1. JDF – An Overview

2. JDF Technology on One Slide
JDF is a Graphic Arts Job Ticket Data Interchange Format Specification - JDF is not an Application or System
JDF is encoded in XML
Content is referenced, not embedded
JDF is extensible
JDF Job Definition + JMF Messaging +JDF Capabilities + ICS Documents define the JDF Framework

3. JDF on Another Slide - Goals and Requirements -
Why JDF?
Automation increases Efficiency
Information allows for informed decisions
We have a digital content workflow with a paper based management workflow – there is room for improvement!
What does JDF enable?
Setup a Job in the graphic arts from the view point of:
Technical Applications
Management Information Systems
Customers
Collect data that is relevant to a Job from origination to delivery
Business Data
Technical Data

4. History of JDF
1999: Adobe, Agfa, MAN and Heidelberg form the GAT initiative with the goal of defining a job ticket for the Graphic Arts that also integrates MIS.
2000: The CIP3 Consortium takes ownership of the standard.
2001: JDF 1.0 is released.
2002: JDF 1.1 is released.
Ambiguities/Bugs found in implementation were removed
Additional Processes were added
Consistency between diverse areas was enhanced
2004: JDF 1.2 is released
More additional processes
Even more mature and consistent
2005: First set of ICS documents are published JDF 1.3 will be released

5. JDF in the
workflow
Postpress
&
Delivery

6. The JDF Node Description of a generic Process
The “Verb” in JDF
Do something at a given time
Structured container for Scheduling and Auditing
One JDF node type for both Products and Processes
Input (Resources)
Output (Resources)
JDF Node
Start
End
Time
Scheduling
Auditing

7. PrintTalk – www.printtalk.org
JDF describes the product to be produced
PrintTalk describes the business context of the product
Request For Quote
Quotation
Purchase Order
Invoice
Change Order …
PrintTalk also contains Pricing Information

8. Product Intent vs. Process Modeling
Goal of Product Intent Description
Customers view of the “thing” they want to manufacture
Contract Negotiation
Process Independent
Cover
End
Sheets
Reader
Pages
Book
Contents

9. Product Intent vs. Process Modeling
Goal of Process Modeling
Interface between MIS and Production
Process interdependencies
Manufacturing Instruction Details

10. Gray Boxes Incomplete Model of a Process The MIS View of the process
It’s only important if it affects the cost!
Thus, parameters not affecting costs are not important
Exact Process execution is potentially undefined
Ordering of steps is not necessarily predefined
Detailed Work Steps may be left out
E.g. MIS knows RIPping, but not Trapping or ColorSpaceConversion

11. Audit Objects in the JDF Ticket
Logging of Job Execution
Actual times
Start time
End time
Phases
Logging of Late Changes
Resources (used 85g Paper instead of 80g)
Consumables
Status Summary
Event Log

12. Semi Real-time data interchange format Small XML structures
JMF Messaging
Semi Real-time data interchange format
Small XML structures
JDF is referenced via URL, not bound into message
Idea is to minimize network traffic and delay transmission of data until it is actually needed
Send potentially interesting information as soon as it is available

13. Generally used within an Intranet
JMF Messaging
Used for:
Plug + Play bootstrapping (Future)
Snapshots of Job / Device status
Dynamic job update (Change Orders)
Job submission and Queue/QueueEntry handling
Generally used within an Intranet

14. JDF in Creative Specify the Context of a Page Specify Product Details
Postpress
Delivery
&
JDF in Creative
Specify the Context of a Page
Is it a Cover?
Page 3 of this PDF is Page 17 of the Book
Specify Product Details
Media to use
Binding Options
Color Options
Track Times spent on Creative Work
Specify Deadlines

15. JDF in Asset Transfer Link incoming Content Files to user Jobs
Postpress
Delivery
&
JDF in Asset Transfer
Link incoming Content Files to user Jobs
Also useful for Advertisements
Page 3 of this PDF is Page 17 of the Book
Retain Preflight Information
Preflight Profiles
Preflight Reports

16. JDF in Prepress Track Milestones of a job Specify Colors to use
Postpress
Delivery
&
JDF in Prepress
Track Milestones of a job
All pages approved
All plates are ready …
Specify Colors to use
Specify Deadlines

17. JDF in Press Track Milestones of a job Specify Colors to use
Postpress
Delivery
&
JDF in Press
Track Milestones of a job
All Sheets Printed
Specify Colors to use
Specify Media
Printer Supplied or Publisher Supplied
Specify Amounts
Waste
Overage
Specify Deadlines

18. JDF in Postpress Track Milestones of a job Specify Amounts
Delivery
&
JDF in Postpress
Track Milestones of a job
Signatures have been folded
Binding Completed
Specify Amounts
Waste
Overage
Specify Packing
Pallets
Cartons
Boxes …
Specify Deadlines

19. JDF in Delivery Track Milestones of a job Specify Amounts
Postpress
Delivery
&
JDF in Delivery
Track Milestones of a job
Products have been Delivered
Specify Amounts
Multiple “Drops” with multiple “Drop Items”
Individual tracking of Deliveries
Specify Deadlines

20. JDF – A Technical Overview
Thank you very much for your attention!