jdf for packaging and labels - rotogravure

JDF for packaging and labelsERA Packaging Conference Nov 2007

JDF for packaging and labelsERA Packaging Conference Nov 2007

14.11.2007

Lieven Plettinck

Principal Software Architect, EskoArtwork

Chairman Packaging and Labels Workgroup, CIP4

14.11.2007

Lieven Plettinck

Principal Software Architect, EskoArtwork

Chairman Packaging and Labels Workgroup, CIP4

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What is the problem?

JDF

3

Packaging and Labels

Types of packaging and labels• Corrugated boxes• Folding carton• Labels• Bags• Shrink sleeve foils• POP displays• Metal cans• …

4

Multitude of substrates, inksMultitude of substrates, inks

Variety of shapesVariety of shapes

Different print technologiesDifferent print technologies

Special finishingSpecial finishing

A Technical Challenge

5

The Packaging Supply Chain

PRODUCTIONPRE-PRODUCTION

PACKAGING DESIGN

PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

Printing

Diecutting/Finishing

GraphicDesign

StructuralDesign

ProductDesign

Sales & Marketing

FILLING

, PA

LLET

IZA

TIO

NS

HIP

PIN

G P

REP

AR

ATIO

N

DIS

TR

IBU

TIO

N

Plate-making

Layout,Die- & Tool-

makingCAD/CAM

Prepress

Proofing

SampleMaking

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PRODUCTIONPRE-PRODUCTION

PACKAGING DESIGN

PRODUCTDEVELOPMENT

Printing

Diecutting/Finishing

GraphicDesign

StructuralDesign

ProductDesign

Sales & Marketing

FILLING

, PA

LLET

IZA

TIO

NS

HIP

PIN

G P

REP

AR

ATIO

N

DIS

TR

IBU

TIO

N

Plate-making

Layout,Die- & Tool-

makingCAD/CAM

Prepress

Proofing

SampleMaking

ConsumerProduct

Company(CPC)

Design Firmor insidethe CPC

Prepress Company

Folding Carton, Corrugatedor Label Converters

CPCManufacturing

Facility orConverter

Who are the players?

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Where is the pain?

GraphicDesign

StructuralDesign

Plate-making

RoughLayout forEstimating

Prepress

Proofing &SampleMaking

SampleMaking

ProductPackaging

Specs

Time

FinalLayout

Die- & Tool-making

Production

8

Where is the pain?

● Complex workflow with multiple activities…

– Running in parallel

– Performed by multiple actors

– 1 activity depends on results of 1 or more other activities

– Activities have high technical complexity

– Under increasing time pressure

9

Where is the pain?

● Complex workflow with multiple activities…● with…

– Weak communication links between activities (oral, paper, e-mail or ad hoc digital documents)

– Weak abilities for global follow-up and control

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Where is the pain?

● Complex workflow with multiple activities…

● with weak communication links

● Results in a workflow that is:

– Error prone (very expensive!)

– Hard to track

– Hard to optimize

– Hard to automate

We have a digital content workflow with a paper based managementworkflow. That does not make sense!

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● Control the flow of specifications and data from the very 1st workflow step through the chain to reduce errors

● Make the process traceable– To check for errors (Have specifications been granted?)

● Enable optimization – To provide global status information of the process

● Check that deadlines will be met● Reschedule or reprioritize tasks when needed

● Enable automated execution where manual intervention (and possible cause of error) has no added value.

● All of these statements to be true even if tools from multiple vendors are used

What do the players want?

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What is the problem? Optimizing the supply chain

JDF

Is JDF the solution?

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CIP4http://www.cip4.org

• International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress

• Swiss organization founded in 2000• 4 initiating companies: Adobe, Agfa, Heidelberg, Man Roland• 313 members (April 25)

• MIS companies• Software companies (workflow systems, design, pre-press, etc..)• Device manufacturers (pre-press, press, finishing)• Users

• See http://www.cip4.org

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What is JDF?

JDF = Job Definition Format

“An XML industry standard for end-to-end job ticket specification”

– JDF is a data interchange format specification. JDF is not an application or a system

– JDF describes a job• Products that will be produced

• Processes that need to be executed to produce the products

• Resources needed by the processes

– JDF is encoded in XML

– Content e.g. PDF is referenced, not embedded

– The current version is JDF 1.3. Most systems are JDF 1.2 compliant.

– JDF is extensible (Private extension)

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JDF Product

• JDF can describe Products and Product structure

• IntentResources describe intended characteristics of the products (typically defined by end customer)

Filled Box

Box Insert Blister

Quantity=50000

Color=CMYK Color=BW

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JDF Process

ProcessRes1

Res2

Res

JDF Process = a task to be executed– Consumes input Resources

– Produces output Resources

– Has a status “Waiting, Ready, Completed, Aborted”

JDF Resource– Physical Resources e.g. plates, paper

– Digital Resources e.g. a file, a set of parameters

– Has a status “Available, Unavailable”

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JDF ProcessGroup

ProcessRunList

Process Params

RunList

• Multiple JDF Processes can be embedded in a single JDF node.

• Resources are linked via ResourceLinks to connect outputs of processes to inputs of other processes

• Complex networks of interdependent Processes can be built using Resource linking

DigitalDelivery

DigitalDeliveryParams

RunList

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JDF AuditPool

AuditPool● AuditPool logs all changes to the JDF

● Time and materials tracking for processes

● Info, warning and error messages

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What is JMF?

JMF = Job Messaging Format

“An XML industry standard for message description and message interchange protocol”

– JMF is a message format specification. – JMF is either

• Command to be executed• Query for information about jobs, processes, resources or devices• Response to either a Query or Command• Acknowledge of a Command• Signal of an event• Registration to be informed of events

– JMF is encoded in XML– JMF can reference or embed a JDF– JMF messages are sent over HTTP. JMF is optional. Limited functionality systems

can be built using JDF with hotfolders.– JDF and JMF are part of the same standard. The current version is JDF 1.3.

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com

• Manager constructs a JDF

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com


• Manager constructs a JMF SubMitQueueEntry message with a URL of the JDF

JMF

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com



• Manager HTTP posts the JMF to the URL of the worker

JMFhttp post

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com




• The worker http gets the JDF and adds it to the queue

http get

Queue

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com





• The manager queries status of the submitted job with a Query JMF messages, the worker answers with Response JMF messages

Query

Queue

Response

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JMF

Manager Worker

http://ww

w.w

orker.com

http://ww

w.m

anager.com





• The manager queries status of the submitted job with a Query JMF messages, the worker answers with Response JMF messages

• When the worker has finished executing the job. The updated JDF is http posted to the URL of the manager with a JMF ReturnQueueEntry message.

Queue

ReturnQueueEntry

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Optimizing the supply chain

JDF is an enabling technology• Standard for job description and comm.• Capable of spanning the supply chain• Backed my major players in the industry

JDF in Packaging and Labels?

JDF

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JDF and Packaging

● JDF 1.2– Was designed for commercial print workflows

– Packaging processes (e.g. folder/gluer), resources (e.g. barcodes) were missing.

– Vendors used private extensions to have faster time to market or to describe vendor specific functionality.

● JDF 1.3– Spec was released in September 2005

– JDF 1.3 Packaging and Labels functionality● Media: Corrugated Board and Self-Adhesive

● ShapeCutting process: Process and Resources for analog and digital die-cuttingmachines.

● BoxFolding process: Process and Resources for a folder/gluer machine.

● Stripping process: Step and repeat for folding carton (die-based) and labels (grid based)

● LayoutElementProduction process: Process extension and resources for inserting barcode in a design

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JDF and Packaging

● JDF 1.4– Spec will be released in spring 2008

– JDF 1.4 Packaging and Labels functionality● Media: Flexo plates and sleeves

● LayoutElementProduction: Process extension and resources to define shape (CAD file) to design and prepress

● Embossing: Process extension for braille

● CAD workflow

– Process and resources for design of the the 1-up

– Process and resources for the layout of 1-ups on a sheet and die making

● JDF 1.5 and beyond…

– Packaging and labels functionality is added in every spec cycle– Amazingly useful implementations can be deployed today.

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More JDF is needed• JDF has generic features for MIS, pre-press, press and finishing. • JDF1.3 adds P&L specific features• JDF1.4 adds flexo and CAD features

JDF for you?

JDF

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What is Real?

● The fully integrated, interconnected JDF supply chain from creative to finishing across design companies, trade-shops and converters is a vision ‘under construction’.

● The JDF specification for packaging and labels is in full evolution to cover increasingly bigger parts of the workflow.

● Still, JDF integrated shops exist today. – MIS linked to prepress department

– MIS linked to press floor and finishing equipment

● JDF can be deployed step by step– Simple use cases can bring great value!

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How do I start?

● Analyze your needs and list your most important use cases.– Error reduction● Barcodes

● Step and Repeat

● DGC

● Flexo Plate or Sleeve spec

● Flexo Plate Distortion

– Tracking

● Talk to your vendors (MIS, Prepress, Press, Finishing)– Consultancy

– Use the power in your wallet!

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How do I start?

● Make or buy– Commercial MIS systems with JDF interfaces are available

– Consultants can implement JDF interfaces on top of commercial systems

– Internal developments

● Take it step by step– Implement first use case

– Evaluate before taking the next

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More JDF is needed• JDF has generic features for MIS, pre-press, press and finishing. • JDF1.3 adds P&L specific features• JDF1.4 adds flexo features

JDF for you?

JDF

Start small.Expect More…

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A brand new day in Packaging & Printing

jdf for packaging and labels - rotogravure

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