Technology & Research

JDF and Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) are essential components within Printing Industries of America's workflow and a core activity for the Center of Technology and Research. Printing Industries of America has multiple JDF-enabled devices and software in many departments from the design area to bindery. A list of devices can be found here. For more information about JDF-enabled devices and automation, please contact automation@printing.org.

Interoperability Conformance Specification (ICS) Documents

No single device (i.e., printer, press, imagesetter) is likely to implement all that the JDF specification provides for. For instance, if you are in the digital printing business, you may not care to facilitate data on case binding. A RIP need not facilitate JDF preflighting. A Stitcher probably doesn't need to handle image rendering data. To specify exactly what individual classes of devices need to do with JDF, CIP4 members introduced continually developing "Interoperability Conformance Specifications" (ICS) documents that provide the standard for individual classes of devices.

ICS documents look at the interface between the manager of a job, (i.e., a workflow system, Print MIS, pressroom management system), and the worker (e.g, the system or software that will perform the desired process). In addition to a base ICS document that applies to all JDF-enabled devices, ICS documents have been published to cover a variety of interfaces, including:

These ICS documents define the roles of the "manager" and "worker," including their ability to read (worker) and write (manager) JDF, minimum support for Job Messaging Format options, as well as additional data typing, defining how jobs files are to be exchanged or identified, and required support for particular JDF processes and resources. It's important to note ICS documents do not add to the JDF specification, but they provide additional constraints and are specific to the interface they define. (ICS documents are available to the public as PDF files for download. Please see http://www.cip4.org/document_archive/ics.php).

More ICS documents are in development, and ICS documents will be used as the basis for the JDF Product Certification Program operated by Printing Industries and Brandon Iskey. CIP4 has signed on with Printing Industries as the first product certification testing facility and others will be added in Europe and Asia. There are products labeled "JDF Certified," and each certification test will be focused on a specific ICS document.

About CIP4

Printing Industries of America
is a:

CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software- development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization's website.

About JDF

The Job Definition Format (JDF) is the industry specification designed to facilitate process automation and the integration of different applications and systems in and around the graphic arts industry. JDF also enables the integration of business management and job planning applications into the production workflow. JDF is based on the W3C's Extensible Markup Language (XML), ensuring maximum interoperability between different platforms and ready interaction with Internet systems. More ...