Starting with IPEX 2002, this blog covers events relevant for UK print, including Seybold and DRUPA. See also website at www.atford.co.uk
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
It turns out that Macromedia have plans for server software and that forms are part of a 'rich media experience'.
The name is Flex, as announced at the Flashforward animation event, but aimed at the enterprise.
There is no announcement of a Macromedia presence at Seybold Amsterdam. Maybe they are not yet ready. There might be more information at Seybold San Francisco. So meanwhile we need the web as well. Macromedia may have given up on real time events.
The name is Flex, as announced at the Flashforward animation event, but aimed at the enterprise.
There is no announcement of a Macromedia presence at Seybold Amsterdam. Maybe they are not yet ready. There might be more information at Seybold San Francisco. So meanwhile we need the web as well. Macromedia may have given up on real time events.
There is an archived conference call from Adobe, available for another couple of weeks.
Bruce Chizen is asked to comment on the discussion at AIIM on linking digital print and 'intelligent documents'. He mentions the history of Postscript and the links Adobe has, but he seems to concentrate on office production rather than pre-press for litho. He mentions HP and Xerox. They will both be at drupa but there is something different here to how drupa used to be.
Figures show some growth now for the server products aimed at 'enterprises'. OEM Postscript sales are not really growing. Because Adobe has been central for the printing industry since Postscript came out it is sometimes forgotten that Adobe's main interest is software.
Bruce Chizen is asked to comment on the discussion at AIIM on linking digital print and 'intelligent documents'. He mentions the history of Postscript and the links Adobe has, but he seems to concentrate on office production rather than pre-press for litho. He mentions HP and Xerox. They will both be at drupa but there is something different here to how drupa used to be.
Figures show some growth now for the server products aimed at 'enterprises'. OEM Postscript sales are not really growing. Because Adobe has been central for the printing industry since Postscript came out it is sometimes forgotten that Adobe's main interest is software.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
I still think it is ok to leave this blog as IPEX2002 even though it is about drupa.
At IPEX the CIP4 day on JDF did not include much from Adobe. There could be more in 2004.
An update on Transit was recently announced. PDF Jobready could be widely used but this will depend on pricing. However, print has not been forgotten in the rush to sell server software for entrerprises.
At IPEX the CIP4 day on JDF did not include much from Adobe. There could be more in 2004.
An update on Transit was recently announced. PDF Jobready could be widely used but this will depend on pricing. However, print has not been forgotten in the rush to sell server software for entrerprises.
There is an MIS show coming up in Birmingham.
PDF Brochure
The way computing and the web is impacting on print has changed the role of MIS. The computer system covers every part of print production so the MIS is just one part of this. The main issue is how the MIS system can cope with this when it needs to fit with something else.
PDF Brochure
The way computing and the web is impacting on print has changed the role of MIS. The computer system covers every part of print production so the MIS is just one part of this. The main issue is how the MIS system can cope with this when it needs to fit with something else.
There is a very interesting release from Enfocus about JDF and PDF.
http://www.enfocus.com/news/shownews.php?id=135
The details will not be clear till drupa though there may be some clues at Seybold.
The intention is that job ticket details ( the JDF bit ) will be included as part of the PDF. I think that is right, this blog will change if facts are wrong. Now this going back to the original idea of a PDF with a portable job ticket format included. Just one file with everything required.
At Seybold Amsterdam 2003 there was a lot of discussion on how the JDF part and the PDF could be linked. There was a lot of support for keeping XML distinct. I think the Global Graphics approach with Courier follows this, but I could be wrong.
Adobe seems to be looking at an XML file that includes PDF as one part of it. This might be easier for database systems to cope with as getting XML in and out of PDF takes up some resource. For enterprise and government this may be a way forward but for print a PDF as it is now known, plus the job ticket in some way it is not going to get lost, meets the requirement for most people.
The Enfocus press release includes a statement by David van Driessche, Enfocus CEO. "Our support for job ticketing and JDF allows PDF workflows to be extended to include the original document creators; something that was clearly missing to date."
This is a significant intention. The 'original document creator' can create and proof a PDF for page description. Also they can specify the job ticket details as far as they need to. It appears this will all be in one file that is easy to check. From a quality assurance point of view this is document control as in the book.
There will be more on this later. Something longer will be on the WWW.atford website after drupa
http://www.enfocus.com/news/shownews.php?id=135
The details will not be clear till drupa though there may be some clues at Seybold.
The intention is that job ticket details ( the JDF bit ) will be included as part of the PDF. I think that is right, this blog will change if facts are wrong. Now this going back to the original idea of a PDF with a portable job ticket format included. Just one file with everything required.
At Seybold Amsterdam 2003 there was a lot of discussion on how the JDF part and the PDF could be linked. There was a lot of support for keeping XML distinct. I think the Global Graphics approach with Courier follows this, but I could be wrong.
Adobe seems to be looking at an XML file that includes PDF as one part of it. This might be easier for database systems to cope with as getting XML in and out of PDF takes up some resource. For enterprise and government this may be a way forward but for print a PDF as it is now known, plus the job ticket in some way it is not going to get lost, meets the requirement for most people.
The Enfocus press release includes a statement by David van Driessche, Enfocus CEO. "Our support for job ticketing and JDF allows PDF workflows to be extended to include the original document creators; something that was clearly missing to date."
This is a significant intention. The 'original document creator' can create and proof a PDF for page description. Also they can specify the job ticket details as far as they need to. It appears this will all be in one file that is easy to check. From a quality assurance point of view this is document control as in the book.
There will be more on this later. Something longer will be on the WWW.atford website after drupa
Monday, March 01, 2004
Previous post was misleading in suggesting that Imprinta has disappeared.
Checking the site, it is just that the dates moved from 2003 to 2006.
http://www.mdna.com/shows/imprinta.html
I still think that a three year cycle for a show such as this is not the best approach for software issues. It could be annual but on a smaller scale.
So my guess is still that this coming drupa is a pivotal event. It has a very strong base in print as it has been. The online aspects are probably growing in such a way that such an event will not happen again in the same form.
See comments from Christian Gugler, Chairman of PrintCity’s Networking Activity Group. He has explained that the plans announced for drupa have "profound importance to the industry as a whole."
“Networking is far more important an issue than simply communicating small pieces of job and system data. As we look further ahead, at PrintCity we see that networking is also the essential prerequisite for structural change at a strategic level in the graphic arts industry."
“The industry must move beyond its traditional role as a creator and supplier of printed items, to become a provider of cross-media services. In that context, PrintCity’s Integration Centre and print factories show the clear paths to the future.”
Checking the site, it is just that the dates moved from 2003 to 2006.
http://www.mdna.com/shows/imprinta.html
I still think that a three year cycle for a show such as this is not the best approach for software issues. It could be annual but on a smaller scale.
So my guess is still that this coming drupa is a pivotal event. It has a very strong base in print as it has been. The online aspects are probably growing in such a way that such an event will not happen again in the same form.
See comments from Christian Gugler, Chairman of PrintCity’s Networking Activity Group. He has explained that the plans announced for drupa have "profound importance to the industry as a whole."
“Networking is far more important an issue than simply communicating small pieces of job and system data. As we look further ahead, at PrintCity we see that networking is also the essential prerequisite for structural change at a strategic level in the graphic arts industry."
“The industry must move beyond its traditional role as a creator and supplier of printed items, to become a provider of cross-media services. In that context, PrintCity’s Integration Centre and print factories show the clear paths to the future.”
There is an article by Frank Romano at i-grafix.
This suggests that the proportion of print jobs where the internet plays some part in the procurement will rise from roughly 20% at the moment to 80% by 2007.
This would mean that the Adobe take on 'Network Publishing' would make a lot of sense, though possibly not in 2004 as originally claimed when the concept was first promoted. Creo are now working on ideas around 'Networked Graphic Production' . Adobe is one partner with this and there is reference to Network Publishing as a related idea.
My guess is that this will mean that the 2004 drupa is the last one in this format. The four year cycle around drupa assumes that the machinery is the important feature. If the web is significant and print only one option for communications, then there will be many shows around the web that will contribute to discussion. I am not sure what happened to Imprinta. My guess is that this could have been a more frequent event between drupas, with an emphasis on software. In the UK, Digital Solutions and Digital Print World have shown there is a demand for shows around digital print that also cover workflows relevant to all forms of hard copy. Frank Romano's article suggests that the web will be involved in 60% of print procurement by 2006. What will this mean for an IPEX? It could be a very different show.
This suggests that the proportion of print jobs where the internet plays some part in the procurement will rise from roughly 20% at the moment to 80% by 2007.
This would mean that the Adobe take on 'Network Publishing' would make a lot of sense, though possibly not in 2004 as originally claimed when the concept was first promoted. Creo are now working on ideas around 'Networked Graphic Production' . Adobe is one partner with this and there is reference to Network Publishing as a related idea.
My guess is that this will mean that the 2004 drupa is the last one in this format. The four year cycle around drupa assumes that the machinery is the important feature. If the web is significant and print only one option for communications, then there will be many shows around the web that will contribute to discussion. I am not sure what happened to Imprinta. My guess is that this could have been a more frequent event between drupas, with an emphasis on software. In the UK, Digital Solutions and Digital Print World have shown there is a demand for shows around digital print that also cover workflows relevant to all forms of hard copy. Frank Romano's article suggests that the web will be involved in 60% of print procurement by 2006. What will this mean for an IPEX? It could be a very different show.
Previous post about the lack of stands at drupa seems to be largely wrong.
I am now a bit hesitant about making comments on the main webpages. Seems to be ok in a blog though. The drupa site did announce that all the space had gone and I did check the list at the time. So any future text could be wrong also. At least a blog can be updated.
Adobe will be at A33 in Hall 04 and A44 in Hall 6. This seems to be close enough to both Print City and the Networked Graphic Production around Creo. At IPEX there was a small space within the Xerox area as well.
Quark will be at A28 in Hall 7. No sign yet of Microsoft or Macromedia. At Digital Print World, Olympia last year , Microsoft showed a determination to establish Publisher as mainstream for pre-press. Maybe most people at drupa already know about this.
One of the Seybold keynotes will be about how graphic design should cover web, TV and hard copy. More about this later. People I meet working on the web often use Macromedia products so this has to be part of the discussion. Maybe Macromedia only wants to reach a web audience. Freehand remains a great way to produce hard copy. PDF files seem to be quite small for one thing. This could be pointed out more often.
I am now a bit hesitant about making comments on the main webpages. Seems to be ok in a blog though. The drupa site did announce that all the space had gone and I did check the list at the time. So any future text could be wrong also. At least a blog can be updated.
Adobe will be at A33 in Hall 04 and A44 in Hall 6. This seems to be close enough to both Print City and the Networked Graphic Production around Creo. At IPEX there was a small space within the Xerox area as well.
Quark will be at A28 in Hall 7. No sign yet of Microsoft or Macromedia. At Digital Print World, Olympia last year , Microsoft showed a determination to establish Publisher as mainstream for pre-press. Maybe most people at drupa already know about this.
One of the Seybold keynotes will be about how graphic design should cover web, TV and hard copy. More about this later. People I meet working on the web often use Macromedia products so this has to be part of the discussion. Maybe Macromedia only wants to reach a web audience. Freehand remains a great way to produce hard copy. PDF files seem to be quite small for one thing. This could be pointed out more often.
Sunday, February 08, 2004
Adobe will have a stand at Seybold Amsterdam, also hosting a day for developers.
This is a bit of a surprise. Last year the official Adobe presence seemed a bit limited. There were people there but they seemed to have turned up anyway, maybe in their spare time.
The day on e-forms will be relevant for JDF though it seems nobody will be using PDF for forms linking in to JDF. The server software is too expensive at the moment.
However the e-forms discussion will contribute to an advanced web services agenda. It had seemed that the European emphasis on hard copy would be a bit boring. In the buildup to drupa though, there will be no harm in going through the case for PDF and JDF one more time. Quark and Microsoft will be there so there could be a software discussion ahead of drupa. On the stands listing it seems that Adobe, Quark and Microsoft have left it too late to book a stand.
This is a bit of a surprise. Last year the official Adobe presence seemed a bit limited. There were people there but they seemed to have turned up anyway, maybe in their spare time.
The day on e-forms will be relevant for JDF though it seems nobody will be using PDF for forms linking in to JDF. The server software is too expensive at the moment.
However the e-forms discussion will contribute to an advanced web services agenda. It had seemed that the European emphasis on hard copy would be a bit boring. In the buildup to drupa though, there will be no harm in going through the case for PDF and JDF one more time. Quark and Microsoft will be there so there could be a software discussion ahead of drupa. On the stands listing it seems that Adobe, Quark and Microsoft have left it too late to book a stand.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
It has taken a while to get back into the year, but writing may be more frequent now.
The Institute of Printing had a debate just before Christmas. I will write it up while I can still remember some detail but this won't be for a few days. I had to leave before the end to get back to Exeter but I did hear the main argumnets.
Although the motion that the print industry no longer needs skills was defeated, my main impression was the strength of the case that digital technology is now accepted for litho workflows as well as digital print as such. There was no attempt to argue against this, just the argument that new skills are needed for this approach to work.
On PDF, it was even claimed that most print customers are nowadays creating files that cause few problems for pre-press and that any issues around a lack of understanding will be cleared up soon. My own guess is that skills around tact and training will be needed to make print workflows seem less in need of skill than is actually the case.
The Institute of Printing had a debate just before Christmas. I will write it up while I can still remember some detail but this won't be for a few days. I had to leave before the end to get back to Exeter but I did hear the main argumnets.
Although the motion that the print industry no longer needs skills was defeated, my main impression was the strength of the case that digital technology is now accepted for litho workflows as well as digital print as such. There was no attempt to argue against this, just the argument that new skills are needed for this approach to work.
On PDF, it was even claimed that most print customers are nowadays creating files that cause few problems for pre-press and that any issues around a lack of understanding will be cleared up soon. My own guess is that skills around tact and training will be needed to make print workflows seem less in need of skill than is actually the case.
Friday, November 28, 2003
http://www.linst.ac.uk/news/2003/lcp_lcc.html
London College of Printing is now the London College of Communication.
This seems a key event for the week of the Digital Print World. Other digital issues creep in, like film studies and web design. There is another show called Digital Solutions where the word print is not featured. Both shows could develop towards 'communication' as something wider than print. The gossip in the Guardian has been that the London Institute will have the word Arts in the new university title.
--------------
Some links for the ready4print service. It is a joint venture between a graphics firm Q|Solutions, and a software firm - Class Act
www.qsolutions.nl
www.class-act.nl
The Amsterdam Exchange has an impressive set of photos. This seem to be the spot where the service is hosted.
-------------------
There was no new information from Adobe about Transit. Possibly one reason is that the forms server software is still fairly expensive. It is sold with other systems through companies such as IBM Global Services. Maybe the price levels that would make sense for printers are not appropriate at this time. The Courier approach includes Jaws software to create the PDF. The licence allows a charge per job sent rather that an upfront cost for each site. A PDF form might be better in many ways, but it is expensive at the moment. Similarly the collaboration tools in Acrobat are still very useful for discussing changes to artwork but the costs are limiting the extent to which this is used. Pelagon seem to have stopped promoting the support of WebDAV for collaboration. They are working with Heidelberg though on another application based on Jaws Courier.
http://www.pelagon.com/portalsolutions/digitalprint.htm
London College of Printing is now the London College of Communication.
This seems a key event for the week of the Digital Print World. Other digital issues creep in, like film studies and web design. There is another show called Digital Solutions where the word print is not featured. Both shows could develop towards 'communication' as something wider than print. The gossip in the Guardian has been that the London Institute will have the word Arts in the new university title.
--------------
Some links for the ready4print service. It is a joint venture between a graphics firm Q|Solutions, and a software firm - Class Act
www.qsolutions.nl
www.class-act.nl
The Amsterdam Exchange has an impressive set of photos. This seem to be the spot where the service is hosted.
-------------------
There was no new information from Adobe about Transit. Possibly one reason is that the forms server software is still fairly expensive. It is sold with other systems through companies such as IBM Global Services. Maybe the price levels that would make sense for printers are not appropriate at this time. The Courier approach includes Jaws software to create the PDF. The licence allows a charge per job sent rather that an upfront cost for each site. A PDF form might be better in many ways, but it is expensive at the moment. Similarly the collaboration tools in Acrobat are still very useful for discussing changes to artwork but the costs are limiting the extent to which this is used. Pelagon seem to have stopped promoting the support of WebDAV for collaboration. They are working with Heidelberg though on another application based on Jaws Courier.
http://www.pelagon.com/portalsolutions/digitalprint.htm
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Smartech website
http://www.smartechuk.plc.uk/about.htm
They are supporting the "office" including this web access...
http://www.smartechuk.plc.uk/about.htm
They are supporting the "office" including this web access...
Just discovered 'The Office' with web access. one terminal only but not many people are using it. PrintMe is part of this but there are few actual places in the UK where PrintMe is available. Maybe five Hiltons. So not much has moved on since IPEX. There could be a wider launch early next year.
Ready 4 Print have a nice Flash website now in English to explain how their web services take on Courier works. It should be on their website sometime next week. Currently only on their stand as part of Positive Focus. It is now unlikley there will be a UK server as the Amsterdam one is connected very close to the Amsterdam internet hub and is quite quick throughout Europe.
www.ready4print.com
Ready 4 Print have a nice Flash website now in English to explain how their web services take on Courier works. It should be on their website sometime next week. Currently only on their stand as part of Positive Focus. It is now unlikley there will be a UK server as the Amsterdam one is connected very close to the Amsterdam internet hub and is quite quick throughout Europe.
www.ready4print.com
Jaws PDF Courier seems to be getting further. Pelagon are using it as a basis for Web 2 Print, presented here as part of the Heidelberg approach. Positive Focus continue to offer ready4print. Apparently Global Graphics offer Courier as a software development kit so there are various ways that the job ticket information could be sent that relates to each PDF for copy. Some form of XML could be used so it should be possible to relate this to JDF. Maybe some requests from printers would encourage this.
Pelagon
www.pelagon.com
Pelagon
www.pelagon.com
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Microsoft have now booked a stand (64) at Digital Print World. This is a new stage in the integration of print and corporate IT.
So far not booked are IBM and Macromedia.
IBM have announced a new range of Infoprint kit aimed at a 'data centre' but with speeds that could compare with some instant print sites.
Freehand was mentioned in the Pintweek review of Adobe's Creative Suite by Simon Eccles. It remains a good option for page layout but somehow Macromedia never gets round to turning up at a hard copy event.
So far not booked are IBM and Macromedia.
IBM have announced a new range of Infoprint kit aimed at a 'data centre' but with speeds that could compare with some instant print sites.
Freehand was mentioned in the Pintweek review of Adobe's Creative Suite by Simon Eccles. It remains a good option for page layout but somehow Macromedia never gets round to turning up at a hard copy event.
Friday, November 14, 2003
Actually the topic on a PDF version of the Guardian had not got lost. It was moved from 'BBC' to 'Press and Publishing'.
Very sensible too. I started it in BBC not realising how many sections there are. I thought it was all media. So some comment will be there not in this blog.
Other contributions have started to look at the Times as well as the Telegraph. There will be a log of reader experience. I still think the Guardian should say something about what they intend. July is a while ago now. And surely other media could report on this? The Telegraph is not promoting the Active Paper option all that widely as far as I know.
Very sensible too. I started it in BBC not realising how many sections there are. I thought it was all media. So some comment will be there not in this blog.
Other contributions have started to look at the Times as well as the Telegraph. There will be a log of reader experience. I still think the Guardian should say something about what they intend. July is a while ago now. And surely other media could report on this? The Telegraph is not promoting the Active Paper option all that widely as far as I know.
Thursday, November 13, 2003
It is being suggested that Jakob Nielsen might be influenced by work with Macromedia in his views on PDF.
http://www.pdfzone.com/news/111303nielsen.html
http://www.planetpdf.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=2002#monday
I don't think this is in any way true. Jakob Nielsen is just wrong, that's all. His views on PDF are longstanding and consistent with his other views, in general that it is better tyo use the oldest technology available and to assume the users know nothing and and are not prepared to learn. Also text in itself is probably all that is really needed so graphics could be avaoided as they may cause problems.
Jakob Nielsen has stated that PDF is ok, for content to be printed out.
Meanwhile if Macromedia will support PDF that is to be encouraged. They may get a PDF 'ankle biter' by mistake with eHelp but let's hope they continue it.
http://www.ehelp.com/products/robopdf/downloads.asp
http://www.pdfzone.com/news/111303nielsen.html
http://www.planetpdf.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=2002#monday
I don't think this is in any way true. Jakob Nielsen is just wrong, that's all. His views on PDF are longstanding and consistent with his other views, in general that it is better tyo use the oldest technology available and to assume the users know nothing and and are not prepared to learn. Also text in itself is probably all that is really needed so graphics could be avaoided as they may cause problems.
Jakob Nielsen has stated that PDF is ok, for content to be printed out.
Meanwhile if Macromedia will support PDF that is to be encouraged. They may get a PDF 'ankle biter' by mistake with eHelp but let's hope they continue it.
http://www.ehelp.com/products/robopdf/downloads.asp
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Digital Print World indicates a new stage of acceptance for PDF in the UK. The scope seems to be limited to digital print but actually the discussion around this will include workflows for litho and also the web.
I need to rearrange the content of websites for Acrobat Services UK and WWW.atford. So far the UK site has assumed low bandwidth and concentrated on hard copy. the dotcom site assumes broadband. The print opinion parts of Acrobat Services UK can move to WWW.atford as archive. The UK site will still assume low bandwidth, but cover topics that need broadband. The UK now has better potential so the requirement is for some content or use.
I have done two small PDFs. One links a Print opinion stream to an IOP event in December. One promotes the aspects of the Workflow Cinema at Digital Print World that I think are most interesting.
I need to rearrange the content of websites for Acrobat Services UK and WWW.atford. So far the UK site has assumed low bandwidth and concentrated on hard copy. the dotcom site assumes broadband. The print opinion parts of Acrobat Services UK can move to WWW.atford as archive. The UK site will still assume low bandwidth, but cover topics that need broadband. The UK now has better potential so the requirement is for some content or use.
I have done two small PDFs. One links a Print opinion stream to an IOP event in December. One promotes the aspects of the Workflow Cinema at Digital Print World that I think are most interesting.
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