April 25, 2004

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the company’s participation at drupa 2004 in Dusseldorf, the largest international tradeshow for print media, publishing and converting. At the show, Adobe will promote industry-wide adoption of the Job Definition Format (JDF) standard by demonstrating practical examples of how the XML-based job ticket file format improves communication between document creators and print production teams, as well as how JDF can automate complex print workflows.

Adobe will also demonstrate the means to generate CIP4-compliant JDF files from the desktop using Adobe Creative Suite (CS). In its partner booths Adobe will demonstrate concepts of how Adobe Creative Suite can create JDF and Portable Document Format (PDF) files that integrate with production and printing systems from industry leaders, including Agfa, Creo, Dainippon-Screen, EFI, Esko-Graphics, Fujifilm Electronic Imaging, Heidelberg, and Xerox.

“JDF will revolutionize publishing production, radically simplifying information exchange between the applications and systems essential to the graphics arts industry. Adobe will be among the first to show JDF being generated from industry-standard creative tools,” said Don Walker, general manager, publishing technologies and services group at Adobe. “As a founder of CIP4 (an international organisation residing in Switzerland which seeks and defines methods of how to connect all related processes in printing) and one of the creators of the JDF specification, Adobe plans to integrate this technology across its publishing and design platform and work with other members of CIP4 to drive JDF adoption throughout the creative industries.”

At drupa 2004, Adobe also will participate in JDF Parc, an area on the show floor hosted by the International Cooperation for the Integration of Processes in Prepress, Press, and Postpress (CIP4) Organization, where attendees can get the most up-to-date information on the JDF standard through presentations, product literature, and JDF workflow demonstrations.

“For the Middle East print industry, the new Adobe announcements are especially crucial, keeping in view the stress placed upon cutting-edge technology in the region,” said Ibrahim Lahoud, Middle East Regional Manager, Adobe Systems. “The sophistication of the JDF standard and its industry-wide adoption will revolutionize the regional print industry by optimizing print workflow through the progressive elimination of room for error in manual procedures.”

In partner booths across drupa 2004 Adobe will display print systems incorporating Adobe PostScript and Adobe Creative Suite, both of which will demonstrate JDF in action. Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016, introduced in August 2003, contains an extensible framework for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to develop JDF-enabled devices. At the show Adobe will demonstrate, for the first time, a concept for JDF creation within Adobe Creative Suite. Adobe Creative Suite combines new full-version upgrades of the company’s market-leading creative professional software – Adobe InDesign CS, Adobe Photoshop CS, Adobe Illustrator CS, and Adobe GoLive CS. It also incorporates Acrobat 6.0 Professional, and introduces the innovative Version Cue file version manager.

“JDF enhances communication between the different components that make up modern print production workflows,” said James Harvey, executive director of CIP4. “In JDF Parc and other booths on the show floor, drupa 2004 attendees will see and experience how vendors are cooperating to develop complete JDF workflows and gain a better understanding of its true advantage, which I believe will be the tipping point to broader JDF implementation.”

-Ends-
 
About Adobe Systems Incorporated:
Founded in 1982, Adobe Systems Incorporated, the leader in network publishing, offers a comprehensive line of software for enterprise and creative professional customers. Its products enable customers to create, manage and deliver visually rich, compelling and reliable content. Based in San Jose, Calif., Adobe is one of the world’s largest software companies. Adobe is listed on the NASDAQ market under the symbol ADBE.

For further information please visit: www.adobe.com

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© Press Release 2004