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NGP Partner systems were connected to demonstrate how an NGP-specified JDF-enabled workflow can enhance
printers' businesses by creating an optimized and efficient digital production environment.
NGP Partners KBA, MBO, Creo and HIFLEX produced the NGP Daily. |
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Networked Graphic Production™ (NGP™)
was demonstrated live throughout drupa 2004 in the production of the NGP Daily. NGP Partner systems
used a JDF-enabled workflow to create a highly collaborative, optimized and efficient digital
production environment. NGP Partners KBA, MBO, Creo and HIFLEX produced the NGP Daily.
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This open integration and coordination of resources was made possible by engaging the power of JDF.
The 8-page, full-color, A4 format daily was printed on UPM Finesse 135 gsm glossy stock and delivered
to pick-up points on all NGP Partners' stands around the show for reading each day.
Step one in the production cycle was to create the job specification and estimate in the HIFLEX
management information system (MIS). This included a reference number and job description covering
quantity, number of pages, stock, final trim size, bleed, colors and finishing information. This
specification resulted in a production plan, which was the basis for the job schedule.
Synapse® Link software enabled JDF and JMF information to pass between
the Prinergy® prepress workflow management system, and the HIFLEX MIS.
This allowed information about all prepress operations undertaken to be recorded and co-managed by the
MIS, including the names of the operators, all operations undertaken, work type, materials used and
time elapsed. The first data to be shared in this way was the job reference, job description and
Prinergy Job Template.
Editorial content was handled by Simon Eccles of Scribe Editorial Services. As the page layout manager
completed pages in QuarkXPress™, they were converted into PDFs and preflighted using
Synapse® Prepare software. Because Synapse Prepare uses a locked
directive that predefines all the output parameters for the file, from this point onwards, the PDF is
assured as production-ready. Once the preflight check is complete, the pages are automatically uploaded
to the Synapse InSite Internet portal into prepress, without the designer ever leaving QuarkXPress.
The PDF was then automatically refined and imposed before being republished back on the web in reader
order using Synapse InSite. An email alert was automatically sent to the editor, page layout manager
and prepress operator to say that the file was now ready for soft proofing. The MIS was also notified
of these events and status changes. Using the Smart Review tool, which streams high-resolution
production-file data on-demand, all of these stakeholders could collaborate simultaneously to comment
on any aspect of the job and write-up annotations; measure color density; and access job-status - all
in real time.As pages were signed-off, approval status was sent to HIFLEX, which then queried Prinergy
to find out if signatures were complete. Once a signature was completed, the schedule was set for the
hard copy imposition proofing using the Integris™ 800 proofing solution.
Output directly from Prinergy to the Integris Proof Controller, these fully imposed, color-managed
digital contone proofs accurately predicted the final printed product. When final approval status was
sent to HIFLEX, its schedule was ready for final plate output and, on approval of the plates, was ready
for printing.
At this point, the prepress operator created a JDF file of the ink-key settings in Prinergy. These were
then sent to the MIS as well as to the Logotronic Professional system on the new KBA Rapida 105 in Hall
16. The final print files were also sent from Prinergy workflow to the Xerox
DocuColor® 3535 and iGen3 digital colour press for on-demand output.
On completion of the print run, the printed sheets were transported to the MBO stand in Hall 6 for
finishing. In parallel, JDF information from HIFLEX, containing all the information needed for
automatic make-ready was sent to the new fully-automatic MBO K 800/4 SKTL Combi Folding Machine. When
finishing was complete, time and materials used information was entered back into HIFLEX for job
costing purposes.Finally delivery notes were produced for delivery to all the drop-off points.The final
step in the cycle was an MIS report, showing actual results compared to estimates for both scheduling
and costs. These reports were made available from the NGP Pavilion.
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