New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows

Kåre Bjørn Jensen
• Educated in graphic arts, 1999
• 3-year study at The Graphic Arts Institute 2000-03
• Consultant, Medit Consult 2003-06
• Contributor, the magazine Grafisk Workflow 2002-06
• Freelance teacher, Softworld 2001-
• Independent consultant since August 2006
• Founder & Owner Grafou (Graphic Optimizing
(Optimering) and Development (Udvikling)
• Alliance with Vision2, December 2006
• Adobe Certified Experts
• Enfocus Certified Trainer
• Cacidi Certified Consultant
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 2

How to create and view XPS
• Print to the ”XPS-printer” in Windows Vista (like
print to ”Adobe PDF-printer”, if you have Acrobat)
• View the XPS-document in Internet Explorer 7 with
zoom 5 to 5000%
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 3

PDF-workflow now and in near future
• PDF-workflows are implemented and work well
• Still conversions from PS to PDF and back to PS
• RIP-technology in constant development
– A huge leap forward in possibilities, integration and
performance with Adobe Print Engine (pure PDF-based
rip, successor to the present PostScript-rip)
– Brand new workflows with new preflight,
impositioning, color management etc. has to be
created from scratch
• Great flexibility and many applications in PDF =
opportunities and technical challenges
• PDF is more than 13 years old – is the age
becoming a problem?
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 4

Still challenges in PDF-workflow
• Process integration with JDF is still rare
• Web-integration only used in limited
• Automating and performance can be increased
further
• Flexibility can be increased furthers
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 5

XPS-workflow
• A new fil format
– Potential ”tooth problems”
– No experience to built on (yet)
• RIP-technology from Global Graphics is ready, we
still miss the rest of the workflows:
– No preflight possible (yet)
– Imposition needs to be done in the printerdriver or rip
– Automating not possible (yet)
• ”Back to basics” can be an advantage
– Modern and apperently uncomplicated file format
– Possibility of building new and better workflows from
scratch
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 6

Parallel PDF- and XPS-workflows?
• Handling of both formats in same rip will be
possible with Global Graphics’ rip, but …
– More complexity and less predictability, if both
formats are used in parallell
– Chain is not stronger than the weakest link
– Are conversions done ”under the surface”?
• Conversion between the formats is possible, but …
– Can it be done without failures?
– How to manage and understand adjustments in the
conversion process?
– How long time will it take?
• Machine time
• Operator time
– Perfect conversions without limitations and problems
only exist in theory …
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 7

Conversion of XPS to PDF or vice versa
• XPS can be converted to PDF in Acrobat 8 Pro
– Unfortunately with a very limited set of conversion
parameters
– Satisfying results?
– A manual process
• All content can be ”printed” to XPS in Windows
Vista
– … also PDF
– Limited customizing of conversion adjustments
• Lack of possibilities for automating and
predictability (yet)
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 8

New opportunities and challenges
• First adopting graphic art companies can serve first
adopting customers
• XPS is a reality with the launch of Windows Vista
• Your customers’ own office printers will be XPS
enabled from Day 1!
• Build up experience from now on!
• Decide a clear XPS-strategy, i.a. about:
– Prices (is XPS print ready material?)
– Handling of failures and complaints
– Service, including advising of customers
– Investments (time and money)
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 10

Office, digital print, offset, …
• Office environment will be ready when they get
Windows Vista (or upgrade feature set in Windows XP)
• Digital print has large opportunities for fast adoption,
but will need
– Strategy
– Education
– Experience
– Maybe also technical assistance etc.
• XPS in offset will need comprehensive preparation like
above mentioned - plus
– Test and maybe customizing of workflow
• Will XPS create substantial changes in the market?
– Market shares
– Economy
– Service
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 11

The fight about standards
• Microsoft has been preparing for 3 years (at least)
• Adobe is ready to draw as well (counterattack)
• Will the fight of ”the giants’ fight” impact other
actors?
– Apple?
– Google?
– Linux- and the Open Source-communities?
– Web browser-producers?
– Graphics software-vendors?
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 12

Color Management in Windows Vista
• New ”Color Management engine”: WCS
• Still the possibility of ”traditional” ICC-based color
management
• New types of color profiles
– Gamut Mapping Model Profiles
– Color Appearance Model Profiles
– Device Model Profiles
• New and larger RGB-colorspace: scRGB succeeds
sRGB
• Focus on user-friendliness
• ”The supply chain” to the new possibilities is not
ready (yet)
• Will have a minimal impact on Adobe CS2/CS3
because Adobe handles CM with its own technology
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 13

JDF-possibilities with XPS?
• JDF can carry any file format – also XPS!
• JDF-tools in Acrobat 7/8 Pro are good, but all the
other Adobe CS2-programs have virtually no JDF
• JDF-integration in ”the early” prepress-processes
are needed – which software vendor will be first?
• If the workflow is to be built from scratch, JDF/JMF
should be fully integrated
• Process-integration with JDF/JMF is a platform of
automation, overview, web-integration etc.
New challenges in PDF- and XPS-workflows - Kåre Bjørn Jensen,Vision2, kaarebj@kaarebj.dk 15

Questions and answers