Interoperability through JDF in commercial print and packaging workflowsInteroperability through JDF in commercial print and packaging workflows

Jan De RoeckMarketing Director Packaging Software

June 11th, 2003 - Amsterdam

Jan De RoeckMarketing Director Packaging Software

June 11th, 2003 - Amsterdam

Market Segmentation and Trends

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Printing – the key production process for our customers

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PREPRODUCTION

The preparation of all tools required for

volume reproduction

Pre-production

DESIGN PRODUCTION

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Commercial Printing

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proofing

Commercial Printing: focus on graphics

prepressplate-

makinggraphicdesign

DESIGN

printing

PRODUCTIONPRE-

PRODUCTION

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Commercial Printing – Market analysis

Largest graphic arts market segment

A diverse collection of sub-segments with specific requirements • Book printers

• Magazine printers

• General commercial printers

Strongly competitive, influenced by global economic recession

Crowded market with large/general and small/niche players

Strong time-to-market pressure

“Ink-on-paper” is a commodity, quality is given

Main Market Driver is Workflow Automation Software

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Commercial Printing – Trends

Workflow automation software

Creative design, page layout on desktop platforms

Software functionality requirements move down market

Focus moves from pure automation to consistent process management

Top end systems expand towards supply chain management and business system integration

JDF is the enabling factor for Commercial Print Supply Chain Optimization

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Commercial Printing – Key development directions

Workflow software

A true PDF-native workflow, • PDF as the data container for the graphical representation• Metadata added

JDF-enabled core software suite

Dedicated configurations for low/mid/high-end

Collaboration – remote viewing/proofing/approval, plant management

The role of JDF

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What is JDF?

JDF is a comprehensive XML-based file format, a proposed industry standard for end-to-end job ticket specifications• Designed to streamline information exchange between different applications

and systems. • JDF is intended to enable the entire industry, including media, design, graphic

arts, on demand and e-commerce companies to implement and work with individual workflow solutions.

• JDF will allow integration of heterogeneous products from diverse vendors to seamless workflow solutions.

Esko-Graphics is Full member of CIP4• Initiatives in definition of the specification • LayoutObject proposal for version 1.2

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proofing

Integration of workflow steps through JDF

prepressplate-

makinggraphicdesign

DESIGN

printing

PRODUCTIONPRE-

PRODUCTION

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

JDF

JDFJDF

JDF

PLANT MANAGEMENT

JDF

CUSTOMER

JDF

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JDF benefits

Process automation• Automate as many tasks as possible• Procurement - design - printing and shipping cycle becoming shorter and

shorter• Supply Chain Optimization

Processes are defined ahead of time

and implemented without human intervention

World wide accepted standard

Share data between workflow components of different vendors

The challenge is to convert the specification into reality!

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Interoperability activities

Turn specification into reality

Strong need for examples and “User Stories”

EUPRIMA• Platform for communication between MIS and Prepress vendors

• 16-MAY-2003• 02-JUN-2003• Further meetings planned

Test events were fixed and published:• San José, CA, May 5-9, 2003• Darmstadt (Germany), 1st week September• February 2004, Location TBD.• Düsseldorf, Germany, Drupa, May 2004

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Esko-Graphics and the Interoperability activities

San Jose (CA) May 5-9, 2003

Esko-Graphics participates as JDF consumer• Preps 4.2 writes a JDF file that refers to multi page PDF or single pages PDFs• Preps writes a JDF with sheet layout information• BackStage consumes (reads) this JDF file• Further processing of imposed sheet in BackStage or FlexRip

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

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New Preps Job

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Add blank pages

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Add signatures

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Export to JDF

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Export Dialog

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AutoImpose…

Register JDF imposition…

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Front Back

Full S

ignature

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Packaging

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proofing

Packaging: focus on graphics AND structure

prepressplate-

makinggraphicdesign

DESIGN

printing

diecutting/stripping

PRODUCTION

CAD/CAMdie- & tool-

makingstructural

design

PRE-PRODUCTION

samplemaking

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Packaging – Market analysis

A true manufacturing industry

Widespread consolidation and globalization of businesses

High degree of application expertise and niche specialization

Creative and project responsibility moves upstream in supply chain, with more decision power with packaging buyers (product companies)

Market drivers: management of collaborative workflows; process automation ensuring product consistency; supply chain management

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Packaging – Trends

Design and preproduction software

Packaging design becomes distributed activity• Digital workflows linking product company, tradeshop and converter

• Digital asset management, project management tools become important

• Workflow automation focused on accurate content and process control

Large, consolidated groups have complex requirements• Web-based collaborative design with remote approval

• Integration within supply chain management systems

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PRODUCTIONPRE-

PRODUCTIONPRODUCTDESIGN

Printing

Diecutting/Finishing

GraphicDesign

StructuralDesign

PRODUCTDEVELOP-

MENT

ProductDesign

Sales & Marketing

FIL

LIN

G, P

ALLETIZ

ATIO

NS

HIP

PIN

G P

REP

AR

ATIO

N

DIS

TR

IBU

TIO

N

Plate-making

Layout, Die- & Tool-

makingCAD/CAM

Prepress

Proofing

SampleMaking

The Packaging Supply Chain

From pre-production focus to total process view

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

PLANT MANAGEMENT

CUSTOMER

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JDF for Packaging

The word “Packaging” appears only a couple of times in the specification

Lots of tools still missing in the specification• Step & repeat is different from Imposition

• Bleeds• Visible and invisible flaps• Common cuts• Varnish and varnish free area’s

• Finishing is a lot more complicated in Packaging• Die-cutting, folding, gluing, filling, palletization

Transition takes time!

Limited economic justification in Packaging compared to Commercial Print

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Conclusions

Esko-Graphics have taken the challenge to create a truly PDF/JDF workflow

Esko-Graphics takes the developments for JDF serious and is counted amongst the main players

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