Adobe is poised to launch Acrobat 5.0, the latest version of its PDF creator, which is based on PDF 1.4.


PDF version 1.4 (first introduced in Illustrator 9 last year) introduces support for transparent objects and overprint preview.


These new features will make PDF more suitable for all pre-press workflows, but are especially important for packaging applications.


Artwork Systems has already backed it as the basis for the next generation of packaging workflow systems, when support for the format is included in RIPs.


Adobe has published the specification and its OEMs and users of the CPSI are working on incorporating PDF 1.4 support into the next generation of products.


Acrobat 5.0s default print distiller settings output PDF 1.3, which should prevent customers providing files that cant be ripped unless users generate custom settings.