Workflow
CIP4 Announces Review of JDF 1.4
Tuesday 10. June 2008 - The International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) Organization today announced that the 1.4 edition of the Job Definition Format (JDF) Specification will be released for review on June 20th. During the 120-day review period (commencing June 20), the specification will be closed to further technical additions or modifications, and will be accessible to all CIP4 members for a final intellectual property review to ensure that the specification remains open and unencumbered by legal issues.
Significant changes include:
* The addition of automated layout and stripping, which is useful for variable digital printing where layout is determined during production, based upon content parameters.
* New security and authentication features, which include the use of secure URLS and certificate passing, which allows JDF-automated production to be used securely on internet applications, not just intranet applications, as in previous editions of the specification.
* Support for CAD input, Braille embossing and flexographic production to enable JDF users to broaden the number of types of packaging applications that can be automated.
* Improvements to JMF, including a change that requires MIS and workflow systems to continue resending job instructions to devices until those devices actively acknowledge receipt of messages. This will ensure that, if there are network errors or disconnects, a JDF-enabled workflow does encounter missteps in the workflow.
* The ability to model device modules, which allows the components of integrated digital printing devices to be individually addressed and controlled in JDF.
* The addition of varnishing as a process, allowing for automation of off-line varnishing systems and control of multiple varnishing and coating units inline.
* The addition of new content creation features, such as the ability to create elements of documents, generate PDF within constraints enforces by preflighting technology, and model the automation of iterative tasks.
* The addition of absolute and relative anchor points on the sheet that can be used in various marking and layout operations, and the generation of automated marks.
“This version of JDF is not so much revolutionary as evolutionary,” said CIP4 Technical Officer Dr. Rainer Prosi of Heidelberg. “These changes are very important to users and vendors of JDF systems, and are incremental in reflecting practical experiences with implementations of JDF. What we’ve done is largely address what was working, but could be done better if the JDF Specification was enhanced to address specific needs of users and implementers.”
The final published version of JDF 1.4 will be made available to the general public on October 5th for free download as a PDF file. All versions of the JDF specification and schema published to the public can be downloaded from http://www.cip4.org/documents/jdf_specifications/.