100 page file in indesign

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
April 21, 2025
6 replies
326 views

I am wondering if a file is about 100 pages --text based but with some vector graphics (think basic vector shapes mostly, icons, etc. and all embeded in the file) if it's a recipe for disaster? I can divide the file I guess and do a indd book situation---though I'm anxious to-- but wondering if there are no linked images if there is a point? Are vector shapes going to clogg the file dramtically?

File is 14MB at the moment which seems weirdly large though. I have not added the vector data visualiazions yet--except a few here and there.

How to

Scott Falkner

Community Expert

100 pages is not that large. I routinely work on files in the 100 pp – 200 pp range. What does concern me is that the images are embedded. Are you pasting graphics from another source, such as Illustrator? Or are they graphics created in InDesign? Generally it is a good idea to keep placed files linked. It requires keeping track of the source files and making sure they travel with the InDesign file for anyone editing it, but it is much easier to troubleshoot and keeps the main file size more manageable.

leo.r

Community Expert

In addition to what others have already said:

Whether it's 100 pages or one page, just make sure you're running some sort of incremental backup system at all times. Such as Time Machine on Mac or its equivalent on Windows. Or work off a cloud service such as Dropbox or Google Drive, where file versioning is built-in.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

As others have already said, a 14 MB InDesign file is no big deal. All things considered, you should be able to reproduce that file with minimal issues.

But if the file size concerns you, you can mitigate that by placing external graphics in the file rather than embedding them.

Let's say, as an example, you've placed a religious symbol in the header/folio of every one of your 100 page document. By embedding it, you will have the increased file size and processing overhead when you output that same drawing 100 times in your InDeisgn document file. By placing that same graphic instead of embedding it, InDesign will have a small coding reference to point to that external graphic instead of the coding to define that same graphic in your file 100 times.

Your InDesign document file will be measurably smaller with placed graphics and, more importantly, easier and quicker for output devices to process and print. Jus' sayin' ...

Hope this helps,

Randy