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joleneb38156190
Participant
December 19, 2018
Answered

PDF Compression Types

  • December 19, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 3726 views

Is there a tool that can be used to view the compression type used in a pdf file?  Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dov Isaacs

There is no such thing as the compression type used in a PDF file. For different aspects of a PDF file, there are different forms of compression used. Beginning with PDF 1.5, object streams within the PDF file are compressed using lossless Flate (ZIP) compression. In terms of raster images, each image may be compressed differently in terms of type, degree, etc.

Text and vector objects as well as other PDF commands are stored in the compressed object streams, per above.

To determine the compression used for a particular raster image, in Acrobat Pro DC, go to Production Tools and select Output Preview. Within the Output Preview windows, Go to Preview and select Object Inspector. Move your cursor to the object you wish information about (including compression type) and click. The information regarding all objects under the cursor will appear in the window of the dialog. You will be surprised how useful this tool is!

          - Dov

2 replies

joleneb38156190
Participant
December 20, 2018

Thank you.

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
December 20, 2018

There is no such thing as the compression type used in a PDF file. For different aspects of a PDF file, there are different forms of compression used. Beginning with PDF 1.5, object streams within the PDF file are compressed using lossless Flate (ZIP) compression. In terms of raster images, each image may be compressed differently in terms of type, degree, etc.

Text and vector objects as well as other PDF commands are stored in the compressed object streams, per above.

To determine the compression used for a particular raster image, in Acrobat Pro DC, go to Production Tools and select Output Preview. Within the Output Preview windows, Go to Preview and select Object Inspector. Move your cursor to the object you wish information about (including compression type) and click. The information regarding all objects under the cursor will appear in the window of the dialog. You will be surprised how useful this tool is!

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)