pdfToolbox 9 extends functionality into job finishing

Print Solutions Packaging Solutions

callas software has released a major update for its pdfToolbox product line: pdfToolbox 9. The new version enhances the power of variables and integrates completely new technologies for the large format printing, label and packaging markets. In addition it has support for CxF colour data in PDF and integrates usability improvements for zooming and wireframe viewing.

‘pdfToolbox has earned its credit in the most demanding preflight and correction phases of workflow,’ explains Dietrich von Seggern, managing director of callas software. ‘However, in the last years it is used more and more as a job preparation tool, a full pre-press in a box. With pdfToolbox 9 it now extends its functionality towards the different finishing operations that are necessary to prepare a PDF before it heads off to the RIP. Many of the new features dramatically enhance the possibilities of pdfToolbox for the large format printing, label and packaging markets for example. Judging by the requests we received from customers who have seen these new features at drupa, people are thrilled with this direction.’

While PDF files contain enough information about spot colours to show a good screen preview, more complex operations such as correct colour proofing or accurately converting spot colours to CMYK are more challenging. By storing CxF (colour exchange format, ISO 17972-4) data in the PDF file, much better results can be obtained. pdfToolbox 9 identifies whether a file contains CxF data, it can display its contents and allows for checking for the presence of CxF information during preflight. It is also possible to check whether the CxF information works for the spot colours in the PDF file. Additionally, CxF data can be embedded in PDF as well.

For customers working with pdfToolbox Desktop, being able to accurately view the content of PDF documents and examine their structure is important. For this reason, version 9 implements a better zooming function and allows files to be shown in wireframe mode. Filtering out different object types is built in; this allows you to hide images and see if there are any objects behind them for example.

Large format printers often work with many different product types, ranging from picture prints, banners, signs, and flags to huge jobs such as billboards. Those different product types usually require different job finishing operations. pdfToolbox Desktop 9 now features a dedicated large format print section exactly for this. White space and bleed can be added to the PDF file, additional finishing layers such as opaque white or varnish inks can be added across the whole file or only in certain areas, grommet marks can be distributed around the trim box and for very large jobs, tiling (the creation of a number of smaller, printable, pieces) is supported as well.

With pdfToolbox Server all these tasks can be automated.

pdfToolbox Desktop for manual processing as a plug-in within Adobe Acrobat or standalone, starts at €499. An upgrade from pdfToolbox 8 costs €199 and an upgrade from pdfToolbox 7 costs €299.

pdfToolbox Server, CLI and SDK for fully automated, hands-off processing and integration in other solutions start at €3.999. Upgrades to pdfToolbox Server 9 are included in the Support and Maintenance Agreement.