Participant

Question

Data magnification / pdf x3 vs pdf x4

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 15, 2021
2 replies
2296 views

Dear all,

We are planning to change print data format x3 to x4. Our agency created a pdf x4 testfile which was significantly larger compared with x3 (approx 75%). The agency assumed that the metadata enlarged the file. Did anyone experienced the same? Do you probably have another explanation?

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Best wishes

Nadine

This topic has been closed for replies.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

If you use transparency the files will be wildly different in size, since PDF/X-3 must be flattened. It may be much smaller, or it may be much larger.

N

Nadine22260342c1qhAuthor

Participant

Right, thank you. Our files contains lots of transparencies... Thinking of the DAM tools were are using to manage our data, it will be chalenging to deal with biger files....

Abambo

Community Expert

By larger, you mean the file size is bigger.

X4 should be probably more compact, if all the other parameters stay the same, but it largely depends on the file.

X4 handles transparency, which is a considerable improvement on X3. The document above contains only one complex picture: rounded edges, shadows, and the savings are considerable. But all my other parameters stayed the same.

The metadata is very compact and will not increase the size of a PDF. Pictures, resolution, colour mode and compression increase the size.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

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Nadine22260342c1qhAuthor

Participant

Hi Abambo,

That is correct. I mean the file size. Our file contains lots of complex pictures and transparencies. That is obiously the reason. Nevertheless here ia my example - the size difference is just enormous...

It is hard to believe that the transparancies enlarge the file so extremely... What do you think?

Thank you.

Best wishes

Nadine

Abambo

Community Expert

Without seeing the PDF files, it's hard to know what causes the extreme increase in file size.

But there is also the factor of creating the files. Which tools are used? Are they outputting directly to PDF? How are they doing that?

My example is from InDesign, who can output directly to PDF files.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

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