Automating variable PDF resizing with PitStop Pro / Server

[Davi_Lav]

Hello everyone,
I’d like to explain my workflow and see if there’s a way to automate it using PitStop Pro or PitStop Server.

I receive multiple PDF files from different clients, and depending on the job, I need to resize them to various formats (for example 600x300 cm, 485x285 cm, etc.). The required size changes quite often.

Right now, I handle this manually in Illustrator:
1. Open the PDF as a linked file
2. Remove crop marks or registration marks
3. Set the new document size
4. Export the result back to PDF

I’m wondering if it’s possible to create an automated workflow in PitStop that could:
• automatically remove crop marks or elements outside the trim area,
• resize the content and page box to a defined (or variable) format,
• export the final file as a print-ready PDF.

Has anyone already implemented something similar using Action Lists, Preflight Profiles, or Hot Folders in PitStop Server?
Any suggestions, examples, or best practices would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

[tdeschampsBluewest]

Hi,
What you described is actually a perfect fit for PitStop, you’ve basically outlined the sequence an Action List would follow!

If you want to take it further and automate everything, you’ll need PitStop Server plus the base version of Enfocus Switch (which comes with it). You can do this manually in PitStop Pro, but if you’re dealing with a lot of files, Server + Switch will save you a ton of time.

Adding extra Switch modules will gives you more flexibility (Core for AppStore, Metadata, Switch Client, etc.), but they’re not required to get things working.

Even with just the base Switch, you can pass variables to PitStop using Private Data. For example, you could define the target size right in the job name, or hotfolder setup.

Additional not, if you’re resizing non-proportionally, results can get a bit weird. It’s worth adding a warning or error route in your workflow in case the scaling goes too far.

[Davi_Lav]

Perfect, thanks a lot for the explanation!
I actually already have Switch, so that’s great news.
Do you have any advice on how to set it up properly? For example, which Actions or Action Lists would you recommend using to make it work?