Enhanced Preflighting engine and a solution for bleed issues provide big benefits to anyone working with PDF files in print production 

Enfocus has re-engineered the functionality within PitStop 13 to increase the opportunities to preflight and correct PDF files, with a major focus on a solution for the very common issue of 'no or insufficient bleed'.

PitStop 13 will be released in April 2015.

PitStop 13 has a re-designed Preflight engine that addresses the challenges of creating high-quality PDFs and is structured to ensure the submission of high-quality PDFs, today, tomorrow and well into the future. It includes a new option to generate bleed where none currently exists, and the ability for users to customize the language and content of the error messaging within Preflight reports, including the use of languages for which the software has not yet been localized.

Andrew Bailes-Collins, Senior Product Manager for the PitStop product family, explains: "As PDF files are now being used for more and more complex print jobs, and deadlines are becoming increasingly tighter; it became obvious to the PitStop development team that the current Preflight engine needed some improvements in order to support the current and future needs of our users. The result is the next generation of PDF Preflight and correction. In addition to paying close attention to customer feedback, we unleashed the creativity of our engineering team to ensure that PitStop 13, which contains both enhancements and brand new functionality, stays ahead of market demands and secures our continuing leadership position in the preflight and auto-correction arena." 

More Targeted, Relevant Checks and Corrections

Preflight Restrictions represents the most significant change to the PitStop Preflight library since it was created 15 years ago. It allows for checks and fixes included in a preflight profile to be limited to certain aspects of a PDF. For example, a PDF page box, a certain page, or pages, a particular area or specific elements of a PDF, and even different layers within a PDF file; can each be checked in different ways, depending on user requirements. The options for customizing Preflight are now virtually endless.

PitStop 13 users therefore benefit from a much more targeted Preflight check, receiving fewer irrelevant warnings and errors. It also allows users to carry out complex quality control routines, thoroughly checking files in one processing pass.

Because the PitStop Preflight editor interface, already familiar to hundreds of thousands of users around the globe, has only minimal changes, the new functionality can be implemented without any major retraining or re-reading of product manuals, a significant benefit for users.

Automatic Bleed Generation

Another major enhancement is the Add Bleed Action, which allows bleed to be generated even if none exists in the original file. 

Bailes-Collins explains: "Lack of bleed in supplied PDF files is still a major issue for our customers. Previous versions of PitStop displayed bleed if it was available and could automatically extend rectangular shapes to create bleed if none existed. Users could also manually manipulate a PDF to extend bleed if the file design allowed it. The new version is a leap forward, as it works by mirroring the individual objects that are close to or cross a PDF box to create bleed. These mirrored objects are also completely editable, so the resulting bleed can also be adjusted manually, if necessary, which we believe is unique in the world of preflighting. Bleed can be generated for single or multiple objects, as well as complete pages or documents, significantly streamlining workflow in the production process." 

Customizable Preflight Messages

Based on requests from PitStop users, the ability to customize the warning and error messages in the PitStop Preflight reports is an important new feature. In PitStop 13, messages can be customized to reflect non-technical language that can include suggestions for corrections, if necessary. In addition, the preflight messages can be translated into languages that are not currently supported by the PitStop application.

Other enhancements include:

• PitStop Server CLI now has the ability to convert PDF files to images and outputs PNG and JPEG files; ideal for repurposing PDF files or for thumbnail images of PDF files.
   
• The ability to create and edit Action Lists directly in PitStop Server. This is a huge benefit to PitStop Server users as, previously, Action Lists needed to be exported to PitStop Pro for editing and then re-imported into PitStop Server.
   
• A new PitStop configurator - PDF2Image - has been installed with PitStop Server, allowing PitStop Server customers with Enfocus Switch (Automation) to create JPEG and PNG images from PDF files. Image output also works with the new 'restrictions' concept so only certain selected elements of the PDF can be converted to an image, if required.
   
• The Workgroup Manager application for PitStop Pro Floating Licenses gains several new options and now also uses a 'push' mechanism to reduce the amount of network traffic and improve communication between PitStop Pro and the Workgroup Manager server.
   
• The PitStop 13 release includes new Actions and Action Lists with new and enhanced functionality.

PitStop Pro 13 available with option of subscription licensing 

Subscription licensing models are becoming popular within the design, print and publishing industries. Enfocus has received positive feedback from more than 2,000 customers regarding this type of licensing model. As a result, Enfocus is pleased to announce that subscription licensing is now a new option users can consider when purchasing PitStop Pro 13.

A single monthly subscription for PitStop Pro will cost $38 per month, or $12 per month with an annual prepaid contract at $365; whereas a perpetual license cost is $799. The option for subscription licensing will be available when PitStop 13 is released in April 2015.

The PitStop 13 grace period begins today, February 2, 2015.

Users purchasing or upgrading to PitStop 12 from February 2, 2015 will automatically be entitled toPitStop 13, free of charge, when the new version is available.