originally working for advertisers from Berlin to Dresden, used Prinance 4.2 from Heidelberg to manage orders. Prinance gets every new order and reassesses it at the same time. Ulrich Thieme said: "At present, almost no one job can receive 1:1, we rely on the system to re-evaluate each job to avoid errors in the old assessment." Each job generates a new electronic job The folder contains all the important job properties, just like a Word document. At the console, the captain receives this data to plan the production period and production volume and automatically generates the relevant documents. Thieme went on to say: "For example, JDF will help us apply these digital folders. Folders can be generated simply or from any work node. This means that the job folder is always up-to-date, and the work is re-planned. Easier."

The job plan is passed to the workflow. Next, the operating personnel call the corresponding job list, and put the corresponding production data (graphics, logos, etc.) in the folder structure of the Prinance database. Document data preparation, proofing, and table proofing are performed by prepress preparation or meta Dimension, and then exported to Heidelberg Topsetter (meta Dimension is Heidelberg's Druckmaschinen company's product). The goal here is also to fully automate the process. Ulrich Thieme said: “We have an output plan on the Signa console where we generate CIP3 data for integrated binders, gluers, and folders, and then pass them on to a related machine via a so-called PPI interface; The prepress graphic control interface transfers the ink zone settings to the printing press, and even automatically obtains the operating data through data control and transmits it to the entire system. From this point of view, we have achieved very good networking, the only downside is that some single There is still a problem with the connection between machines."

For the company, the shorter downtime on the Speedmaster press and the shortened organization time for the ST400 binding machine are all related to the cost of preparation. However, the operation data in Prinance is continuously updated through years of control and the host interface is a decisive factor in the entire production process flow. This makes late-cost calculations possible. “When printing more expensive products, we can never increase its price after the product is finished, but we can use the previous cost calculations in the next order.” Although it has been fully networked, But still need manual manipulation, JDF will solve this problem. As for the interface issues, for example, we must constantly add new specialized agency programs to interfaces between different printing presses, and JDF can also solve this problem. ”

In addition, good preparation is the work required from the client side of the print job flow. Drupa 2004 presented the first solution to the preparation work. JDF expert Jurgen Schonhut said: "I think today's printers should think in advance of what JDF means to his company. JDF will bring equally good results to every company, and we will not doubt this. But when it comes to printing When a business person determines that he wants to invest, he should have a deeper understanding of the extent to which JDF’s shameful achievement is achieved from the manufacturer and ask them to show it to him.When you study five different printing companies, you will find five different job processes. Because each printer must form its own blueprint."

So is JDF incredibly perfect? How do we imagine the future JDF workflow? In fact, small and medium-sized enterprises have difficulties in introducing JDF workflows. Some companies not only lack management information systems and IT infrastructures, but they also lack the insight that JDF is not a fleeting trend but a tool to ensure the future of printing companies is development. (Author: Yang Ping)