SAN JOSE, Calif.--Aug. 19, 2003-- Adobe announced that Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016 software is now available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for building high performance printing systems and print workflow solutions. The founding technology for millions of production printing systems and desktop printers, Adobe PostScript 3 provides core functionality for rendering complex images, text, graphics and color, and guarantees consistent, reliable, high-quality output across devices, from office printers to high-end digital production systems including the latest and most advanced digital color presses. This latest release of Adobe PostScript integrates support for JDF (Job Definition Format), an industry standard for print workflow automation, and is the only PostScript interpreter that supports direct printing of the latest versions of Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), including PDF 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and PDF/X. In addition, Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016 offers industry-leading performance and includes best-in-class in-RIP trapping. "PostScript 3 continues to set the standard, as a scalable print architecture that can be integrated into a wide range of devices to ensure the highest quality print results," said Don Walker, general manager of the Print Workflow Products Group at Adobe. "With this version of PostScript we pushed the limits of RIP technology and created an ultra-fast implementation that, in addition, further solidifies PDF integration within a modern print workflow." Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016 builds on Adobe's commitment to advancing industry standards through superior performance and improved productivity. Adobe PDF 1.5, the newest specification of PDF created with Adobe Acrobat 6.0, supports JPEG 2000, optional content layers that can be turned on or off for printing, and PDF/X -- the PDF file format preferred by advertising publishers. The PDF capabilities of Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016 can directly accept these latest PDF formats. The technology also supports JDF 1.1a, an electronic job ticket based on the extensible markup language (XML). JDF gives a detailed description of a print job and streamlines information exchange between different applications and systems. Adobe PostScript version 3016 contains an extensible framework for OEMs to develop a robust, JDF-based device that makes it easier to support end-to-end print automation. Adobe PostScript 3 version 3016 also introduces multi-threaded rendering, which allows workstations with symmetric multi-CPU configurations to significantly speed up time-consuming rendering tasks in the RIP. When tested, rendering speeds increased up to 44 percent on dual-CPU systems, and up to 65 percent on quad-CPU systems. "Adobe's visionary approach to digital document production began with the introduction of PostScript in 1982 and continued with the release of the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) in 1993," said Jim Hamilton, associate director, CAP Ventures. "Now Adobe builds on this rich tradition with an enhanced version of PostScript 3 whose expanded support for the Job Definition Format (JDF) standard will have a lasting impact on the automation of digital document workflows."