The core of digital workflow: PDF and JDF
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The modern printing industry is actually an information industry with images and text as the main target, and is an important part of the huge modern information industry. Its task is to convert and output the graphic information in the digital information network with high speed, high quality and low cost, and become the visual information that people need to use paper as the carrier. The development of digitalization and networking has revolutionized modern printing technology. It not only changes the printing production model, but also has a huge impact on the way the entire industry operates. The result of digitization makes all the printing and copying operations integrated into one. This digital system is connected with the information communication network to form a large-scale, all-digital standardized workflow, which provides unprecedented rich information resources and convenient transmission for printing production. Means to make print production gradually free from time and geographical restrictions, making on-demand and personalized services for printing and publishing possible, while also improving print management to a more scientific and intelligent level.
First, the digital workflow and its core
The digital workflow is to integrate the pre-press, print and post-printing processes into an inseparable and fully automated system with digital production control information and management information, so that the digital graphic information is completely and accurately circulated, and finally Processed into printed products.
In reference (1), the author simply summarizes the traditional analog or analog and digital mixed production mode as "physical carrier conversion + warehousing + transportation" mode, all intermediate products such as color separation, photo arrangement Films, plates, proofs and raw materials are all in the form of physical carriers, relying on warehousing and transportation for distribution and distribution. The all-digital production model can be summarized as the "digital information processing + high-density storage + network transmission" mode, that is, before the meeting with customers, "prints / publications" exist and circulate completely digitally (digital pages). The superiority of the digital process model is reflected in:
Reduce intermediate links, improve production efficiency; save intermediate material consumption; improve operational specifications and print quality levels; more effective quality management and process management; last minute modification, variable printing and on-demand printing; distributed operations Not limited by time and place.
The key to a digital workflow is the realization of graphic information, production control information, and smooth communication throughout the workflow. The core is to establish a unified working standard format throughout the entire process, connecting different types of devices with different functions into one overall coordinated operation, realizing the integration of graphic information flow, production control information flow and non-technical management information flow. (2) PPF and JDF, respectively implemented by CIP3 and CIP4, are two device-independent standard formats that serve this role. In addition, the PJTF (PortableJob Ticket Format) portable job ticket format developed by Adobe also belongs to this type of format. With this standard format with device independence and page independence, various control information or management information can be pre-stored in the format file in digital data format, and then transmitted to pre-press, print, post-press devices and converted. Pre-set each device to the standby state for the corresponding command. JDF is an inheritance of PPF, and they have great differences in the language base, specific content and degree of integration. The following is a detailed description of the two formats.
Second, the PPF job format
PPF (Print Production Format) is a unified, device-independent release of CIP3 (International Cooperation for Integration of Prepress, Press and Post-press, "International Cooperation for Prepress, Printing, and Postpress Integration"). The standard format, the purpose is to introduce the concept of CIM (com-puter-integrated manufacturing) into the printing industry, so that the three links of the printing process are integrated into one, that is, from the acceptance of printing tasks and pre-press processing, collection And obtain a variety of digital production control information, and gradually transfer to the equipment involved in the printing and post-press processing, control the printing and post-press processes, so that the entire production process and production equipment status are in the production control information flow. Under the control of the project, to achieve the goal of reasonable, efficient, high-quality production.
The development of PPF was undertaken by the Frauenhofer Institute for Computer Graphics in Germany. This format is written in postscript language, the data structure is a tree structure, and the various processes and devices in the workflow are defined on the corresponding nodes. It uses an inheritance mechanism, and child nodes can inherit the attributes of the parent node and higher nodes, so some general information can be defined on the advanced node. This is a device-independent file format that allows online or offline communication with prepress, print, and postpress devices via standard interfaces. When the corresponding control information arrives at the device, it is converted into instructions that the device can understand and execute. , the control device quickly enters the working state. Figure 1 shows the collective effect of PPF on prepress, printing and postpress.
1. As can be seen from Figure 1, the content of the PPF includes almost all production control information, which can be summarized as the following three aspects:
1.1 Prepress stage: color management description information, trapping parameters, management of documents and images (recording relative path, Figure 1 PPF-based digital workflow and PPF interface supporting image replacement), layout description, layout and digital proofing information Wait;
1.2 printing stage: sheet composition (single-sided / double-sided), ink volume control (ink expansion and conversion curve, ink volume calculation and adjustment in each ink zone), color quality control (color color and density measurement), register control And the allowed errors, etc.;
1.3 Post-press stage: cutting, folding parameters and binding (matching, sizing, attaching, automatic crawling) information.
2. PPF as a standard plays an important role in the realization of digital workflow, providing a convenient, fast and reliable means for the integration of all major links, but it also has many limitations:
2.1 It has no job tracking and feedback mechanism, and it can't really satisfy the complete digital production process control. For example, the PPF file contains the data information of the device “how to do it” for each processing process, but the information of “how to do” and “whether the requirements are met” cannot be fed back.
2.2 It does not include job management and process scheduling information, and it is not a substitute for the effectiveness of the Management Information System (MIS). In order to know if a job is completed on time or at what point, you still need to go through the entire process or call each department.
2.3 It is also unable to participate in the exchange of information on e-commerce, electronic data exchange, etc. involving customers.
Third, JDF job format
In order to be more widely adapted to the requirements of print publishing, e-commerce, automation and computer integrated manufacturing, CIP3 has expanded to CIP4 (International Cooperation for Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress) and announced the establishment of CIP3. PPF and Adobe's PJTF existing technology based on the work definition format JDF (Job Definition Format). It integrates e-commerce and production management into a digital workflow, enabling true integration across a wide range from business to management to production.
JDF was first developed by Adobe, AGFA, Heidelberg, and MANRoland, and then handed over to the CIP4 organization. In April 2001, CIP4 announced version JDF 1.0, the latest version is version 1.1 released in April 2002. JDF is written using Extensible Language (XML) and its data structure is also a tree node structure. It inherits the advantages of PPF and PJTF, and overcomes the limitations of PPF itself. It combines many different standards or specifications into a more effective and better solution, which lays a solid foundation for the development of digital processes in the future. The basics.
1. The contents of the JDF file include the following aspects:
1.1All information contained in the 1PPF file: including pre-press color management description, trapping, layout, digital proofing information; ink volume control, color quality control, registration control parameters; and post-press cutting , folding and binding information, etc.
1.2 Non-technical management information: such as job management and process scheduling information, job tracking and feedback information, thus ensuring on-time and efficient organization of production.
1.3 Business information and customer opinions: JDF has established contacts with e-commerce systems and customers, and can quickly reflect customer opinions into production. At the same time, it also increases the transparency of production, so that customers can supervise production.
2. The JDF format file is different:
2.1 Provide a "digital standard job ticket". From the birth, execution and termination of a printing task, JDF has always played the role of a link and a soul. It records and tracks the status of each stage at any time, and provides information and timely feedback for proper control of the system and equipment. Cost calculation, process scheduling, production control, and business management can be performed using JDF and JMF (Job Messaging Format).
2.2 for the printing business organization, management information system, printing production department set up a bridge of communication (3), will be related to all aspects of print production, such as authors, publishers, advertisers, creative design, art design center, India Pre-processing centers, printing houses, sales outlets, customers and other connections become a complete system.
2.3 Compatible with PPF and PJTF formats to ensure the security of the investment in these two processes.
2.4 provides a more flexible solution. It uses an XML extensibility language, and XML is an extensible standard format that is controlled by 3W Group for many industries, so each specific system can extend its specifications according to its own equipment and architecture.
2.5 Provide a database-based network solution (4). Develop an application interface through XML to access distributed databases in a central database or global network system for global data exchange.
2.6 Supported by all CIP4 members and other companies, and under the efforts of CIP4, it will be more widely promoted as an international standard.
It can be seen that JDF has more smooth information exchange and more efficient and meticulous control of printing production, business, and related management in a wider field. Figure 2 shows the JDF-based digital collective production management and supervision system. JDF becomes the soul of the system.
Fourth, the development of JDF digital workflow
As mentioned above, JDF is a flexible and comprehensive solution that addresses all the issues in a digital workflow and plays an important role in achieving global digitization and promoting international cooperation. It has shown strong new product development advantages in just one year since its publication, such as Heidelberg’s Meta Dimension and Agfa's Apogeseserial3 workflow are examples of adaptations to the JDF standard.
Of course, the implementation of the digital workflow is still in its infancy, and the implementation of the CIP4/JDF workflow depends on the following hardware and software environments:
1 Establish a networked environment, including network connections between customers, business organizations, and print production departments. At the same time, establish a network connection between the internal management information system (MIS) and the collective production system (CIM).
2 Equipment vendors develop a wider range of devices that support CIP4/JDF file delivery and processing.
3 Cultivate high-quality CIP4/JDF workflow technicians and management personnel.
Overall, JDF paved the way for the implementation of the entire digital process with its strong technical advantages. With the further promotion of JDF as an international standard and the joint efforts of CIP4 organizations and various software and hardware developers in the industry, JDF will certainly enhance the level of technology, management and information in the industry, thereby promoting the digitalization process of the whole society. To contribute to the development of the information society.