SAN FRANCISCO (02/18/2000) - When Adobe Systems Inc. (800/833-6687, http://www.adobe.com) released Acrobat 4.0 with several Windows-only plug-ins, Mac users cried foul. But with the launch of InProduction, Mac print production professionals now have Acrobat tools to call their very own.
InProduction brings together five integrated Portable Document Format (PDF) print production tools in a plug-in for Acrobat 4.0.5. Although some of these capabilities are available in third-party applications, InProduction promises to save users time and reduce the chance of error involved in switching among programs.
Five Tools
InProduction tools include Preflight, which creates reusable profiles to inspect PDF documents for output and display errors, and Separator, for specifying, previewing, and creating color separations. Until now, Lantana's Crackerjack 3.0 was the only plug-in that could produce color separations from Acrobat files.
Other InProduction offerings include Trim/Bleed, which helps users define image areas and alter media, bleed, trim, or art boxes for accurate positioning.
Color Converter provides multiple options for converting into CMYK, and Adobe in-RIP Trapping lets users specify trapping parameters for later execution in an Adobe PostScript 3 RIP.
For now, only Mac users have access to those tools. Adobe plans to release a Windows version of InProduction eventually.
That's a sharp contrast to the controversy over Acrobat 4.0. Adobe didn't develop plug-ins such as Web Capture, Compare Page, Digital Signatures, and Send Mail for the Macintosh, arguing that those tools weren't key to Mac users.
But user outcry spurred the company to ultimately release Macintosh versions.
InProduction should ship this spring. Users can buy Acrobat 4.0.5, InProduction, and the Adobe Gamma utility for $899. Acrobat 4.0 users can get an upgrade to 4.0.5, InProduction, and Gamma for $699.