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_Jennifer_Petroskey_
Participant
September 12, 2008
Question

Postscript/PDF files are unusually large

  • September 12, 2008
  • 2 replies
  • 1523 views
We've recently updated a very large book (648 pp). The PDF of the updated book (version 2) is approximately four times the size of the previous version (version 1). The total size of all files used in the version 1 book is actually larger than those of the version 2 book. However, when we print to a Postscript file, version 1's PS is smaller than the combined total, while version 2's PS is much larger. We were recently unable to create a PDF because the sections of the book were much too large. We resolved this by changing all graphics in Version 2 from JPG and WMF to GIF. Version 1 uses a combination of WMF, JPG and TIFF graphics. We usually print directly to Adobe PDF, but for troubleshooting purposes, we printed to Postscript and then distilled the file. We get the same results with both PDF creation methods. The PDF options are left on the default.

This problem exists on both the book file level and the section files it contains. Here's an example of the size of a single section:
Frame file:
Version 1- 17 MB
Version 2- 13 MB
Postscript file:
Version 1- 6 MB
Version 2- 33 MB
PDF file:
Version 1- 1 MB
Version 2: 4 MB

Looking at that, I would say the problem lies in the Postscript file, but I am unsure what could be causing it. The images are about the same size and quantity. Version 2 is only 28 pp longer than Version 1. The chief difference between the two versions of the book is the type of image used. Before we changed them all to GIFs, the PDF was twice its current size. The PDF for the whole book is 59 MB, which is unacceptable to us or our customer. The previous PDF was 13 MB.

If anyone has any insight into what could be causing this, I would really appreciate your help. We are running FrameMaker 7.1 on Windows XP. Thank you for your help.
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

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    _Jennifer_Petroskey_Author
    Participant
    September 12, 2008
    Both versions used in my example file were generated by me within ten minutes, using the same PC, and thus the same versions of Frame and same distillers. This is also the case with the book file. All people in my work group use the same version of Frame. Our distillers may be different, however the resulting file size is the same regardless of who generates the PDF.
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    _Thomas_Michanek_
    Known Participant
    September 13, 2008
    If it's not too much trouble for you, I would test one more thing:
    In both version 1 and version 2 of the document you examplified,
    temporarily remove all graphics and create a PDF. If the file sizes
    becomes nearly equal, then you *know* it's the graphics and
    not something else in the files or the setup.

    Are you by any chance copying the graphics into your documents,
    rather than importing by reference? I don't think this should
    matter when it comes to PDF file size, but it certainly matters
    for the FM file size and stability. You said:
    "We were recently unable to create a PDF because the sections
    of the book were much too large. We resolved this by changing
    all graphics in Version 2 from JPG and WMF to GIF."
    Copying graphics and letting the troubles that causes you to
    make a decision to change the graphics' format is not something
    I would recommend...

    And, the type of graphics (bitmapped or vector, color depth, etc)
    and how the distiller is set up to handle them is a major factor
    in PDF file size. Since it seems you do use different types of
    graphics in the two versions of your files, then my guess is
    that's the reason for the different PDF file sizes.

    (Note: it's not the file format per se that causes different results
    in distilling. A TIFF or PNG or GIF file format won't matter, as long
    as the images really are the same. But GIF only supports 8-bit
    color depth, so a 24-bit TIFF may contain much more information
    than an 8-bit GIF. And a vector WMF file is certainly not the
    same as a bitmapped TIFF file.)

    --
    /Thomas Michanek
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    _Thomas_Michanek_
    Known Participant
    September 12, 2008
    I think you need to give us more information:
    Are the PS files created on the same computer, by the same version
    of FrameMaker, with the same printer instance (Adobe PDF)?
    Are the PDF files created on the same computer, by the same version
    of Acrobat, with the same distiller options?

    If you're using different computers, different versions of FM/Acrobat,
    different setups of Adobe PDF, or different distiller options, then that
    could certainly explain the differences.

    --
    /Thomas Michanek
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