pdfCamp has become a tradition at callas, and like all great traditions, it began with a simple idea: to unite a group of passionate PDF enthusiasts for two days to engage closely with the callas software team and other users, sharing experiences, ideas, and knowledge.

What makes pdfCamp so special is its format. There is no set agenda. Instead, attendees shape the content by bringing their own questions, challenges, and ideas to the table. To keep the sessions interactive and personal, seats are always limited and tend to fill up quickly. That’s why, two years ago, we decided to expand and introduced a second edition in the fall to give more people the chance to attend.

This month, we took a significant step forward. For the first time, pdfCamp crossed borders with not one, but two events. First, we held an event in London, bringing pdfCamp closer to our UK customers. Just a week later, we returned to familiar ground in Berlin for round two.

As always, the topics were as diverse as the people in the room - developers, users, integrators, resellers - all bringing their own questions and challenges. Of course, there's too much to cover in one blog - and frankly, the best way to experience pdfCamp is to be there in person. But if you couldn't make it, don't worry: here's a quick look at some of the highlights from both events!

Introductory sessions

As mentioned, the attendees were a great mix of experienced users and newcomers. That's why, in addition to advanced discussions, we always make room for introductory sessions when there's demand. In London, for example, we held a session to introduce new users to the core features of pdfToolbox. Attendees gained insight into profile creation and learned how to create and customize their own preflight checks, fixups, profiles, and process plans.

But even for experienced users, there's always something new to discover. pdfToolbox is packed with powerful features, so we also introduced specific topics. One of these was QuickCheck, where we explored how this functionality can be used to retrieve information from a PDF—just as quickly as the name suggests.

And of course, JavaScript made its usual appearance! One of the sessions covered the basics: where JavaScript can be used within pdfToolbox and how to create script variables. For those working with Enfocus Switch, we also looked at how to access external variables from Switch in script variables - and vice versa.

Imposition

In pdfToolbox, imposition can be done in two ways: either the "old style" method using a tabbed text configuration language developed by callas years ago or the more modern JavaScript-based approach. Since JavaScript offers much more flexibility, it was no surprise that many attendees were eager to learn how to get started building their own configurations.

We walked through the basics - helping attendees understand how to create JavaScript-based imposition configurations step-by-step. Along the way, we explored some of the latest improvements introduced in pdfToolbox 16, as there are many new features designed to make your scripting life easier, from inserting JavaScript snippets with ready-to-use utility functions to the new live preview that instantly displays the imposition object as you build it.

There was also a question about placing QR codes on imposed sheets - a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how the Place Content functionality is now integrated into the imposition engine. This allows text, lines, rectangles, and barcodes to be placed directly on the sheet within JavaScript-based impositions.

callas user forum

At both pdfCamps, there was a clear interest in having a dedicated user forum — a space where the callas community could exchange experiences, discuss real-world cases, and support each other. With so many experienced pdfToolbox users open to sharing their knowledge, such a platform could become a valuable hub for collaboration and problem-solving. We’ve definitely taken that feedback to heart!

Place content

Looking back at our pdfCamps, one topic is always on the agenda: placing content in pdfToolbox. There are two good reasons for this.

First, the technology itself is incredibly versatile and can be applied to a wide variety of use cases. We explored examples such as placing grommets on large-format print files, embedding a company branded footer in a PDF preflight report, or placing a clickable icon over a QR code to improve accessibility in ePapers.

The fairly steep learning curve is the second reason this topic keeps coming up. While the basics are straightforward, more advanced use cases quickly become complex.

And since we mentioned it during pdfCamp, we want to keep you in the loop: our upcoming online classes are a great opportunity to dive deeper into the Place Content technology. Whether you're just getting started or want to sharpen your skills, these classes will teach you how to use this technology. If you're interested, register here!

Issues with cut contours

Another hot topic at our pdfCamps is problems with cut contours - unfortunately a well-known challenge in our industry, often due to improperly created print files. Since automation is always the goal, we've explored how to detect overlapping and exact duplicates of cut contours.

Another related problem with cut contours is that the contours are sometimes filled vector objects instead of stroked paths. Fortunately, with pdfToolbox 16, a new fixup was introduced to convert these filled paths to stroked ones (by the way, this was a feature request from a previous pdfCamp).

As with every pdfCamp, one of the things we value most is the learning that happens on both sides. While attendees discover new features and smart ways to solve their PDF challenges with pdfToolbox, we gain invaluable insights into the real-world scenarios and automation hurdles they face.

In fact, the feedback doesn’t just stay in the room – it actively shapes the future of our products. Our most recent major release, pdfToolbox 16 (launched just last month), includes a remarkable statistic: around 30% of the new features were inspired directly by discussions and ideas raised during past pdfCamps.

So if you've never been to a pdfCamp - or if you're already a fan and can't wait to attend another one - now is the perfect time! Our next pdfCamp will take place on September 29 and 30 in Berlin.

And since you’ve read all the way to the end of this blog — lucky you! Here’s your reward: registration has just opened, so you can be among the first to secure your spot:

👉 Head over to the registration page for our pdfCamp '25 fall edition now!

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!