Using this particular method of working means that an imposition tool such as Creo's Preps or Heidelberg's Signastation acts as the controller of the production workflow.

"One interesting aspect of this ICS is that it's the first that can be used in a workflow with no MIS," said CIP4 chief executive Martin Bailey.

"It provides a framework that will make installation of the simplest common JDF workflows very easy."

Although a workflow that does not require an MIS will appeal to many small printers, this method of controlling production independently from the MIS has also aroused interest from a number of bigger firms, according to Bailey.

Several suppliers are already developing products based on this model. An ICS defines how products involved in the workflow should communicate with each other.