Instant PDF 3 is a standalone application rather than an Acrobat plug-in and can now be used from within the print menu of applications including Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress as well as Acrobat.

"It didn't make any sense as an Acrobat plug-in," said Enfocus chief executive David van Driessche. "Integration into native applications provides better PDF creation."

At the heart of Instant PDF is a new technology called PDF Queue which is being integrated across Enfocus' whole product line.

A PDF Queue contains all settings including print styles, job options, PDF Profiles and Action Lists needed to create a PDF.

This provides all the details needed by InDesign or Quark and Acrobat as well as instructions for pre-flight checking, automatic correction and where to store or send the file.

The receiver of the PDF for instance a publisher or printer creates PDF Queues. They can provide clients with the most up-to-date settings using Enfocus'

CertifiedPDF.net website, which publishes the latest specifications.

Instant PDF 3 automatically checks CertifiedPDF.net for updated profiles to use. Earlier versions would warn users if the PDF profile wasn't up to date, but wouldn't automatically update themselves.

The firm is also working on incorporating job tickets. It will embed job tickets as XML within the PDF files rather than use JDF, although it is working on JDF.

Enfocus has also launched Certified PDF Workflow Suite, a bundle containing Instant PDF, PitStop Professional, PitStop Server and CertifiedPDF.net.