It would be fairly simple task in itself as it would basically rely on user having GS and some layer-capable PDF reader installed on the system, so it would either be a command line utility or a drag-and-drop tray and a reader launcher at most. imported raster images, but I could not have used that library on both platforms anyway).

I think this can be done with native OS calls on both platforms, but might require additionally some help from G'MIC and PDFlib (I checked Quick PDF and it seems its blending and coloring capabilities are limited to drawing and cannot be applied to e.g. I was thinking about hacking up a routine that would execute the color separating GS command for user selected PDF using a shell command, then take the resulting grayscale TIFFs, superimpose and apply multiply blend mode on them, color them with process inks, color a named spot color with a composite and then create a layered PDF. Generally we are looking to get rid of all Adobe fully, but purely due its pricing policy, not because it is bad software. So we have successfuly cut a lot of cost by this solution, which might be not for printing service. As for the commenting of PDF drawings PDF Xchange is for us even more pracital than Adobe Acrobat with much more options, presets of annotations etc, integration into Windows Shell. Proffesionall printshop etc is a different story. So for us PDF Xchange was a great solution. Adobe Reader itself is useless except viweing th files, it cannot do almost anything, and to buy to 60 seat office of engineers an architect 60 licences of full Adobe Acrobat only for this purpose is just too expensive and unnecessary. We were not looking for advanced color speration functions or advanced printing etc.

The functionality we as architects need is mostly commenting drawings, combining booklets, rotating, printing, replying comments, distribution of documents. Of course it is qestion of purpose of software you are looking for.

Pdf xchange viewer mac os