Ryerson and CIP4 Announce JDF Hands-on Education Event One-day Seminar Program - 17 June 2010

Toronto, ON (February 4, 2010) - Ryerson University and the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organization announce a hands-on JDF Education Event to be held at Ryerson University in Toronto on Thursday, 17 June 2010. The event is co-scheduled with a Printing Industries of America Automation Solutions Network event that will be held in Toronto directly preceding the event on the 15th and 16th of June, and which will feature a tour of Ampersand Printing's award-winning and highly automated print facilities. The program includes:

* Opportunity to hear print automation updates directly from senior CIP4 management
* Hands-on labs with computers using JDF enabled systems
* Hot buffet lunch, coffee breaks
* Free booklets and resources
* Free T-shirt
* Voucher for 50% discount on IPA's JDF Expert Certificate Program
* Door prizes and much more

This low-cost, one-day program is presented with financial support from the Canadian Government MITACS Centres of Excellence (NCE) program, which supports scientific events in areas of significant industrial, economic or social impact for Canada. Additional support comes from sponsoring vendors; Adobe, Agfa, Avanti, EFI, Heidelberg, Hiflex, Kodak and Xerox. This JDF Education Event will begin with a discussion of practical considerations for users by James Harvey, Executive Director of CIP4, followed by a discussion of product certification by Dr. Mark Bohan, VP of Technology and Research at Printing Industries of America and a look into a JDF file with information on XML and JDF structures by Dr. Abhay Sharma of Ryerson University. Bill Robinson of Ampersand Printing will provide a case study and Tony Karg, Senior Director of Business Development & Marketing, Graphic Systems of FUJIFILM Canada will present how the Adobe PDF Print Engine makes use of JDF. In the afternoon, at
 tendees will break out into their choice of multiple hands on labs, using computer equipment provided by Ryerson University. These hands-on labs include:
* Hands-on Lab: Digital presses (MIS to Creo Controller)
* Hands-on Lab: Acrobat to Dalim Mistral via JDF/JMF
* Making JDF files in QuarkXPress and Acrobat
* Kodak Preps to Agfa Apogee workflow
* Kodak Preps to Compucut workflow
* HIFLEX to Kodak Prinergy workflow
* Intuitive Solutions web2print to Metrix workflow
* Heidelberg Workflow solutions
* Kodak Workflow Solutions
* Agfa Workflow Solutions
* Avanti MIS

"We've seen a significant increase in printers implementing JDF-enabled print automation over the last year," said CIP4 Executive Director James Harvey. "With the 2009 downturn, print automation was one of the few ways printers could improve profitability and service with a fast return on investment. However, many folks need to see it for themselves, try it out and learn first hand before starting an automation program, and this program is right on the mark."

   "In previous years this program was attended at capacity and we have every reason to believe that this year's program will sell out quickly," said CIP4 Education and Marketing Officer Mark Wilton of Wilton & Partners Consulting. "This is a great opportunity not to be missed and I encourage printers to sign up today and look into attending the Automated Solutions Network meeting as well - a definite value for the time and money invested over both programs."

   This event is designed for small and medium-size printers, prepress users, workflow consultants, middle managers, senior management and technology implementers. Each attendee will receive a free copy of the MIS Guide for Managers, JDF Roadmap and the BRIDG's JDF Guide for Managers. The JDF 101 Education Event has a nominal charge of CDN $99 for the general public and CDN $49 for students and educators. For registration and complete program details go to http://ryersonjdf.eventbrite.com/. For questions about the program contact Abhay Sharma of Ryerson University via email at sharma@ryerson.ca.

   The Printing Industries of America Automation Solutions Network meeting will take place over two days immediately prior to the JDF Education Event. (Automation Solutions Network was formerly known as the Printing Industries of America JDF Users Group.) Contact Mark Bohan via email at mbohan@printing.org for more information or visit Automation Solutions Network online at http://www.printing.org/automation.

About Ryerson University

Ryerson University has 20,000 full-time students and was granted university status in 1993. The Heidelberg School of Graphic Communications Management is housed in a new 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art press and prepress facility that was completed in 2003. The School offers a Bachelors of Technology in Graphic Communications Management and has an enrollment of 400 students at the undergraduate level, making it the only 4-year graphic arts degree program in Canada and one of the largest programs in North America. The reputation of the school ensures 100% internship placement and 100% employment of students on graduation. For more information about Ryerson University, please visit www.ryerson.ca/gcm.

About CIP4

CIP4 brings together vendors, consultants, and end-users in the print communications, graphic arts industry, and associated sectors, covering a variety of equipment, software, peripherals, and processes. Members participate in focused working groups to define the Job Definition Format (JDF), PrintTalk, and other standards relevant to process automation; to study user requirements; to test product interoperability; and to develop a range of JDF software development tools. Information on CIP4, including membership details, is available from the organization's website: www.cip4.org. Or contact: Stefan Daun, Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics, +49 6151 155 575, secretariat@cip4.org. All content and ideas submitted to the CIP4 user groups and intellectual property rights subsisting therein shall become the exclusive property of CIP4.

About JDF

The Job Definition Format (JDF) is the industry specification designed to facilitate process automation and the integration of different applications and systems in and around the graphic arts industry. JDF also enables the integration of business management and job planning applications into the production workflow. JDF is based on the W3C's Extensible Markup Language (XML), ensuring maximum interoperability between different platforms and ready interaction with Internet systems. More information is available at www.cip4.org.