Berlin-based Callas, which launched version 4.2 of the software last week, said that new features enabling the generation and management of layers within pdfToolbox could have a significant impact on the industry.

Callas said the support for layer views, in addition to the core PDF engine, made the low-cost software the"first industry tool to generate layers in accordance with PDF/X-4".

Chief executive Olaf Drümmer said: "I very much believe that this will help the adoption of PDF/X-4 in packaging pre-press."

He added: "Previously [at this price level] there was no way to make a PDF/X-4 file that also had layers. You could make layers or a PDF/X-4 file, but not both together, and that is a gap that we've closed with this product."

Callas said pdfToolbox offered a viable alternative to a dedicated packaging workflow system, which it claimed can cost anything up to €100,000 (£92,000).

Drümmer said: "What we have in the form of pdfToolbox is opening up certain steps in the workflow to people who do not necessarily own a packaging workflow but who have to do some packaging work anyway.

"We have contacted several people who do packaging work and who do not use any other such solutions but who wanted to move forward... to conformance with the PDF/X-4 standard."

Drümmer claimed the upgraded product would also open up the market for commercial printers.

Users of Version 4, or later versions of pdfToolbox, will be able to upgrade to the latest version for free. Customers who possess earlier versions will be charged €149 for the upgrade.

PDF TOOLBOX VERSION 4.2
Platform Adobe Acrobat Plug-in
Cost €499
Upgrade cost €149 or free from version 4 or later
Features PDF/X-4 compliant, support for management and generation of individual layers, advanced font mapping, built-in image re-compression, localised in Italian, Spanish, English, German and French