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vernon28403283lvn9
Participating Frequently
March 28, 2023
Question

pdf/x-1a file size/compliance problem

  • March 28, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 2621 views

I need to create a pdf/x-1a file to send to a printer (for a large book I am writing). The file is initially created in pageplus9 and then reviewed in Adobe. Unfortunately the file is large (4Gb) and the printer says it corrupts when opened even though it opens happily in Acrobat at home. My investigations reveal that if I ask Adobe to test if my file is pdf/x-1a compliant it says yes if it is below 2Gb in size but non-compliant if over. The only reason the program gives for this is that the file is over 2Gb in size. Is this a strict limit then? Unfortunately my book is very image heavy and any reduction to less than 2Gb causes inage deterioration.  

Can anyone offer advice - maybe it is not possible to have a larger pdf/x-1a than 2Gb?

Many thanks for any help that can be given

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 28, 2023

I suggest you break the book down into "bite-size" portions. Any printer does not care if the your book is one big PDF as they will impose it as necessary anyway. Use Acrobat's Organize Pages > Split to make some logical divisions. e.g. if your book is 200 pp, split to 4 chunks of 50 pages, or find a logical divsion, say between major chapters.

V
vernon28403283lvn9Author
Participating Frequently
March 28, 2023

I tried that but they said the files could not be recombined when they tried

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
March 28, 2023

Ok, I've checked and there is no such rule, that I can see.

The checker you are using - does it use a preflight profile sent by the printer?

Or is it just using Acrobat as it is shipped?

Can you post a screen shot showing the report including the message?

V
vernon28403283lvn9Author
Participating Frequently
March 28, 2023

Unfortunately I can't post a screenshot as I ended my trial of Adobe when  I couldn't get it to do the tasks I wanted (optimizing, reducing file size, combining). The non-compliance assessment was from Adobe itself. When a pdf was open in Adobe there was a 'check compliance' button on the left of the screen and this reported non-compliance with the files over 2Gb. The result could be examined further and all seemed to be well apart from a comment stating that the file was non-compliant as over 2Gb 

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
March 28, 2023

Interesting. Unfortunately I don't have any files of that size to test with.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
March 28, 2023

I'm pretty sure the limit is 10 gigabytes (this was the size limit of PDF 1.4). I think the printer is saying (whether they know ir or not) that THEIR software corrupts it if over 2 GB. Don't assume they are using Acrobat ! We can tell you that larger files are OK, but we can't fix their software. 

V
vernon28403283lvn9Author
Participating Frequently
March 28, 2023

But why does Adobe say any pdf/x-1a over 2Gb is non-compliant with ther standard?

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
March 28, 2023

Hmm, yes I see what you're saying. I'll check the standard. 

kglad
Community Expert
kgladCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 28, 2023

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

 

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

 

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