https://youtu.be/KaAf5oyIKyg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rImJjwFynZY

This is a free upgrade for anybody using a PitStop 13/13 update 1.
https://www.enfocus.com/en/news/enfocus-pitstop-13-update-2-now-available

To download the installer (if PitStop did not already offer to), in Acrobat go to the 'Help' menu.
Plugin Help > Enfocus PitStop Pro Help > Check for updates.

If you have a valid PitStop 13 license, you can just install this new version over your current installation.
https://youtu.be/Fd0fHVSIthU
https://youtu.be/K0U5ZrlVE50

This has been posted in a few places, but I thought I'd put it directly on here as well.  If you have any questions or feedback don't be shy.



ISO/DIS 19593-1
Graphic Technology -  Use of PDF to associate processing steps and content data – Part 1: Processing steps 2016

Long name isn't it, and it doesn't really sound that exciting either does it!
But believe me when I say this one will be a game changer for a lot of people.

The story actually started within the Packaging subcommittee of the Ghent Workgroup.
In 2010 they released 'Storing non printing contour data in PDF'. This was then refined further in 2011 to become the 'Non-Print Contours Specification'. Then finally in 2013 came 'Storing processing step data in PDF', which quickly moved to ISO to hopefully become an official international standard in the near future. It's in what's called the DIS stage at the moment, but it's moving fast!

So what is it, and what's it for?

Well, in many areas of the printing industry it's standard practice to use layers (Optional Content Groups) to visually separate different objects in a PDF from each other. A typical use would be to place 'non-printing' objects on a different layer to other content. This makes the file easier to create and also proof and manage.
Practical examples would be to place the cutter guide on it's own layer, or perhaps the emboss elements, something that would be foiled, something to be printed in 'white ink' or the drilling holes.
The problem with this approach is that there are no standards for how these layers and objects should be managed or constructed, so everybody has their own internal workflow, and typically they are based on the name of the layer or the name of a separation. Great when you are working internally, not so great when the file is released into the big, bad world.

So ISO 19593-1 is designed to standardize the use of layers within PDF files. It's something that is badly needed and it will impact not just the packaging market, but also labels, large format and even digital and commercial printing. Anyone who does 'extra' work on the printed sheet is going to benefit from this.

Now you probably know that we at Enfocus love a good standard. With standards come stability and conformance. If everybody is working the same way, and everybody knows what they are receiving, then you get the ability to automate, and with automation comes efficiency, increased quality and a reduction in the cost of production.

So more about ISO 19593-1. Don't be fooled into thinking it's as simple as making a few layers in a PDF and assigning objects to them. It's a lot cleverer than that!

With this ISO specification, the layers are not actually defined by their names, they are described by metadata that exists within the definition of the layer. What actually happens is that metadata is embedded in the PDF file describing which particular 'processing step' the objects on the layer are for. That means the layer name can be localised in different languages, and as long as the 'processing step' metadata is there and correct, a receiving application or even hardware device will be able to know what the objects on each layer are for, and handle that file accordingly.

Additionally there are a few other rules thrown in regarding use of spot colours, overprint, transparency, object positions and the type of objects that can be used as 'processing steps'. Effectively the 'Processing Step' objects should not interact or effect the printed objects in anyway.

That means that a tool like PitStop can automatically check if processing step layers exist, if they have content associated to them, and also the attributes of those objects. Alternatively if you have an archive of work that you would like to convert to this new standard, then that could also be possible by mapping color separations or the existing layer construction to the new specification.

Exciting stuff huh!

So time wise the specification is not yet published by ISO, but you can expect to see it in its final version in a year or so if all goes well. You'll also start to see support for the standard starting to appear in the market. devices as well.

However, a few forward thinking software vendors think that this kind of thing is pretty useful already, so if you are going to Drupa then expect to see a few demonstrations and discussions on a few booths.

If you are passing by the Esko/Enfocus booth (Hall 08b/A23) then please feel free to drop by and talk to our team about our plans for ISO19593-1 support, and find out how you could start to implement this kind of functionality in your workflows today.

We'll be really interested in your input and feedback, and look forward to talking about standards and future plans.

Hi all

Thought you might be interested in these.
https://www.enfocus.com/en/drupa-2016/our-promotions

Valid until the 30th June if anyone wants to jump on.

It's a free upgrade to PitStop 13 and PitStop subscription customers.
You should get an upgrade prompt within PitStop and/or an email in your inbox.

It just installs over your 13 version. No need for any new licenses or Activation etc.
https://www.enfocus.com/en/news/pitstop-13-update-1-release-notes

You can now register once for 1 year (12 sessions) of PitStop customer workshops!
I know it's a pain having to register every time, so I'm happy to have found a way you only have to register once!

At the moment I have added the next 12 monthly sessions, but we'll add more as necessary. You can register for them on the following link.
https://enfocus.webex.com/enfocus/onstage/g.php?PRID=a2afd155a0f11db3410abe1e37cdc912

I just got my Acrobat updated to Acrobat DC so I made a custom tool set for the Enfocus tools and a few of the important Acrobat ones as well.

As I did all the work I thought I would share.
Here's a screenshot of the tools I added. https://esko.box.com/s/escxyqegtl7rspjhl5urlfb21in8i5ix
Here's a link to the custom tool set. https://esko.box.com/s/b39yd39vf547mk2yge19hf4vtcslmdsi

To load the tool set you need to go to the 'Create Custom Tool' in Tools and select 'import' (unzip the download first).
Once you've done that a icon called 'ABC - Enfocus' will be come available that loads the needed tools. 

Apparently it also works for PitStop 12 update 3 as well as version 13

Hi all. 

 Please find below a link to important information for anybody using Pitstop within Acrobat DC on Macintosh.

To avoid any issues with the first update of Acrobat DC in July, you should follow the steps in the following file before upgrading your Acrobat DC version.
https://esko.box.com/s/wo9i7tnbkuzrj6jt3m99hgwbriu3nkcq

Our next monthly Enfocus Customer Workshop is next Wednesday, but there's still time to register.
 
 Please note we will not be discussing PitStop 13 yet in these sessions, the workshops are designed for customer training not sales/marketing.
 We are running separate sessions for PitStop 13 users which they will be informed about separately.
 
 If you have not received an invite for one of the workshops before allow me to explain a little about them.
 
 They have been running monthly since October last year.
 The same day (first Wednesday of the month), the same time (4pm Central European Time).
 The agenda is set by you our customers, so you can submit questions, topics or just ask advice on how to tackle a particular file.
 We had over 700 attendees from 46 countries at a recent session, even if you can't attend in person registration means that you also get sent a recording of the session.
 If you would like any previous recordings they are all available.
 
 The next session is Wednesday 6th May and you can register for it at the link below. That works out at:
 4:00 pm Brussels - Europe Summer Time (GMT+02:00)
 7:30 pm Mumbai - India Time (GMT+05:30)
 10:00 am New York - Eastern Daylight Time (GMT-04:00)
 7:00 am San Francisco - Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-07:00)
 
 If you would like to join or receive the recording of the session here's the registration link. PitStopWorkshop
 Just click the 'Register' button on the top left by 'Event Status' when you get there.
 
 MAY AGENDA
 Moving objects on the page, including:
 - "Move object when dragging selection" preference
 - Nudging selections
 - Dragging to copy selections
 - Snapping selections to magnetic guides
 
 Making Selections
 - Selecting single objects or text
 - Selecting more than one object or text
 - Select Similar Object Tool
 - Advanced selection techniques
 Change Position Action List
 
 Enfocus Inspector "Open House"
 - Breakdown the categories of the Enfocus Inspector
 
 Time permitting
 - Action List Operator "refresher"

http://www.enfocus.com/en/products/pitstop-pro/#new

Thanks to all those on the forum who were involved in testing. This is a really strong release and I really thank you for your comments and feedback.

Hi all
 
You have probably seen that the latest Acrobat version, Adobe Acrobat DC is now available.

Just a note if you are running on a Macintosh then you will need PitStop 12 update 3 or PitStop 13 (when released) to work with Acrobat DC.

Previous versions of PitStop will not been seen when installed as Acrobat DC is 64-bit now and those older PitStop versions are 32-bit.

Hi all, I know Tracey has been posting these, so here's the latest one.

PitStop Monthly Workshops - April 2015
 Wednesday, April 1, 2015
https://enfocus.webex.com/enfocus/lsr.php?RCID=064c631507508e2cf0288f638982cae6

I hope the session is understandable. I tried to build up the variables to explain what is possbile and how they can be used.

Second one of the three we will publish before the release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU6W72eYVlE

Hi all, official teaster movie of the new 'Generate Bleed action'
PitStop 13 will be released in April.
 Any users buying or upgrading to PitStop Pro or Server 12 from now until the release of v13 will get a free upgrade to version 13 when available.

Here's an advance preview of the bleed generation
https://youtu.be/-w0iu3W3My8

New Adobe Acrobat and Document Cloud available in the next 30 days
http://landing.adobe.com/en/na/products/document-cloud/announce.html?scid=social41898766

Hi all

This one only really applies if you use PitStop.

Would be much appreciated if you could take 5 minutes out of your day to complete this short (10 question) survey.

It's basically similar to one we've run for over a decade so it's interesting to see what problems are more common and which are reducing.

Here's the link.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Preflight2015

regards

abc

A bit of fun really but in PitStop 13 you can write your own preflight messages.
Very useful when you need the report to go to customers or if you want to inform internal staff of how to fix a problem or who to talk to.

So I made some celebrity ones as a bit of fun!!
https://esko.box.com/s/gjvmhn2nbqjwwm50y30iahc4wnemg9tn
https://esko.box.com/s/9zgy83vz6lqum4erxmnjatdkjgy5iof0
https://esko.box.com/s/inbszkkgrqule3tz1hdcc9qcmu3j3jav
https://esko.box.com/s/r8jk7847ssosz1mrq2s0lo21m73p7ggv
https://esko.box.com/s/tu2ltodyu0odxr9lc8e3413n0hqowkm4

http://www.enfocus.com/en/pitstop13/

What's new in PitStop 12 update 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCt5yFCpJm0&feature=youtu.be

http://www.enfocus.com/en/support/knowledge-base/whats-new-in-pitstop-12-update-3/
 

• New features and functionality
  • OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) support
  • 'Lock' in the Inspector for proportional resizing
• New actions and improvements to actions
  • Add color bar
  • Match fill and stroke colors
  • Flatten annotations
  • Improvements to Layer functionality
    • Select layer by name
    • Select layers
    • Rename layer
    • Flatten layers
    • Flatten objects in layer
    • Add objects to layer
    • Add objects to layer with name
    • Remove objects from layers
    • Check for empty layers
    • Remove empty layers
    • Check layer properties
    • Change layer properties
• Improvements or changes to existing functionality
  • Improvements to Map from Gray to CMYK
  • Improvements to Action "Add separation names"
  • Improvements to Action "Replace page content by bitmap"
  • Improvements to Action "Rasterize page content keeping text"
  • Page Box variables added to the Action "Add object"
  • Paxe Box variables added to the Global Change "Add variable text"
  • Reset buttons in the "Curves" Global Change
• PitStop Server
  • New Adobe Transparency flattener
  • New PitStop Server configurator in Switch
• Other important changes
  • New default action lists