Paperless Workflow System in New Release

Bluebeam Software, Inc. (Pasadena, CA) has announced the release of Revu 11.5, the latest version of its flagship solution for PDF creation, markup, editing, and collaboration. Among the enhancements highlighted by the company in its announcement are a new camera tool, touch and pen input for Windows 8 tablets, the addition of a URL preservation functionality called LinkSaver, and upgrades to the software’s digital signature capabilities. Additionally, Revu 11.5 sees a number of enhancements to Bluebeam Studio, the company’s cloud-based collaboration solution.

Bluebeam Revu Standard provides PDF creation, markup, and editing technology. Image courtesy of Bluebeam Software, Inc.

Bluebeam Revu enables paperless workflows by combining a PDF editor, viewer, markup tools, and file creation technology with tools for accessing and managing documents. Its PDF editing tools let users edit text, apply headers and footers, assemble files, and add, delete, or rotate pages. Its customizable 2D and 3D PDF markup tools include callouts, clouds, highlighter, lines, notes, text, and stamps (date, time, signatures, etc.).

Bluebeam Revu is available in Standard, CAD, and eXtreme editions. An iPad app version is also available. Revu Standard enables users of MS Office to create high-quality PDFs from Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint documents as well as PDFs from other Windows applications or CAD programs via its Bluebeam PDF printer functionality, a Windows system printer driver that installs as part of Revu. Frequently used markups can be save for later reuse, import, or sharing. Some of Revu’s other features include the abilities to take measurements and execute area cutouts; a built-in worksheet and formula editor to calculate costs; drawing and document compare; and the ability to search for keywords or phrases within PDF files.

Bluebeam Revu’s Section Box tool enables project teams to demonstrate the exact issue at hand by isolating regions of a 3D PDF and exposing the interior details. Image courtesy of Bluebeam Software, Inc.

Bluebeam Revu CAD builds off Revu Standard and offers direct plug-ins for one-button PDF and batch creation of PDF files from such applications as AutoCAD and SolidWorks, as well as Microsoft Office files. Revu CAD automatically reads a drawing’s orientation, scale, line weights, merged lines, plot style table, and page size, eliminating the need to adjust settings. Both 2D and 3D redline PDF capabilities augment those found in Revu Standard with CAD symbols.

Bluebeam Revu eXtreme extends Revu CAD and provides advanced features for extending paperless workflows. Among its features are the ability to create PDF forms that include text fields, buttons, and digital signature fields or advanced form fields to calculate values and define actions; special redaction features to remove confidential information from PDFs permanently; and built-in script commands.

With Bluebeam Revu’s Transform Tool users can move parts in a 3D model, show exploded views, and reanimate how they fit together. Image courtesy of Bluebeam Software, Inc.

With Bluebeam Revu for the iPad, users can redline PDFs with industry-standard symbols and verify measurements. Custom markups can be saved for reuse across sessions. Files and project folders can be synced using Dropbox, Studio Projects in Bluebeam Studio, or WebDAV. Files can also be transferred through iTunes.

Updates reported in Revu Version 11.5 include a new camera tool that allows users to add image annotations to PDFs directly from the field using a tablet PC’s built-in camera. Touch and pen input options that enable Windows 8 tablets to pan and zoom while making annotations with a stylus have been added. A LinkSaver automatically preserves all relative hyperlinks when combining and separating linked PDFs. Improvements to the software’s digital signature capabilities include improved Adobe Acrobat signature interoperability and the ability to collect multiple signatures on a single document without the need for certification.

Bluebeam Revu for iPad lets users access, navigate, and redline PDF files. Image courtesy of Bluebeam Software, Inc.

Bluebeam Studio, the company’s cloud-based collaboration solution for securely managing projects digitally from a desktop, tablet PC, or iPad, comes with all editions of Bluebeam Revu. Features include no-charge storage and management of an unlimited number of PDFs and any other file types in the cloud using Studio Projects as well as the ability to manage access rights for project partners to check out and edit files.

For collaborative purposes, Bluebeam Studio provides functionality to enable all users to add markups to the same PDF document together in real-time or individually at any time while an online session is active. A free, downloadable viewer is available for third parties to join and participate in online sessions. All markup activity is tracked and linked back to a Session’s PDFs. A built-in chat feature aids communications during a collaboration session.

Enhancements to Bluebeam Studio Projects in Revu 11.5 are said to make it easier to search for local files, view the revision history of project files, and restore any previous version of a document. Permission settings for Studio Sessions have also been updated so that full control can be handed off to designated team members. Hovering over a checked-out Project file displays the ID of the user who checked out the file, and users can see real-time progress updates when finalizing a Studio Session.

Pricing for Bluebeam Revu ranges from $179 for the Standard edition to $299 for the eXtreme edition. Bluebeam Revu for the iPad is available from the App Store for $9.99. Additionally, the company offers a centrally managed, server-based environment for automating the production of PDFs from original source files.

For more information on the Bluebeam Revu product line, visit Bluebeam Software.

Go directly to the Bluebeam Revu for Manufacturers page and sign-up for a 30-day trial copy.

Learn more about Bluebeam Studio.

Access training videos to see how Bluebeam Revu works.

Watch a video on Bluebeam Studio.

Go here for more on Bluebeam Revu for the iPad.

Read how Allstate Steel uses Revu for PDF markup and collaboration.

See why DE’s editors selected Bluebeam Revu 11.5 as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.