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HP Certification for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange
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Job Definition Format (JDF) is a technical standard being developed by the graphic arts industry to help the interoperability between cross-vendor solution components in workflow implementations. It is based on XML and describes job tickets, messages and message
interchange.
JDF has four main functions. - First, it provides a single common language that supports the lifecycle of a print job. This is what people mean when they refer to JDF as a “Job Ticket” language.
- The second function is to provide a command and control language for devices on the shop floor. This aspect of JDF is called the Job Messaging Format or “JMF” it is not a separate specification, but it is integral to JDF. JMF allows the controlling workflow or MIS system in a process automated environment to tell a device to start and stop jobs, reorder the queue, and so on.
- Third, there is inherent in JDF a flexible methodology for constructing workflows and providing the command, control, and configuration of plant automation and job production.
- The fourth function is automating the handshake. This handshake makes sure that when a new device or component is added to the workflow that its functionality is understood. For instance, in JDF there are five staple folds that a stitcher may use. If a new stitcher is added to a JDF workflow, the governing workflow or MIS system must know which of those five folds the new stitcher supports. Communicating the set of JDF elements and attributes supported by a device to the MIS system or workflow system is creating the “handshake.”
As is typical of workflow systems, the JDF message contains information that enables each "node" in the workflow to determine what files it needs as input and where they are found, and what processes it should perform. It then modifies the JDF job ticket to describe what it has done, and examines the JDF ticket to determine where the message and accompanying files should be sent next. The JDF format is designed to encompass the whole life cycle of a print and crossmedia job, including device automation, management data collection and job-floor mechanical production process, including even such things as bindery, assembly of finished products on pallets. |
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| The CIP4 organization is the international body that defines and regulates JDF standards. They define the terminology, the standard itself and coordinate its usage and evolution. The CIP4 organization is structured as a committee in which company members contribute with qualified personnel and resources. The committee is responsible for delivering an open standard to the world. HP is a leading member of the CIP4 committee. They chair several Workgroups such as the one for Capabilities, Product Description, and Print Talk and have now been elected to lead & chair the Wide Format Printing Workgroup. Currently, CIP4 consists of over 1,600 individuals from over 300 member companies. These individuals participate in one or more of 27 working groups that are focused on technical subjects as well as educational and automation promotion activities. Membership is open to any company involved in the graphic arts. For more information go to: http://www.cip4.org/ |
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| The HP Wide Format Printing JDF is a subset taken from the globally defined JDF 1.4 specification by CIP4. |
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JDF provides for automation by making sure products and processes are able to interconnect to each other without/or by minimizing all user interfacing. HP works with alliance partners to achieve that interoperability.
Automation and interoperability is the key to reduce costs in operation for printing and production. One of the benefits of JDF is that products from different manufacturers are able to work with each other.
From the web storefront to print production, HP certification assures that Wide Format printing workflow solutions exchanging JDF integrate well with each other. - With HP certified partner solutions PSP’s can more easily build an e-Store Front to market their Wide Format print products & grow their customer base.
- Using HP certified partner solutions PSP’s can now take advantage of Wide Format print production automation tools to reduce cost & improve profit
- HP certified partner solutions can help PSP’s improve their customer loyalty & differentiate their service offerings through automated CRM tools.
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| JDF provides a common syntax, framework and guidelines of communications among processes, devices and other elements involved in a printing workflow. All of this is based on the Wide Format Printing subset of the 1.4 JDF standards which has now been defined by HP. With HP leading the CIP4 Wide Format Printing Workgroup this will now evolve to embrace greater workflow capability. |
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JDF is open to everyone. It is an open industry standard. HP’s Wide Format Printing JDF is also open to everybody for the same reason. It is based on a subset of the official JDF 1.4 specification from CIP4.
The ‘HP Certification for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ is however a proprietary process owned by HP, and HP decides who can pass this certification. The certification endorsement from HP gives confidence that solution components that HP has tested will have a good level of interoperability. |
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The ‘HP Certification for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ is a process by which HP verifies certain capabilities about a set of products and their suitability with HP Wide Format products. For example HPs’ RIP Certification process is able to ensure that customers who buy a certified RIP that this product “works well” with HP Wide Format printers, i.e., use advanced features from the printer like the embedded spectrophotometer, and that control, management, reporting, etc are accurate and will satisfy customers.
In the area of JDF the ‘HP Certification for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ ensures that HP Certified products “use the same “[JDF] language. Hence, products from different vendors that are ‘HP Certified for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ will have a higher level of interoperability among themselves. |
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Which Alliance Partners are in the HP Certification Program?
HP is working with a broad set of Alliance Partners in their Wide Format Printing certification program. These include:
Solutions that have now successfully achieved ‘HP Certified for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ status
Caldera CopyRIP, an easy-to-use RIP featuring fast preflight and preview features and advanced spooling control; Caldera VisualRIP+, a RIP solution for large-format print and cut, which includes unique features for higher productivity and options for cost and price management, contour or XY cutting and colour calibration; and Caldera GrandRIP+, a flexible and powerful production workflow software dedicated to wide and extra-wide format print and print-to-cut professionals. http://www.caldera.com
ColorGATE Productionserver 6, the universal production RIP for digital largeformat printing with easy, stable, fast and cost-effective production in high-end quality; and ColorGATE Web To Print, a powerful e-commerce system designed to operate professional online shops for digital large-format printing. http://www.colorgate.com
Cyrious Software,an estimation and business management software designed to dramatically improve productivity and profitability with tools for pricing and costing, order entry, credit card processing, invoicing, production management and order tracking, shipping, inventory, accounting, customer relationship management and scheduling, marketing and sales management. http://www.cyrious.com
Four Pees PrintFactory software, version 4, a complete production suite for banner, sign and super wide format printing that provides all professional job preparation and file correction tools needed to produce customer jobs faster, with minimum waste and with guaranteed results. http://www.fourpees.com/
GMG ColorServer, which reduces the time needed to normalise PDF files by providing automated colour conversions from various colour spaces; and GMG SmartProfiler to reduce the complexity of calibrating and profiling different output devices, such as digital presses or large format systems. http://www.gmgcolor.com/
ONYX ProductionHouse, version X10, which provides automated, print-only and print-and-cut workflows, 32-bit integrated colour management, job preparation and archiving. http://www.onyxgfx.com/
Printable Marcom Central, a vendor-hosted (SaaS) web-to-print system that provides an automated solution for creating, printing and managing the delivery of static, versioned and variable data pieces using predefined, pressready PDF templates http://www.printable.com/
EFI Pace a fully integrated automation solution for estimating, production, accounting, sales management and e-commerce; Digital StoreFront® a complete, streamlined Web-to-Print e-commerce solution that addresses the complex challenges facing the print industry today; Colorproof™ XF a professional-level RIP, that enables color supply chain management from design to print production by providing all the tools needed to produce the best color; Fiery® XF boosts color quality and productivity for large to superwide format printers . The fast, high-performance RIP works with most major solvent, eco solvent and UV printers & maximizes investments by reducing production time. http://www.efi.com/
MediaWide's Brandmark is a web-based collaborative workflow that allows PSPs to customise marketing collateral according to a client's brand identity. PSPs can use Brandmark to localise brand content and adapt it to different collateral types, sizes and languages across a wide range of outlets. Comprehensive campaign-scheduling and process management capability simplifies approvals, ordering and delivery, allowing PSPs to reduce time to market. http://www.mediawide.com/brandmark/
Solutions pending HP Certification
EskoArtwork: Automation Engine is a new modular workflow server with dynamic workflows that are easy to set up and operate. It ensures increased efficiency and throughput and saves time and money. It answers the daily challenges of print professionals who need to increase quality, reduce errors and drive cost out of the process: EskoArtwork I-cut Suite is a collection of preproduction software targeted specifically at users of large format digital printers and/or digital finishing systems. i-cut Suite tackles all bottlenecks in the workflow. From preflighting PDF files, preparing graphics, creating layouts, to printing, and finishing in perfect registration. http://www.esko.com/web/site.aspx?p=23
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Having listened to their customers HP working together with their Alliance Partners has identified a number of gaps in Wide Format Printing Workflows.
Examples of the current challenges facing PSP’s
- Colour Management
When customers submit their jobs to Print Service Providers over the internet they frequently have colour management issues such as double color management, or wrong rendering intents, or wrong translations from a color space to another, etc. These issues can be solved if all products involved shared the same definition on what needs to be done, and how.
- Job Estimating
Print Service Providers have difficulty in providing accurate estimates of how much a job will cost to produce and therefore how much to charge their customers. By enabling good interoperability with Management Information Systems using JDF, accurate job information can be extracted from the Wide Format printer. This information can be analyzed by the MIS system in order to establish print production costs & margins. The Print Service Provider can therefore generate timely & accurate customer quotes.
HP strongly believes in choice for the customer. Working with best of breed Alliance Partners to implement the JDF open industry standard in their solution components gives this choice. Customers are not locked in to proprietary systems, their investments are protected & they can invest in additional solution modules as their business needs change. The ‘HP Certification for Wide Format Printing using JDF Exchange’ gives customers the assurance that solution components that have achieved ‘HP Certified’ status will have good levels of interoperability. |
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| Any HP Wide Format printer that is driven by an ‘HP Certified for Wide Format Printing with JDF Exchange’ Raster Image Processor will be certified. |
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| HP and their Alliance Partners are working to have these solutions available in the market before the end of 2010. |
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