The upgrade will leverage the new exchange standard for variable data print (VDP) - PDF/VT - which is set for publication within the next few months (ISO 16612-2).

Adobe senior product manager Mark Lewiecki said that any suggestion that the US software giant was losing interest in the sector (following the closure of its Adobe print partner programme) was nonsense.

"Several leading VDP vendors, including the likes of Printable, Pageflex and GMC, have committed to generating PDF/VT from their applications and we're supportingthem,"he said.

"PDF/VT, together with the PDF Print Engine, is going to allow the blind exchange of VDP jobs, opening up the market for more relevant, personalised content."

According to Adobe, APPE 2.5 will enable increased rendering speed and workflow viability for graphically-rich personalised effects, including variable data transparency by enabling repeatable elements to be intelligently cached.

"VDP is one to watch," Lewiecki said. "It's still in its infancy but it will be key to growing the volume of digitally printed personalised content, which means more relevant content, higher ROI for marketers, less waste and higher value-add for printers."