Create PDF Server for Mac OS X using Distiller 7
Garbsen, Germany -- July 26, 2005 -- HELIOS Software GmbH, a leading provider of file, print and prepress server solutions has announced the availability of Create PDF Server for Mac OS X using Distiller 7. The software is available as a preview version until the next PDF HandShake version is available.
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The time needed to process a Create PDF spool job of a 25 MB CMYK PostScript image is about 65 seconds; the processing time in Distiller is 61 seconds, while the data transfer via TCP/IP takes only 4 seconds. This clearly shows that the "Create PDF Server" solution performs excellently by distributing the creation of PDF jobs to dedicated Macintosh- or Windows PC-based workstations or servers.
| Acrobat 4.0.5 | Acrobat 5 | Acrobat 6 | Acrobat 7 | |
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| Windows NT4, 2000, XP, 2003 Workstation or Server |
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Benefits:
- Server-based automatic PDF creation from any UNIX, Macintosh, or Windows client by printing to a HELIOS "Create PDF" print queue.
- "Create PDF Server" works without any local configuration of the Macintosh/Windows server, the Distiller settings are attached to the HELIOS printer queue.
- PDF creation requires a lot of computing which will be off-loaded from the UNIX server to a dedicated server, e.g. a Macintosh with a FastEthernet connection.
- On-the-fly PostScript distilling on the dedicated server (no temporary PostScript files).
- There is only the spooled job stored on the HELIOS server. Font or OPI resolving is done on-the-fly and does not use additional disk space on the HELIOS server.
- Error Messages will be saved to the EtherShare printer accounting log file and sent back to the user by e-mail.
- The created PDF document will be attached to the hold queue, similar to the HELIOS PrintPreview application.
- The created PDF document can be saved to any HELIOS volume, or into a subfolder which can be created for each user name.
- Job distribution to the next available "Create PDF Server" - EtherShare supports balance queues which allow a cluster of "dedicated" servers which are used to distill many print jobs in parallel.
- Distiller security settings can be specified individually for each queue with EtherShare Admin.
- No shared folder/volume needed; "Create PDF Server" behaves like a network printer.
- Job-pipelining via multiple queues allows the creation of PDF files with different settings, e.g. one input job produces web-, press- and archive-optimized PDF files.
- "Create PDF Server" fail safety; when multiple "Create PDF Servers" are used, automatic load balancing (cluster) ensures availability in case one server node should fail.
Performance:
- Our experience shows that the Distiller can process PDF files from PostScript between 100 kB/sec up to several MBytes per second. This depends on the job data: images are faster, text and a lot of objects are slower, downsampling is slowing down further. The "Create PDF Server" can receive and send data up to 10 Mbytes a second, but Distiller is not able to process PostScript this fast. There is no loss of performance creating the PDF on a remote "Create PDF Server".
- The Macintosh or PC should be connected with 100Mbit Ethernet or faster. A 10Mbit network will work but will not keep Distiller busy, we recommend 100MBit.
- "Create PDF Server" works several times faster than Distiller via network "hot folders".
See the product description of the currently shipped PDF HandShake version.
Like to see a demo?
If you are interested in PDF HandShake or other HELIOS products, just see your HELIOS dealer and ask for a presentation.
The Create PDF Server for Mac OS X supporting Acrobat Distiller 7 is available on our public WebShare server at:
Server: http://webshare.helios.de
User name: tools
Password: tools
FAQ:
Q: Can I create PDF/X files with Create PDF Server on Mac OS X?
A: Yes, Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional supports the generation of PDF/X-1a and PDF/X-3 compatible PDF files.
Please note: Adobe Acrobat 7 Standard will generate PDF files but has no PDF/X support.
Q: Can I run Create PDF Server on an Xserve (Mac OS X Server) or Mac OS X in parallel with other HELIOS server products?
A: Yes, the new Create PDF Server is Mac OS X native and can run in parallel with other desktop and server applications.
Q: Will Create PDF Server utilize a dual processor machine?
A: Create PDF Server uses only a single CPU, unused CPU power and the second CPU are available for other applications and the OS. For HELIOS server products running in parallel with Create PDF Server, we recommend a dual CPU machine to avoid that the PostScript distilling can slow down other server services.