There is now a selection of PDF from various sources at IPEX. IT started as TIFF EPS or JPEG but usually the PDF is smaller.
http://www.acrobat-services.com/ipex
Starting with IPEX 2002, this blog covers events relevant for UK print, including Seybold and DRUPA. See also website at www.atford.co.uk
Friday, April 19, 2002
Thursday, April 18, 2002
A few points after checking websites at home
The previous link for Founder leads to a website in Chinese. There is English language information on products and future trade shows at www.eaglerip.com
Bandwidth now back to normal UK levels so the Flash at Colorperfexion takes a while to load. Maybe an html alternative would be a good idea. From the Xerox hall 3 they presented an attractive prospect of managed colour including rgb digital cameras. Partners include Apple so Colorsync should be covered as well as Windows. Be patient with the Flash till you get a chance to scroll through the text.
www.cpxuk.com
Printlink offers web connections into InDesign and Quark using XML. Program by Sansui, spec from Ascent so it should also work with forms design. Apparently under development, the website is currenly just a jpeg. One to come back to. www.printlink.info
The previous link for Founder leads to a website in Chinese. There is English language information on products and future trade shows at www.eaglerip.com
Bandwidth now back to normal UK levels so the Flash at Colorperfexion takes a while to load. Maybe an html alternative would be a good idea. From the Xerox hall 3 they presented an attractive prospect of managed colour including rgb digital cameras. Partners include Apple so Colorsync should be covered as well as Windows. Be patient with the Flash till you get a chance to scroll through the text.
www.cpxuk.com
Printlink offers web connections into InDesign and Quark using XML. Program by Sansui, spec from Ascent so it should also work with forms design. Apparently under development, the website is currenly just a jpeg. One to come back to. www.printlink.info
On Wednesday I finally got round to spending time at the Cross Media Theatre. Unfortunately the BT speaker was ill so it turned out to be non-stop Adobe. The carrier bag featured hard copy on InDesign, a special from Macworld and Digit. However much 'broadband' had featured on other days, Adobe appeared to be concentrating on strengths relevant for the show. Sessions on Photoshop or Illustrator seemed to come back to integration with InDesign. There was much confidence that people now have a choice for page makeup. We were even invited to visit the Quark stand provided our first question was about tables. There were no suggestions that there would be a problem in Quark with placing PDF or creating PDF so presumably no such problems exist.
Attention was drawn to a Macworld article on typography-
"The art of good typography waned when DTP took over from typesetters, and it has taken more than a decade to recover. Now that the industry has learnt how to 'do it yourself', it's time to relearn how to 'do it right'."
Attention was drawn to a Macworld article on typography-
"The art of good typography waned when DTP took over from typesetters, and it has taken more than a decade to recover. Now that the industry has learnt how to 'do it yourself', it's time to relearn how to 'do it right'."
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Other shows will continue some of the themes from IPEX.
IMPRINTA 2003 has been identified at the CIP4 meeting as a stage when progress on JDF will be clearer. Actual demonstrations with litho machinery will wait till DRUPA. Possibly it will be easier to demonstrate workflow issues at IMPRINTA by concentrating on computers and software. There will be 'SolutionParks' on issues including PDF/X and JDF.
http://www.messe-duesseldorf.de/imprinta03/en/solutions_2.html
Meanwhile Digital Solutions at Excel this October will add a new exhibition called GoPublish. This is likely to include workflow issues and discussion on PDF. Last time Heidelberg arrived with some kit and a NexPress video. Maybe MAN Roland will be there in 2002 with a 3d animation of a DICOweb.
http://www.gopublishexpo.com
IMPRINTA 2003 has been identified at the CIP4 meeting as a stage when progress on JDF will be clearer. Actual demonstrations with litho machinery will wait till DRUPA. Possibly it will be easier to demonstrate workflow issues at IMPRINTA by concentrating on computers and software. There will be 'SolutionParks' on issues including PDF/X and JDF.
http://www.messe-duesseldorf.de/imprinta03/en/solutions_2.html
Meanwhile Digital Solutions at Excel this October will add a new exhibition called GoPublish. This is likely to include workflow issues and discussion on PDF. Last time Heidelberg arrived with some kit and a NexPress video. Maybe MAN Roland will be there in 2002 with a 3d animation of a DICOweb.
http://www.gopublishexpo.com
Monday, April 15, 2002
Printweek reports good news for Epson from The Guardian
Following remote proofing projects at the Financial Times, Colorbus RIPs are now in use at the Guardian. Factors influencing the decision include cost and ICC standards.
Details on the Printweek website
http://www.printweek.com/news_story.cfm?ID=10513
Following remote proofing projects at the Financial Times, Colorbus RIPs are now in use at the Guardian. Factors influencing the decision include cost and ICC standards.
Details on the Printweek website
http://www.printweek.com/news_story.cfm?ID=10513
Adobe Completes Acquisition of Accelio Corporation
Meanwhile, Adobe are moving further into business forms and server software. Maybe PDF will be used for job tickets, even if it is also XML somehow.
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200204/200204accelioclose.html
Meanwhile, Adobe are moving further into business forms and server software. Maybe PDF will be used for job tickets, even if it is also XML somehow.
http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200204/200204accelioclose.html
Saturday, April 13, 2002
Printme definitely works. Throughout IPEX there are places to try it out. Log on at www.printme.com
PDF is one of the supported formats. If Seybold Reports conclude that PDF is not good enough for litho, I will just use Printme instead.
More at the Electronics for Imaging stand.
PDF is one of the supported formats. If Seybold Reports conclude that PDF is not good enough for litho, I will just use Printme instead.
More at the Electronics for Imaging stand.
I usually get feedback that I've mistaken some aspect of the Job Definition Format but attempting to describe it is one way to check how far understanding has gone.
The basis is a spec rather than a file format, although the spec is suitable for XML. PJTF- the portable job ticket format - is shown on the diagram but as a contribution to the current spec in the area between creation and pre-press. There is no assumption that the XML data will be stored as part of a PDF, so if a PDf is used it is just for the page description. The JDF will include all instructions. There is no intention to use Postscript code within PDF for device control.
There is reasonable confidence in XML being a standard. Triplearc offer one of the first products based on JDF and this is written in .NET. There will be a meeting for developers during GraphExpo in Chicago later this year. Members of CIP4 can uise C++ and Java code. This will be updated soon after the 1.1 upgrade later in April.
Creo fully support JDF and see 'Closed Loop - Open Systems' as a linked idea to 'Networked Graphic Production'. Agfa and Man Roland seem to be working towards an even better demonstration of JDF workflow at the next Drupa. Heidelberg made it very clear in the press conference that JDF will be fully supported in all their future products.
Comment
It would have been helpful for Adobe to have been there, just to confirm explanations on how this all fits with PDF.
The basis is a spec rather than a file format, although the spec is suitable for XML. PJTF- the portable job ticket format - is shown on the diagram but as a contribution to the current spec in the area between creation and pre-press. There is no assumption that the XML data will be stored as part of a PDF, so if a PDf is used it is just for the page description. The JDF will include all instructions. There is no intention to use Postscript code within PDF for device control.
There is reasonable confidence in XML being a standard. Triplearc offer one of the first products based on JDF and this is written in .NET. There will be a meeting for developers during GraphExpo in Chicago later this year. Members of CIP4 can uise C++ and Java code. This will be updated soon after the 1.1 upgrade later in April.
Creo fully support JDF and see 'Closed Loop - Open Systems' as a linked idea to 'Networked Graphic Production'. Agfa and Man Roland seem to be working towards an even better demonstration of JDF workflow at the next Drupa. Heidelberg made it very clear in the press conference that JDF will be fully supported in all their future products.
Comment
It would have been helpful for Adobe to have been there, just to confirm explanations on how this all fits with PDF.
Adobe are convinced about Network Publishing. Some people have thought about it as just a useful marketing phrase but it seems the concepts have to be considered to explain Adobe decisions.
Not long ago Adobe drew attention to support for InDesign from Agfa, Creo and Heidelberg. Now at IPEX they concentrate on connecting with digital solutions from IBM, HP and Xerox. On the Apple stand they explain how InDesign is suited fro eBooks.
Although Adobe were one of the 'big four' that defined the Job Definition Format, there appeared to be no Adobe representation during the seminars and press briefing arranged by CIP4. This was the first CIP4 event at IPEX. It may be that given the potential of streaming media and server software, print is no longer a high priority.
Network Publishing is supposed to describe wave three of something that has already included the internet in the 90s and started with desktop publishuing in the 80s.
If the products that started with desktop publishing in the mid-80s are now mature and need little support or explanation, then it follows that they should soon be dropping in price. The 'collections' have started this direction but unfortunately four products are not enough. Another problem is that Adobe have not included Acrobat in the web collection, a really strange decision given that epaper is one area they can compete with Macromedia.
Currently a sensible solutioin for someone starting from scratch could be to buy the design collection and then buy Flash and Dreamweaver. Of course most people already have one or more of the mix but this is not reflected in an upgrade price.
To includes six products might put the cost of a collection over the £1000 price point initially. However the current Amazon.co.uk price for Quark 5 is higher than that so there is some scope. "Six Adobe products for the price of one from Quark" could be an attractive proposition, especially with upgrade options for people who have some of them already.
Not long ago Adobe drew attention to support for InDesign from Agfa, Creo and Heidelberg. Now at IPEX they concentrate on connecting with digital solutions from IBM, HP and Xerox. On the Apple stand they explain how InDesign is suited fro eBooks.
Although Adobe were one of the 'big four' that defined the Job Definition Format, there appeared to be no Adobe representation during the seminars and press briefing arranged by CIP4. This was the first CIP4 event at IPEX. It may be that given the potential of streaming media and server software, print is no longer a high priority.
Network Publishing is supposed to describe wave three of something that has already included the internet in the 90s and started with desktop publishuing in the 80s.
If the products that started with desktop publishing in the mid-80s are now mature and need little support or explanation, then it follows that they should soon be dropping in price. The 'collections' have started this direction but unfortunately four products are not enough. Another problem is that Adobe have not included Acrobat in the web collection, a really strange decision given that epaper is one area they can compete with Macromedia.
Currently a sensible solutioin for someone starting from scratch could be to buy the design collection and then buy Flash and Dreamweaver. Of course most people already have one or more of the mix but this is not reflected in an upgrade price.
To includes six products might put the cost of a collection over the £1000 price point initially. However the current Amazon.co.uk price for Quark 5 is higher than that so there is some scope. "Six Adobe products for the price of one from Quark" could be an attractive proposition, especially with upgrade options for people who have some of them already.
The DTI seem to regard the print sector as part of their approach to e-commerce. Just as at the launch of Print 21 the relevant minister turned out to be Douglas Alexander MP, responsible for e-commerce and competitiveness.
He pointed out that print can too easily be taken for granted within the new communications economy. He questioned why this should be given a £13 billion turnover and how print could project an image to attract a high skills workforce.
Research showed that over half of UK printers have the intention to be able to take orders online within two years. ISDN is widely used. Potentially, print companies can expand into design, data storage and direct mail. A world class event such as IPEX helps to showcase the modern face of the industry and consign the 'hot metal and oily rags' image to history.
The answer to a question on targets for broadband was in specific UK terms rather than a general assertion about international comparisons. Changes recently announced by BT included 100 more exchanges equipped for ADSL, increasing coverage to 66% of UK population. Cable modems are already available to 50% of UK population.
He added that 'Broadband is a challenge for business, not just for government', inviting the print industry to demonstrate potential benefits.
Comment
The Vision conference is intended to attract new people into print. It would be useful to show print as part of network publishing or some such broad description. Classic pre-press skills reflect what a Mac is capable of. Web design and animation should be part of the training, even for humble users of Windows. If data storage and direct marketing are involved then skills need to cover networking and telecoms. It will be interesting to see what the scope of Vision includes.
He pointed out that print can too easily be taken for granted within the new communications economy. He questioned why this should be given a £13 billion turnover and how print could project an image to attract a high skills workforce.
Research showed that over half of UK printers have the intention to be able to take orders online within two years. ISDN is widely used. Potentially, print companies can expand into design, data storage and direct mail. A world class event such as IPEX helps to showcase the modern face of the industry and consign the 'hot metal and oily rags' image to history.
The answer to a question on targets for broadband was in specific UK terms rather than a general assertion about international comparisons. Changes recently announced by BT included 100 more exchanges equipped for ADSL, increasing coverage to 66% of UK population. Cable modems are already available to 50% of UK population.
He added that 'Broadband is a challenge for business, not just for government', inviting the print industry to demonstrate potential benefits.
Comment
The Vision conference is intended to attract new people into print. It would be useful to show print as part of network publishing or some such broad description. Classic pre-press skills reflect what a Mac is capable of. Web design and animation should be part of the training, even for humble users of Windows. If data storage and direct marketing are involved then skills need to cover networking and telecoms. It will be interesting to see what the scope of Vision includes.
Gareth Ward from Dotprint was quoted during the CIP4 meeting-
"Some will be able to remember back to Ipex 88, which was the PostScript Ipex. At that show, miracle upon miracle, PostScript Rips could manage to process the Adobe Lady Golfer in 20 minutes, or 18 minutes, such was the competition. Many old heads would shake and declare that PostScript was not really suitable for the printing industry.
Those old timers lost their heads in the revolution which followed as those that doubt that JDF will have as profound an impact on the industry are the next in line for the guillotine.
JDF may not happen in the next year, not even in two years. But I guarantee by the time Ipex 2006 comes around, JDF will have permeated the industry to such an extent that we will not even be concerned about it.
Where will I be heading to find out about JDF? First and foremost there is PrintCity whose whole concept is that of linking disparate equipment from different sectors of the business into a single workflow."
Follow this link for the full text
http://www.dotprint.com/community/events/ipex/news/02_04_08_009.shtml
You may skip the first bit where Dotprint has slipped into chat mode and deals with contested memories of obscure facts from previous print history, such as who paid for the drinks.
"Some will be able to remember back to Ipex 88, which was the PostScript Ipex. At that show, miracle upon miracle, PostScript Rips could manage to process the Adobe Lady Golfer in 20 minutes, or 18 minutes, such was the competition. Many old heads would shake and declare that PostScript was not really suitable for the printing industry.
Those old timers lost their heads in the revolution which followed as those that doubt that JDF will have as profound an impact on the industry are the next in line for the guillotine.
JDF may not happen in the next year, not even in two years. But I guarantee by the time Ipex 2006 comes around, JDF will have permeated the industry to such an extent that we will not even be concerned about it.
Where will I be heading to find out about JDF? First and foremost there is PrintCity whose whole concept is that of linking disparate equipment from different sectors of the business into a single workflow."
Follow this link for the full text
http://www.dotprint.com/community/events/ipex/news/02_04_08_009.shtml
You may skip the first bit where Dotprint has slipped into chat mode and deals with contested memories of obscure facts from previous print history, such as who paid for the drinks.
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
Mike Jahn is presenting the idea of Certified PDF at the Enfocus stand (Hall 4, Stand 707B). Software can fix a PDF to conform with PDF/X-1a:2001.
The background to this is that Time will fully support PDF for advertising as from June.
Apparently other print file formats are not as suitable for use on the web.
The background to this is that Time will fully support PDF for advertising as from June.
Apparently other print file formats are not as suitable for use on the web.
Tuesday, April 09, 2002
IPEX Daily has been printed ok from PDF. Creo's presentation of Networked Graphic Production seems to complement Adobe's Network Publishing, though obviously with a print bias.
Print City is getting better at explaining workflow and the links to work on the Job Definition Format. From discussion after their presentation it appeared that practical links may follow IPEX across the way things have so far been presented, for example workflow involving MAN Roland and Creo.
There was frank admission that explanation of workflow issues had been poor at Print City's first DRUPA. This may have influenced Adobe's decision not to continue as a member. There is certainly energy going into explanation at IPEX so maybe PDF will be more fully explained at the next DRUPA.
Print City is getting better at explaining workflow and the links to work on the Job Definition Format. From discussion after their presentation it appeared that practical links may follow IPEX across the way things have so far been presented, for example workflow involving MAN Roland and Creo.
There was frank admission that explanation of workflow issues had been poor at Print City's first DRUPA. This may have influenced Adobe's decision not to continue as a member. There is certainly energy going into explanation at IPEX so maybe PDF will be more fully explained at the next DRUPA.
Seybold have not shipped over free copies of a guide to IPEX this time which is a great disappointment.
They have announced a PDF Workflow Shootout with results to be announced at Seybold San Fancisco on September 10th. This will involve a survey of 150,000 PDF creators and output service providers. The tests will assume PDFx 1a so this is some sort of standard unless the test results are alarming.
There is a free article on their website. Not quite the same as a hard copy guide to IPEX but an intriduction to the issues raised by the PDF Workflow shootout.
http://www.seyboldreports.com/TSR/free/0122/html/pdfx.html
They have announced a PDF Workflow Shootout with results to be announced at Seybold San Fancisco on September 10th. This will involve a survey of 150,000 PDF creators and output service providers. The tests will assume PDFx 1a so this is some sort of standard unless the test results are alarming.
There is a free article on their website. Not quite the same as a hard copy guide to IPEX but an intriduction to the issues raised by the PDF Workflow shootout.
http://www.seyboldreports.com/TSR/free/0122/html/pdfx.html
At Print City, in Halls 17 and 18, Agfa are showing Apogee Series 3. Apogee Create actually uses the data aspects of PDF. Information consistent with the Job Definition Format is stored in the Portable Job Ticket Format. At later stages the data is held in other formats but a print customer can use Apogee Create to produce a single PDF file with the image and data. Later this year Agfa will release ApogeeX, consistent with new versions of the Job Definition Format. Some information may be available at the Agfa stand but it may be hidden away.
The above is my best current understanding. Whenever I try to describe this area I discover something has changed or I have confused something. Fortunately Blogger allows old posts to be edited.
The above is my best current understanding. Whenever I try to describe this area I discover something has changed or I have confused something. Fortunately Blogger allows old posts to be edited.
The Cross Media Theatre, Hall 4 Stand 328, is located near several interesting stands - Apple, Markzware, Jetplate CTP via inkjet, and Ascent forms design. Ascent have one of the first extensions for InDesign and this should be available for Mac and Windows. However their support for Windows has often been expected without actually happening. If Ascent actually exhibit a Windows product it will be a sign of significant change.
Heidelberg see '1to1' marketing as a way to secure the competitiveness of print against electronic media. Bernhard Schreier explained that the new NexTreme software for variable data would make print 'more exciting'.
NexTreme 50 will be bundled free with the Nexpress 2100 for proofing and small volumes. NexTreme 100 allows higher volumes and Nextreme 1000 is scaled for a server. Design works with Quark or InDesign on Mac or Windows. Data can come as ASCII files, integrated with ODBC or through COM interfaces.
In addition, everyone in the workflow saves valuable production time and costs with platform-independent PDFs. The software is the first variable-data solution that allows soft proofing - locally or remotely - of any page in the job, with every element of variable content in place. These proofs are created as platform-independent PDFs and therefore can be viewed on any computer.
The NexPress 2100 uses Adobe Extreme Postscript, designed to work with PDF. Bernhard Schreier made it clear that Heidelberg intended further development for digital printing. Print will benefit from new data connections with PDF.
NexTreme 50 will be bundled free with the Nexpress 2100 for proofing and small volumes. NexTreme 100 allows higher volumes and Nextreme 1000 is scaled for a server. Design works with Quark or InDesign on Mac or Windows. Data can come as ASCII files, integrated with ODBC or through COM interfaces.
In addition, everyone in the workflow saves valuable production time and costs with platform-independent PDFs. The software is the first variable-data solution that allows soft proofing - locally or remotely - of any page in the job, with every element of variable content in place. These proofs are created as platform-independent PDFs and therefore can be viewed on any computer.
The NexPress 2100 uses Adobe Extreme Postscript, designed to work with PDF. Bernhard Schreier made it clear that Heidelberg intended further development for digital printing. Print will benefit from new data connections with PDF.
Monday, April 08, 2002
There is now a test PDF to interest journalists. It should print A4 and show web links for news from Dotprint and Printweek.
It includes an extract from Printweek on PDF workflow for the IPEX Daily, thousands of copies printed litho, nothing short run digital about it.
If the PDF workflow holds up for a week it will probably last out the show.
http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/News.pdf
It includes an extract from Printweek on PDF workflow for the IPEX Daily, thousands of copies printed litho, nothing short run digital about it.
If the PDF workflow holds up for a week it will probably last out the show.
http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/News.pdf
Friday, April 05, 2002
This log is to add updates for the website at http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk
Current thought is that the main news so far is the Adobe decision not to have a stand.
Their website asserts things are four times better because of presence at stands such as Apple, IBM, Xerox and H-P.
Meanwhile the Job Definition Format seems not to connect with the data storage aspects of PDF. This impression could be wrong so updates will follow.
-----------
There is now a test PDF to interest journalists. It should print A4 and show web links for news from Dotprint and Printweek.
It includes an extract from Printweek on PDF workflow for the IPEX Daily, thousands of copies printed litho, nothing short run digital about it.
If the PDF workflow holds up for a week it will probably last out the show.
http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/News.pdf
Current thought is that the main news so far is the Adobe decision not to have a stand.
Their website asserts things are four times better because of presence at stands such as Apple, IBM, Xerox and H-P.
Meanwhile the Job Definition Format seems not to connect with the data storage aspects of PDF. This impression could be wrong so updates will follow.
-----------
There is now a test PDF to interest journalists. It should print A4 and show web links for news from Dotprint and Printweek.
It includes an extract from Printweek on PDF workflow for the IPEX Daily, thousands of copies printed litho, nothing short run digital about it.
If the PDF workflow holds up for a week it will probably last out the show.
http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/News.pdf
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