The US software company's senior product manager Mark Lewiecki said the new version of the rendering technology features streamlined ECG [expanded colour gamut] processing; and single-stage high-performance colour conversions for efficient and precise output to presses running orange and/or green and/or violet inks (OGV) in addition to CMYK process inks.

Also new is a spectral module that will process spectrally defined spot colours so that they can be seamlessly colour managed with other job elements; and sophisticated image resampling.

Advanced methods to manage and automate post-press and inline embellishments; the ability for varnishes and white underprints to be dynamically autogenerated from job elements at run-time; and enhanced variable printing are among the other new headline features.

Lewiecki said some of the new features have come from requests from Adobe’s partners but that others are more forward-thinking as “internally we also stay on top of trends and where the industry is going”.

The beta release of PDF Print Engine 6 has been made available to Adobe’s print partners since February, while the final release will be distributed to them at the end of June. At least one product built on version 6 is expected to come out this autumn, with others to follow from a number of large vendors in Adobe’s channel next year.