The core technology of printing production process automation--JDF (2)

2.2 The definition and characteristics of JDF

JDF (JobDefinitionFormat), the job description format, is an open file format based on XML (Extensible Markup Language) for describing and exchanging jobs. It is based on the PIP of PIP and Adobe's PJTF data format of CIP3 (Integrational Cooperation for the Integration Of Prepress, Press and Postpress, International Standard Organization for Prepress, Printing, Postpress Integrated Manufacturing), covering each of the printing workflows. The links, from business management, production management to resource management, and the prepress, printing and postpress processes, enable users to effectively control each job in the workflow. That is, the print job can be regarded as a job that goes through many production processes, and JDF provides a format for describing the job in accordance with the production process. This format allows the user to specify the necessary controls in each process, guide the production equipment to execute the production process, and can be used to exchange between the previous business management and the later production execution.

The following is a further explanation of JDF, which makes it easier for us to understand

The meaning of JDF: JDF is a description of the data exchange format, rather than an application or a system; JDF is encoded by XMI, it has scalability: JDF is in the product node, processing node and production The synthesis of the resources is modeled; the job description of the JDF and the information of the JMF (Job Information Format) define the structure of the JDF.

JDF has the following outstanding features:

(1) JDF is applied to the whole process of printing, and a uniform standard format can be given to all aspects of design, prepress, printing, postpress, and delivery.

(2) IDF has established a bridge of information exchange between production processing services and management information services. It can track print jobs and related equipment in real time, as well as prepress and postpress data processing.

(3) JDF can establish a communication bridge between customer requirements and actual production processes by defining two production-related and non-production-related workflows.

(4) JDF can define and track the flow of various users, it can be implemented by combining the entire industry, including media, design, printing, networking and e-commerce companies, separate work processes, without being limited to a fixed Process mode.

(5) JDF can integrate various products from different merchants into a seamless workflow solution. The JDF will become the basis for the various systems that the suppliers will develop in the future, and it will also have a crucial influence on the future fully automated workflow.

2.3 JDF Functions and Goals

Based on the above purpose, JDF is both a format and a standard, and can achieve the following functions:

(1) It covers all aspects of the printing workflow, and effectively controls it, and realizes the standardization of all aspects of the format of the transmission.

(2) It provides a bridge between production and processing services and Management Information Services (MIS). This capability enables timely tracking of print jobs and equipment, as well as prepress and postpress data, making pre- and post-computation calculations possible.

(3) Establish a communication by defining two related and irrelevant workflows related to product requirements, so that users can correlate the information required by the product with the information in the production process.

(4) Any user-defined process can be defined and tracked, combining individual workflows including media, design, printing, networking, and e-commerce companies without being confined to a fixed process model.

(5) JDF can integrate products from different merchants into one workflow.

JDF is not only an extremely flexible and comprehensive solution. No matter how many devices are required for printing jobs, and no matter how complex the printing operations, JDF can establish effective communication channels between various aspects of the printing process. From the time the customer placed an order and the final product was delivered to the customer, JDF was able to link the management information system in the printing process with the actual production process.

In the field of printing, there have been some standards in the past, such as PPF, PDF, PJTF, etc., and JDF is based on these technologies. It integrates these technologies and other standards into a more effective and powerful standard. This makes JDF quickly develop into a formal standard and is recommended as an industry standard.

In addition, any other format can not cover all aspects of the printing industry, from business management to production management to resource management, and the whole process of prepress, India and India, and JDF can do it.

The goal of JDF is to achieve the following 3 points:

(1) To realize the description and exchange of information between different parts of the process and different stages of the printing job.

(2) Create a digital "job package."

(3) Describe print jobs in all existing states.

JDF effectively communicates existing workflows and allows parallel work. It describes the print job in detail both at the production level and at the customer level. It makes full use of existing technology and plays a role in leveraging existing standards. And because of the use of XML language, object-oriented design is simple to implement. (to be continued)