Nashville, TN — October 18, 2005 — Network PDF, a team of experts working together to connect IT and production across a global network using industry standards, announces that two of its members, Janice Reese and Paul Van Hoesen have delivered presentations about the importance of the role of standards in a print workflow infrastructure. Janice Reese, Executive Director of Network PDF, delivered a presentation to a group of paper manufacturers, ad agencies, printers and paper wholesalers at a seminar organized by Collabo-X in Tokyo, Japan. She also made a presentation to Japanese printers at the 50th Anniversary event of All Japan Federation of Printing Industry Associations in Niigata, Japan. Paul Van Hoesen, a Network PDF network and systems expert, discussed the foundation of a digital infrastructure and the role standards can provide for connectivity and optimization during the GATF Workflow Conference. Janice Reese spoke at a Collabo-X sponsored seminar in Tokyo, Japan and at the All Japan Federation of Printing Industry Associations’ (AJ-PIA) 50th anniversary convention in Niigata, Japan. Collabo-X, a member of papiNet, is a collaborative initiative formed by eight Japanese paper wholesalers who are seeking to modernize the paper supply chain using the papiNet standard in Japan. AJ-PIA is a national association of small to medium size printing firms involved mostly in the commercial printing fields. With about 10,000 members, the association is the largest and most powerful trade organization for printers in Japan. Both presentations provided an overview to the Japanese graphic communities on how standards can streamline the economics of printing by integrating the management, production and Internet aspects of the business. At the PIA/GATF Digital Workflow Conference, held from October 9–11 in Dallas, Texas, Paul Van Hoesen, a Network PDF network and systems expert, shared with publishing industry stakeholders the critical items necessary to create a solid digital networking infrastructure to support the emerging all-digital pre-press, publishing and printing environment. The topic and discussion was well received as a critical foundation stone for establishing an integrated digital workflow environment. Network PDF focused discussions on how the Internet, along with the global economy, is driving innovative collaborative technologies; making printing faster, more automated, and more efficient than ever. Building on existing technologies such as the Web and mobile communications, printing will continue to become easier to access and available from any device to any media. Meanwhile, digital printers will continue to offer increased functionality and connectivity to the network, creating new workflow models that will change the way print providers and buyers conduct business. As digital workflow processes become more automated and less labor intensive, it will create an electronic ‘supply chain’ of printing from production to distribution that will enable print professionals to successfully focus on the print buyer with more customized, end-to-end solutions. “The growing creative economy will provide a new group of global consumers for media communication services. Print can be a large player in this area if it addresses the issue of global electronic business transaction standards,” remarks Janice Reese. “Standards can streamline the economics of printing by integrating the management, production and Internet aspects of the business. The opportunity exists to integrate within all aspects of the supply chain across business systems. Using a platform approach based on xml- based standards brings a new approach to an old industry. Network PDF brings together the network and IT with prepress/production and standards to educate and help the industry implement standards.”