Many will erroneously call Enfocus Pitstop products “Preflight Software“. This includes the developer Enfocus themselves. However this is simply not the case as the prefix “Pre” means (prior to), indicating a proactive quality control process of checking files. Since PDF is the final desired result, PitStop checks PDF files AFTER they are already created, Pitstop is a “PostFlight” software.
Two reasons PitStop is NOT The Way to Efficient Quality PDF
This is simply not the way to an efficient workflow. Enfocus PitStop is used to look at PDF files to find and repair PDF files (reactively) after much time and effort was wasted creating a bad PDF file anyway. This dooms its users to be doing work twice. Efficient workflow is to not waste effort, do it right the first time. A professional should never waste time and effort making bad or questionable PDF, then checking to see if it is good with PitStop. This is a guarantee of double work on many if not MOST jobs.
Additionally, PitStop’s method would be to repair a PDF file and then continue it through production. This also is a BAD IDEA. What about the source files which are still not corrected. What if you have to pick those files up sometime and create another job, make additional corrections to the Quark Xpress or InDesign files etc. You have just opened yourself up to another file problem. The SOURCE of the problem was never repaired. Instead, you have wasted your time fixing PDF files, leaving your server full of bad source files.
So, that’s it. Two reasons to not use PitStop at all. It’s simply bad manufacturing fundamentals against best production practices.
So, what do you do then? Real Preflight. A Proactive, fist time right process of PDF creation. You check all files BEFORE making PDF, in the source files rather than patching up poorly prepared PDF halfway through the process. PDF integrity at the earlist possible point. Source files that match the PDF, correct, current source files that made the PDF.
Exactly how, and what software and process is best? For starters, preflight software to check all placed images in yout Links or Pictures folder, FreeFlight(tm). This Free Preflight Software is very fast and accurate for checking EPS and TIFF files and reporting problems. You can download it for free and recxommend it to all your printing and publishing file preparers. Additionally, another automatic PDF creation software called PDF-X-Robot. PDF-X-Robot comes with a Quark Xtension, and an Adobe InDesign Plug-in that automatically preflights, makes PDF, then prints PDF to a network printer. PDF-X-Robot has been used for years by publishers and printers worldwide and is a mature proven tool for good PDF workflow.
Additionally, this is the fastest preflight and PDF creation software there is. There is no faster more accurate way to create a computer to plate ready PDF file. With FreeFlight and PDF-X-Robot, there is no need to use a “Postflight” software like Enfocus PitStop. There’s really no problems in the PDF to find or repair as it was created correctly the first time.
If you really want to use PitStop anyway, below is a list of the many different versions and platforms of Enfocus PitStop Software.
01. Pitstop Pro 7.0 Upgr - 6.X Or Higher (No Operating System)
Buy new: $179.99 5 Used & new from $179.99
02. Pitstop Pro 7.0 (No Operating System)
Buy new: $649.99 5 Used & new from $649.99
03. Pitstop Pro 7.0 Upgr - 5.X Or Below (No Operating System)
Buy new: $269.99 5 Used & new from $269.99
04. ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 750U+ ( PP5.0-VL-750 ) (No Operating System)
05. ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 10-24U ( PP5.0-VL-010 ) (No Operating System)
06. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Server 2.0 & Instant PDF 2.0 (25-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
07. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VU-750 ) (No Operating System)
08. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-V1-100 ) (No Operating System)
09. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-100 ) (No Operating System)
10. ENFOCUS BUNDLE PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-BV-100 ) (No Operating System)
11. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VL-010 ) (No Operating System)
12. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-V1-250 ) (No Operating System)
13. ENFOCUS BUNDLE PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-BV-005 ) (No Operating System)
14. Upgrade Pitstop Pro 6.5 From 1U W2K/XP & Mac Os 10.2.8 (No Operating System)
15. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Server 2.0 & Instant PDF 2.0 (50-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
16. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-V1-005 ) (No Operating System)
17. Enfocus Certify PDF 1.01 Bundle with Pitstop Pro 4.61 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / NT 4)
18. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Instant PDF 2.0 (250-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
19. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-V1-750 ) (No Operating System)
20. Pitstop Pro 5.0 Instantpdf 2.1 (Linux, Macintosh, Unix, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / Me / NT)
21. ENFOCUS BUNDLE PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-BV-025 ) (No Operating System)
22. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-010 ) (No Operating System)
23. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 98 / Me / NT)
24. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-V1-025 ) (No Operating System)
25. Pitstop Pro 7.0 Instantpdf 3.6 (No Operating System)
26. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Pitstop Server 2.0 (10-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
27. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VU-005 ) (No Operating System)
28. Pitstop Pro 5.0 Pitstop Svr 3.0 (Linux, Macintosh, Unix, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / Me / NT)
29. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 4.61 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / NT 4)
30. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-750 ) (No Operating System)
31. ENFOCUS BUNDLE PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-BV-250 ) (No Operating System)
32. ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 (No Operating System)
33. Upgrade Pitstop Pro 6.5 From 5.0X+ 1U W2K/XP & Mac Os 10.2.8 (No Operating System)
34. Pitstop Pro 6.5 & Instantpdf 3.5 W2K/XP & Mac Os 10.2.8 (No Operating System)
35. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VU-010 ) (No Operating System)
36. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-250 ) (No Operating System)
37. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-005 ) (No Operating System)
38. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VU-250 ) (No Operating System)
39. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 4.61 ( PS4.6-VU-025 ) (No Operating System)
40. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 Upgrade from Previous 4.05 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 98 / Me / NT)
41. Pitstop Pro 5.0 Pitstop Svr 3.0INSTANT Pdf 2.1 (Linux, Macintosh, Unix, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / Me / NT)
42. Enfocus Bundle Pitstop Pro 5.0 & Pitstop Server 2.0 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
43. UPG-V ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VU-100 ) (No Operating System)
44. Enfocus Bundle Pitstop Pro 5.0/Pitstop Server 2.0 & Instant PDF 2.0 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 98 / Me / NT)
45. ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 25-99U ( PP5.0-VL-025 ) (No Operating System)
46. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 Upgrade from 4.5 Higher (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / Me / NT)
47. ENFOCUS PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-VL-250 ) (No Operating System)
48. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Pitstop Server 2.0 (25-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
49. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Pitstop Server 2.0 (50-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
50. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Server 2.0 Instant PDF 2.0 (10-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
51. Enfocus PitStop Pro 5.0 with Instant PDF 2.0 (25-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
52. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Instant PDF 2.0 (100-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
53. ENFOCUS BUNDLE PITSTOP PRO 5.0 ( PP5.0-BV-750 ) (No Operating System)
54. Enfocus Bundle Pitstop Pro 5.0 & Instant PDF 2.0 (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 98 / Me / NT)
55. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 5.0 with Instant PDF 2.0 (50-user) (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 95 / 98 / NT)
56. Enfocus Pitstop Pro 4.61 Upgrade (Mac OS 9 and below, Windows 2000 / 95 / 98 / NT 4)