Reducing a PDF that was created from an Unstructured FM file using the "Published" Conversion Method

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
May 21, 2025
3 replies
422 views

I’ve created a PDF from an unstructured FM document that needs to be downsized from 16MB to below 10MB.

I can not compromise quality. The images are linked (not embedded) so I can understand why this PDF is so much bigger from previous years when the content hasn’t changed much. The typical PDF file size for this document has been 2-4 MBs and I’m using the same distiller option (high-quality print). I don’t know what’s so different.

Although this same image was processed in smaller PDFs, I noticed one image file that was 21MB so I was able to downsize to 1.8 (keeping the quality); however, when I republished the PDF file size was barely reduced.

There must be a default setting that changed or I missing that I need to adjust in my distiller options that won’t compromise the quality of the PDF out.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Jeff_Coatsworth

Community Expert

What version of FM? How are you creating the PDFs? The latest version (FM2022) uses a new PDF generating engine that results in larger sized PDFs. That new engine takes over the Publish to PDF and Save as PDF workflows. Only the older Print to Adobe PDF uses the older engine. The other alternative is Publish to PDF, but turn on the Use Distiller flag to have it switch back to using the older engine.

C

christinef#00001Author

Participating Frequently

Thank you very much for your response. I'm using FM 2022 and that could explain it.

How do I turn on the Use Distiller flag to have it switch back to using the older engine?

I don't like the new "Publishing to PDF" process. I feel I have less control on how I want the PDF process. I have specific distiller options for PDFs I have to produce, depending on the delivery needs and I never work in a "Work Flow" environment.

Thx for the support

Jeff_Coatsworth

Community Expert

See Rick's answer here - https://community.adobe.com/t5/framemaker-discussions/how-can-i-set-the-default-behaviour-of-pdf-generated-by-fm-to-show-the-filename-in-the-title-bar/m-p/13688912

C

christinef#00001Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks, very much for the suggesion.

I tried that which did make the file size considerable smaller; however, the quality of the images was very poor. The quality of PDF outputthe can not be compromised. There must be a setting I'm missign because in previous PDFs of the same document the file size wasn't big at all. I'm really puzzled with this years delivery.

frameexpert

Community Expert

You could also try Save As Other > Optimized PDF and turn off the compression settings. The file size reduction was smaller, but still significant.

C

christinef#00001Author

Participating Frequently

Thx for the support. If Jeff's solutions doesn't work I'll try twicking the PDF optimizer as you suggested.

frameexpert

Community Expert

You could try opening the PDF with Acrobat Pro and use Save As Other > Reduced Size PDF and see what you get. It's an extra step, but it may give you a good result. I just tried it with a PDF and got a pretty good reduction.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded