Pitstop or Flightcheck?

[Gregg]

Not trying to hijack this post. Just curious if anyone is using Pitstop Extreme? If so, how do you like it.

I had signed up for a recent webinar, but my day got away from me, so I had to skip it.

[PrePress Gal]

Not a problem. I think we were about done with the topic anyway. Run with it.

[Helene]

Matt, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe another unique capability of pdfToolbox is its ability to handle XMP metadata.

[SnappySteve]

Originally Posted by mattbeals

Enfocus PitStop Pro is a PDF editing and preflighting plug-in for Acrobat that is very capable and is the only interactive PDF editor where you can actually manipulate individual objects. Create new rectangles, move a line of type, create elipses, etc..

Not so - Artwork System's Neo is a standalone PDF editor and saves our bacon almost daily! We actually have PitStop as well but Neo is superior for the serious problem child PDF that tries to wreck your day.

If you have to do editing and are not looking to spend Neo-type $, PitStop has long been the industry standard. For simple preflighting, Acrobat Pro 9 does a lot on its own.

Don't know anything about Flightcheck.

[mattbeals]

Neo and PitStop Extreme are basically the exact same product. They share come roots and development. For a while there was Enfocus Neo which evolved into PitStop Extreme. So while not identical, they are sibblings...

Helene, with pdfToolbox you browse the XMP information in a visual manner. Specifically with InDesign CS4 exported PDF's you can browse IPTC information embedded in image which has been preserved during the PDF export process. Part of the IPTC info that you see, with a thumbnail of the image, is the copyright information and any geo-tagging information stored. A great way to audit rights usage of imagery. There's a ton of info you browse.

One other item about pdfToolbox that is unique to any product I have run across is the ability to re color raster images. While PitStop can do it too, the way that pdfToolbox does it is singularly unique. Check out http://www.mattbeals.com/videos/call...terImages.html

[Didier]

And if you are using InDesign CS4, you may want to check out the VIGC Live Preflight profiles for InDesign CS4: Standard Preflight Profiles

It's a good basis if you want to start from scratch. And the profiles are tailored to match the specifications of the Ghent PDF Workgroup.

Didier

[David Ingram]

One thing Flightcheck ALWAYS missed, was when someone set some "Undesireable" options when saving .eps files from photoshop, like "Include halftone screen", This is not much of a bother anymore, but before workflow, this kind of thing could really ruin your day, Big moire's in your photos, I have an action in photoshop to do a save as, and still feel compelled to check every photo in a document by hand, Just to make extra sure, the designer, hasnt left boxes they shouldent check, checked!
We use Pitstop, its great!

[mattbeals]

In FlightCheck there is an option to detect halftone screens and transfer functions. Those should catch any screening info applied by PhotoShop, Illustrator, etc.

[erikvlie]

Early workflow preflight is the best, but some of the larger printers I spoke to for my analysis of preflighting tools a year back (I am a product/technology/market analyst/reviewer) said they didn't care where the preflighting took place for files that entered their workflow as a PDF. If the PDF failed preflighting , they would fix it using Neo.

[rrh63]

Acrobat Professional with Pitstop is the pre-press choice IMO. Covers preflight and editing capability's. I'm 45 and have been in printing for 25 years, was a journeyman film stripper at color houses and large commercial printers and worked at eleven shops in southern california. Acrobat Professional with Pitstop according to my friends (also in large shops) agree. Hope this helps, Peace, Randy.