Release Date: 06-30-2023
In this article, you will learn which
- New Features are available,
- Improvements for users have been implemented and which
- Bugs have been fixed in version 1.5.0 of the PDF Editor.
1. Overview
With version 1.5.0, users can take advantage of a number of new features for editing PDF files, creating Dielines and Spot Color Separations. In addition, improvements have been made to the user interface, especially when handling Spot Colors and DeviceN Colors. Furthermore, the simplified access to objects was improved.
1.1. New Features
The following new features have been implemented:
- Flip Current Page: New dialog for mirroring current pages with transformation logic selection. [PPDPDF-669]
- Edit Colors: Provide new user guidance for editing colors in the Edit tab. In addition, DeviceN colors can be edited for the first time. [PPDPDF-531]
1.2. Improvements
The following improvements have been implemented to simplify the handling:
- Export as Image File: Provided the possibility to select the Overprint simulation during image export. [PPDPDF-674]
- Alternate color values for Spot Colors: Display of alternate color values for Spot Colors in the settings area Colors of the Edit tab. [PPDPDF-473]
- Create Spot Color Separation / Add Dielines: The creation of a Spot Color Separation or a Dieline with a negative Offset can be displayed with accuracy. [PPDPDF-489]
- Add Dieline: The option to create a Dieline which is constrained to the outer border was provided. Thereby, the punched areas inside aren't provided with a Dieline. [PPDPDF-745]
- Selection List of Spot Colors: The possibility to create Grouping in the Selection Lists of Spot Colors was provided. [PPDPDF-748]
- "None" and "Registration Color": The specific Color designations None and Registration Color (All) was provided with common symbols. [PPDPDF-630] [PPDPDF-743]
- Transform: Improvement in the user interface for the settings area Transform in the Edit tab was provided. [PPDPDF-625]
- Convert Text to Outlines: The shortcuts for these commands were provided. [PPDPDF-672]
- Convert selected Text to Outline as Single Glyphs: In addition to the already existing commands Convert Text to Paths and Convert selected Text to Outlines the command Convert selected Text to Outline as Single Glyphs was provided. The selected Text is split into single letters and afterward converted into a Path.
- Activate all Options: A shortcut to activate all options in the View and Analyze tab was provided. [PPDPDF-713]
- Preserve Spot Color after deleting: When a Spot Color is deleted the Color is preserved until the file is opened again. Thereby it is possible to draw faster on the previously deleted Spot Color
- Set MediaBox to Origin: The option Set MediaBox to Origin is activated by default in the Set Page Box dialog when the MediaBox is altered. [PPDPDF-680]
- Change Vector objects with the Direct Selection Tool: It wasn't possible to alter the size of vector objects with the Direct Selection Tool. The user had to use the Selection Tool. The function was provided with the Direct Selection Tool. [PPDPDF-662]
- Color Space of "Filled Pattern": The Color Space for "Filled Patterns" will be shown in the settings area Color Spaces in the View and Analyze tab from now on. [PPDPDF-627]
- OnPoint | PDF Editor Manual: The OnPoint | PDF Editor online manual service was provided for German and English in the menu Help > Show Manual. [PPDPDF-677]
- Romanian and Russian Localisation: The OnPoint | PDF Editor was prepared for the Russian and Romanian Localisation. [PPDPDF-660]
- Update of the Core Library: The Core Library for improving stability as well as fixing existing bugs was updated.
1.3. Fixed Bugs
The following bugs were fixed:
- Open the PDF Editor by right-clicking in macOS: The Editor crashed after opening a PDF file and performing the action right-click > Open in macOS. [PPDPDF-678]
- Change the MediaBox in connection with Cropping Paths: In some cases when setting the MediaBox objects vanished inside Cropping Paths. The related bugs were all fixed. [PPDPDF-690]
- Display error when using the Pipette Tool: In many situations, a selection rectangle was displayed on a random position of the screen as soon as the Pipette Tool was selected. This display error was eliminated. [PPDPDF-679]
- Scale Images in Cropping Paths: When the image content was scaled within the Cropping Path this scaling was repeated for every subsequent action concerning the image. This bug was fixed. [PPDPDF-663]
- Rounding Error in Resolution: The decimal place value for the resolution in the Object Inspector is correctly rounded from this version on. [PPDPDF-700]
Below you will find a detailed description of all changes in the menu items New Features Features, as well as Improvements.
2. New Features
With version 1.5.0 some new features are available.
2.1. Flip Current Page
The possibility to flip pages was enabled for users for the first time in version 1.4.0. In the current version, a simplified dialog was added and additionally, the possibility was given to choose between two different methods. The following options are available.
- Horizontal - The current page will be mirrored horizontally.
- Vertical - The current page is mirrored vertically.
You can also choose between the following methods.
- Flip all Objects - This will transform every single object on the page.
- Transform Page - This transforms the entire page, the change is inherited by all objects on the page.
Figure 1: The Flip Current Page dialog
2.2. Edit Colors
Editing colors in a print file is essential. For the user, it is important to see at a glance whether the color is a Spot Color or a Process Color and which color is currently selected for the Stroke and the Fill of an object. Furthermore, a fast change between Process and Spot Colors, as well as the handling of DeviceN colors in an intuitive way is to be made available. All these intentions have been implemented with version 1.5.0.
In the Color settings area, two new buttons are available for this purpose:
Color Picker [1] - Choose whether you want to edit the Fill Color (left) or the Stroke Color (right).
Color Type [2] - Determine whether the selected Fill or Stroke color is to be created as a Process Color (left) or as a Spot Color (right) or as a DeviceN color.
Figure 2: The settings area Colors in the Edit tab with the two new buttons
Subsequently find out how to edit Process or Spot Colors with version 1.5.0 and how to handle DeviceN Colors in the process.
2.2.1. Edit Process Colors
In order to edit a Process Color, the color type Process Color [8] must be selected. The following options are available when editing a Process Color:
-
Color Space [5]- Select the desired color space for the Process Color. The following Color Spaces are available for selection:
- Grayscale
- RGB
- CMYK
- Lab
- Color values [6] - Determine the hue of the Process Color. Different numbers of input options are available depending on the selected Color Space. The values which are to be entered must be adapted to the Color Space.
- Opacity [7] - Determine the opacity of the color from 0% to 100%.
Figure 3: The settings area Colors in the Edit tab in connection with a selected Process Color
Create a Process Color
If the selected object does not have a color, a color tone can be created by clicking on Create Color for selected Objects [3]. By default, the Color Space CMYK with the color values 0/0/0/100 is used when creating a color.
Remove the Process Color
If the selected object has a color, you can delete the color by clicking Remove Color for selected Objects [4]. The selected Fill or Stroke thus no longer has a color.
White, No Color, and None
Note that objects with White, No Color or None are not easy to distinguish from each other. Nevertheless, the following differences can be mentioned:
- White - A white area can be created by entering 0/0/0 in CMYK, 255/255/255 in RGB or 0 tone value in grayscale. This white area is a white opaque area. Objects in the background will be hidden by it.
- No Color - An object with the area color No Color has no fill, so the Fill of the object is transparent. Objects in the background shine through.
- None - None represents a special color within the PDF specification. If an object's Fill is filled with the color None, the Fill is transparent, which means that all objects in the background show through. None is usually used when deleting a Spot Color. All objects that have the deleted Spot Color are replaced by the special color None.
Convert Process Color to Spot Color
To convert a Process Color to a Spot Color, you must press the Spot Colors button [9]. Currently, only the mode is changed and the first Spot Color of the PDF is used. The correct conversion of a Process Color to a Spot Color will be delivered in a next version.
2.2.2. Editing Spot Colors
Before a Spot Color can be edited the color type Spot Color [16] must be selected. The following options are available when editing a Spot Color:
To simplify the editing of Spot Colors, the Spot Color dropdown has been replaced by the following buttons:
- Spot Color [10] - Allows the Spot Color to be selected. In the drop-down menu, all Spot Colors of the PDF, all System Spot Colors - those you have defined for the PDF Editor in the Preferences - and all Standard Spot Colors - Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black, None, and Registration Color - are available.
- Tonal Value [11] - Allows you to determine the Tonal Value of the Spot Color.
- Color Space [12] - Determine the alternative color space. CMYK, RGB, and Lab are available as alternative color spaces.
- Color Values [13] - The entered values are used as alternative color values for the Spot Color.
- Opacity [14] - Determine the opacity of the Spot Color from 0% to 100%.
Figure 4: The settings area Colors of the Edit tab in connection with a selected Spot Colors
Change Tonal Value and Opacity
To change the Tonal Value and/or Opacity for the Spot Color for the selected object, you only need to change the percentage values in the input fields. The changes in this case only affect the selected object(s) and not the Spot Color itself.
Change appearance of the Spot Color
The appearance of the Spot Color can be changed by changing the color values for the alternative Color Space. Do this by selecting the Alternate Color Space [12] and entering the Color Values [13] in the respective alternate Color Space.
Note that if these Color Values are updated, the Spot Color definition for the entire document will change. You will be informed about that with a dialog.
Create Spot Color
Creating a new Spot Color is still displayed in the menu item Edit > Edit Spot Colors. A more elegant way will be offered in a later version.
2.2.3. Edit DeviceN colors
DeviceN colors are a frequently occurring construct, especially in print data designed for flexographic printing. With version 1.5.0 of the PDF Editor, it is now possible for the first time to edit this color construct selectively and intuitively.
In order to edit DeviceN colors, the Spot Color [19] color type must be selected. When editing a DeviceN color, the following options are available:
-
Spot List [17]- This is the DeviceN list which shows of how many Spot Color definitions the DeviceN color consists. There are three ways to change a Spot Color definition:
- Select Spot Color definition - Select the Spot Color to edit from the list. This will select this color in Spot Color [18]. Corresponding changes regarding Tonal Value, as well as Alternative Color Value, can be implemented as described before.
- Add Spot Color definition - If you want to add another Spot Color definition [20] to the DeviceN color, press the button with the same name. This will add the additional Spot Color definition of Black which can still be changed.
- Delete Spot Color definition - If you want to delete a Spot Color definition from the DeviceN color, press Remove Spot Definition [21]. The Spot Color definition is deleted from the DeviceN color for the selected object, but the Spot Color itself remains in the PDF.
Figure 5: The Colors setting area of the Edit tab in connection with selected DeviceN color
Opacity and DeviceN colors
Note that changes in the "Opacity" input field always affect the entire DeviceN color and not the selected Spot Color definition. To change the "Opacity" of a single Spot Color definition in a DeviceN color, you can resort to the "Tonal Value" input field.
DeviceN Colors
DeviceN colors are a way of combining several Spot Color Separations with different tonal values in a new color. Detailed information on the range of applications and the advantages and disadvantages of DeviceN colors can be found in the glossary.
3. Improvements
In addition to the major new features, other improvements have also been implemented in version 1.5.0.
3.1. Simulate overprinting when saving images
PDF as image files has been supported by PDF Editor since version 1.4.0. Now it is also possible to control whether overprinting should be simulated in the exported image.
Figure 6: The options of the dialog Export as Image File for a TIFF file
3.2. Negative offset when creating Dielines as well as a Spot Color Separation
It may be necessary for users to add Dielines or Spot Color Separations that are smaller than the original object. For this purpose, it is now possible to enter a negative offset for Dielines and Spot Color Separations.
- Create white Separation - When printing on transparent media, it is necessary to print a white Separation under the objects to be printed. In order to avoid flashes, this white Separation should often be -0.02 mm smaller than the object to be printed.
- Create Dielines starting from the Bleed - In label production, it can happen that irregularly shaped labels are delivered without Dielines. Here, it is now possible as well to easily create a Dieline with a negative offset.
Figure 7: The dialog Create Spot Color Separation with negative Offset
Figure 8: The dialog Add Dieline with a negative Offset
3.3. Add Dieline
To give users the greatest possible flexibility when creating Dielines, two new options are provided - Reduce to outer border [22] and Miter Limit [23]:
Figure 9: The dialog Add Dieline with activated option Reduce to outer boarder and a Miter Limit of 10
3.3.1. Reduce to outer border
If an outline consists of an inner and an outer border, a Dieline as shown in Figure 10 top would be generated by default. If this is not desired, the option Reduce to outer border [22] can be activated. This will then produce the result shown in Figure 10 bottom.
Figure 10: Top: A Dieline was created without activating the option Reduce to outer border; Bottom: A Dieline was created with the activated option Reduce to outer border
3.3.2. Miter Limit
By setting the value for the Miter Limit [23], a limit value at which a pointed edge joint is flattened to prevent overlong pointed corners is defined.
Figure 11: Left: the Miter Limit is 1, here edges at right angles are flattened; Middle: The Miter Limit is 2, right angles are retained, but acute angles are flattened; Right: The Miter Limit is 10, even very acute angles are retained, but under certain circumstances this can lead to very long and unsightly acute edge joints.
3.4. Alternate Color Values for Spot Colors
As part of the revision of the Color settings panel, the following improvements have been made:
- Display alternate Color Values - The alternate color values of a Spot Color are now displayed in the Edit tab of the Color settings panel.
- Changing alternate Color Values - The ability to change the alternate Color Values of a Spot Color directly in the Color settings panel has been added. When the alternate Color Values are changed, the document's Spot Color definition is updated.
Figure 12: The Colors setting area of the Edit tab in connection with selected Spot Color with displayed alternative Color Values
3.5. Selection of Spot Colors
Spot Colors are sorted by the following three categories in the selection menu in version 1.5.0:
- Spot Colors from PDF - All Spot Colors that appear in the PDF are listed here. The colors are displayed in alphabetical order.
- Standard Spot Colors - The standard Spot Colors always remain. They consist of the four Process Color Separations Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black as well as the colors All (Registration Color) and None.
- System Spot Colors - Here you will find all Spot Colors that have been defined in Standard Spot Colors in the Preferences. The colors are displayed in alphabetical order.
Figure 13: Grouped selection list of Spot Colors
3.6. Color designation »None« und »All«
The color "None" and "All" are special colors in the PDF, they are provided under "Standard Spot Colors" from version 1.5.0.
»None« and »All«
"None" and "All" are special Color Spaces and therefore treated separately in the PDF. Therefore it is necessary to convert a color to a Spot Color in the PDF Editor to be able to select and assign "None" or "All" from the Spot Color list at "Standard Spot Colors".
3.7. Improvement of the User Interface in macOS
The display of "tabs" and "spinners" have been changed to the familiar form from macOS in version 1.5.0.
Figure 14: Improved user interface in macOS
3.8. Convert Text to Outlines
New keyboard shortcuts for the commands to Convert Texts to Outlines
Table 1: Shortcuts for Convert Texts to Outlines
| Function | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Convert Text to Outlines |
Ctrl + L
|
cmd + L
|
| Convert selected Text to Outlines |
Ctrl + Shift + L
|
cmd + Shift + L
|
3.9. Activate all Options
New keyboard shortcut to reactivate all hidden options in the View and Analyze tab.
Table 2: Shortcuts to Reset the View options
| Function | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Reset View options |
Ctrl + Shift + X
|
cmd + Shift + X
|