Networking the high-speed cutter with the prepress

All required data is available at the prepress stage, e. g. size of untrimmed sheet, label sizes, intermediate cuts. Therefore it is unnecessary to re-measure and input these parameters again in the finishing stage.

So in order to make the data from prepress available for the subsequent processes they have to be standardized first of all. Large and renowned machine producers have joined together to form the CIP3 consortium to do exactly this.

Managed by the Fraunhofer Institut Graphische Datenverarbeitung they set the standard designated "CIP 3" and meaning "Corporation of Integration of Pre-press, Press and Post-press". The latest standard, CIP 4, includes also the operating process (such as operational data acquisition) and is defined by the extension .jdf (Job Definition File).

This standard comprises the definitions of all relevant data for printing and finishing (e. g. control of ink keys in printing, cutting data, folding layouts, formats of untrimmed sheets). This data is compiled in files with the extension .cip or .ppf (Print Production File).