Postpress Automation — Backing into IT

Lining Up Teams

That's where the efforts of Networked Graphic Production (NGP) Partners, PrintCity and other groups come into play, Harvey says. They are developing handshakes between specific combinations of software and hardware products to realize the potential of JDF sooner.

Assuming these potential impediments to JDF's implementation in postpress can be overcome, that still leaves open the question of whether an automated workflow realistically can span a printer and outside trade binder, or will it only be practical for operations under one roof? Harvey says cross-enterprise connections technically are possible, but at a minimum would require a very close working relationship between the parties.