Paper Cutters Honing a Competitive Edge

The CIP4 (International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress) organization is working to develop the Job Definition Format (JDF) specification as a way to digitally integrate the print production process. The goal is to have job parameters digitally captured once at the front end of the process, then pass that data along the production chain to speed makeready at every stage and eliminate communication errors. Prepress and press operations have been making the biggest push for CIP4/JDF adoption, but its full benefit can only be realized by also tying in the bindery and finishing.