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Inspiring
April 12, 2024
Question

Indesign exported PDF is HUGE

  • April 12, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 1529 views

I had a 50MB indesign file (idk why it was this big). I managed to reduce the file size to 14MB by replacing the psd links with TIFF files. However, the exported pdf (for print) is still 30MB. I can't imagine the reason behind it. I use the same export settings as always, I use no embedded links, but still, the pdf is twice the size of the indd file. 

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1 reply

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 12, 2024

The information provided is pretty much irrelevant. The size of an INDD file has no direct correlation on the size of the PDF.

So, please take a step back and give us some important info:

 

  1. Version of ID and operating system
  2. PDF Export settings
  3. What the purpose of the PDF is (screen, press, etc)

 

BTW, the easiest way to make an INDD file smaller is to use the save as command once in a while and save the file over itself. This removes all kinds of extraneous data.

NelladelAuthor
Inspiring
April 12, 2024

Hello!
InDesign version is 19.3.
The purpose is press. It's an A4 one page long file. I used the save as method, didn't help much, but now the key issue is the pdf size. 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
April 12, 2024

@Nelladel 

 

Based on the screenshot from the Links pallet - size of your PDF is pretty much the sum of links sizes...