All about JDF, what it means for you - 12/03/2004 - Tharstern Limited

12/03/2004 All about JDF, what it means for you

“Tharstern have always been an innovator with regards to embracing new technology, this is clearly reflected through being the first MIS provider to produce a Windows based product.”

“Job Definition Format (JDF) in our opinion represents what is probably one of the most ambitious collective goals, for printing industry vendors, ever seen before. Even in its current implementation, which can only be described as embryonic, opportunities and not just the benefits are continuing to present themselves that would never have existed without the adoption of this open standard.”
Keith McMurtrie, Managing Director – Tharstern Ltd.

Through achieving cross-vendor integration printers will be able to buy with confidence, knowing that what they buy will seamlessly fit into their production workflow. The idealism of this connectivity delivers benefits of reduced costs, eliminated duplicity of effort, the ability to capture and report on pertinent and accurate production activities in addition to a fast and responsive system.

As an active NGP partner, Tharstern continue to be focused on providing a software solution that fulfils the needs of the modern printer to meet the demands of today’s competitive market.

Tharstern MIS will be the hub of a connected workflow exchanging information with disparate design, prepress, press and post-press systems.

MIS to Production Planning (UpFront)

The Tharstern Suite offers the ability to send a JDF file based on the original estimate to a production planning software like UpFront from Creo. Key information such as number of parts, pages, colours, finished size, material and finishing method are all passed so the final imposition layout can be created in a fraction of the normal time.

MIS to PrePress

Further downstream the updated JDF is then ready to be passed to a suitable PrePress workflow including, if available, the run list content such as PDF pages. When used in conjunction with products such as UpFront, JDF Stripping information is defined to allow automatic association with previously created imposition templates.

MIS to press

The role TharsternSQL plays in this part of the workflow helps to automate a large portion of the press setup. The Electronic Job Bag will be automatically delivered to the press controller removing the need for the job information having to be re-keyed, speeding up the process and also eliminating room for human error

Press and PrePress to MIS

Utilising the Job Definition Format with capable devices ultimately allows the Job Information to become almost omnipresent. Tharstern will receive continuous updates in the form of JMF messages providing real-time feedback of the state of devices, job progress and details of the job queue. The need for operators to complete timesheets and swiping onto shop floor data capture systems becomes redundant and replaced by the automated recording of information providing both the accurate and valuable management information required in this industry.