Nashville, TN (October 13, 2006) - Job Definition Format, a standard of the International Cooperation for the Integration of the Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress (CIP4) organization has become a key to the future of automating the printing industry, yet many printers have yet to experience a clear, plain-English explanation of JDF, what it does, and what it means in regard to the everyday printing issues. BRIDG's which specializes in publishing that kind of clearly written handbook, and which has successfully tackled other complex topics such as CTP, color proofing, digital workflows and more, announced today that it has published a "JDF Guide for Managers." The JDF Guide for Managers represents over a year of research, fact finding, interviews, writing and editing with contributions from all corners of the industry. BRIDG's project manager, Janice Reese of Network PDF, reports, "We interviewed 17 printers of all sizes with experience in automating at least some aspect of their operations, as well as advertising agencies and publishers to adequately cover this comprehensive subject." In addition to providing input, several industry organizations have sponsored this effort, including CIP4, IDEAlliance, IPA, NGP, PIA/GATF, PODi and the R&E Council, and they helped with a broad online survey conducted in support of this project. "Even though independent consultant Chris Heric helped with the technical aspects of its content development and CIP4's Technical Steering Committee reviewed it to ensure that it is technically correct, this is not a technical document," said Reese. "It is written with the printer in mind and features a lot of practical advice based upon what the printers we've interviewed experienced and learned." The JDF Guide for Manager's is sponsored and funded by Adobe, Global Graphics, Heidelberg, Hewlett Packard, Hiflex, Kodak, Komori, MAN, Press-sense, SAPPI, Xerox and Xpedex. Trish Witkowski of Finishing Experts served as the guide's editor. This 32-page booklet may be ordered online through www.printtools.org and www.gain.org. An e-book version of the JDF Handbook for Managers, primarily intended for companies outside of the North America that may not want to wait for the printed booklet to ship is available through IPA at: www.printtools.org. A short "pocket guide" based on JDF Handbook for Managers will also be distributed at GRAPH EXPO(r), it will be available through the sponsoring companies and directly from Network PDF (see www.networkpdf.com). BRIDG's will also supply a limited number of copies of the JDF Guide for Manager to colleges and universities with graphic arts programs free of charge through its "School Support Program." "This may have been the most difficult challenge BRIDG's has tackled to date," said Dennis Balas, BRIDG's Co-founder. "I think people who look at the 900-plus page JDF specification ask themselves, how am I ever going to understand this? Few printers really need to know the JDF specification; they only need to know what it means to them, and what they can do with it on a more practical level. Janice, Trish and everyone that helped digest all of this technical information and produce something that any printer at Graph Expo can read, put a lot of work into this and did a great job." To order a copy of the JDF Guide for Managers, go to http://www.printtools.org/publications/jdfhandbook.php. Single copies are priced at just $4.50 and discounts are available for orders of 10 or more.