Acrobat no longer optimizing image heavy PDFs

[Kae5ECF]

I've been using Acrobat for several years to create PDFs of graphic novels, and have optimization settings that reduced the file size without degrading the quality of the images like most third party optimization programs and websites do. The attached settings have worked perfectly for a long time, dropping a 250Mb file to closer to 40Mb.

Unfortunately they've just stopped working out of the blue. I assume there must have been some kind of update, but now there's zero change in file size, which is a big problem for my job. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling with no luck.

Can anyone offer any insight or suggestions for other settings I can adjust to reduce file size without compromising image quality?

[Amal.]

Hi @Kae5ECF 

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that

Is this an issue with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try with a different PDF file and check. If the file is stored on a shared network/drive please download it to your computer locally and then try again.

What is the version of the Acrobat DC are you using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 22.3.20281 (Mac) or 22.3.20282 (Win) installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

Also, try to repair the installation from the help menu (Win Only) and see if that works.

Please try to reset the Acrobat preferences as described here https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-defau...

You may also try to create a new test user profile with full admin rights in Win or enable the root account in MAC and try using the application there and check.

Also, go through the help page https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/optimizing-pdfs-acrobat-pro.html and see if that works.

Note: Masked images and images with a size of less than 16-by-16 pixels are not downsampled.

Regards

Amal

[Kae5ECF]

This is happening with multiple PDFs. I even repeated the process with a PDF I'd made in the pass that optimized properly, and this time it didn't.

I've got the most up to date version; 2022.003.20282 for Windows. I'll try repairing and resetting and come back to let you know if it worked or not. Thanks!

[Kae5ECF]

None of these options worked for me, unfortunately. Still zero change in file size, even using the exact same source files that I know worked before.

[Amal.]

Hi there,

Would you mind sharing a sample PDF file so that we can chek for the issue on our end? Also a new version of the Acrobat DC 22.3.20310 is out now. please update the application from the help menu and reboot the computer once.

Regards

Amal

[Kae5ECF]

Is there a way to send it privately? As it's copyrighted material I can't share it here publicly.

[Kae5ECF]

Any follow up on this? I really do need this fixed fairly urgently.

[Amal.]

Hi @Kae5ECF 

Sorry for the delayed response.  You can upload any cloud storage and create the link and share that link in a private message. Click on the envelop icon in the top right corner of the page to start the private message.

Regards

Amal

[Kae5ECF]

Thank you Amal! Of course the moment I go to send you a message, it looks like the issue has resolved itself? I'll keep an eye on it and get in touch if it comes back.

[Kae5ECF]

Never mind, I spoke too soon!

[MaryH77]

Hi Amal

I am having this issue too with larger files (more than say 10 pages, image heavy). I am running a Mac with Ventura 13.4 and have v2023.001.20177 of Acrobat Pro. I am using the same Optimize settings as I always do but the application is cause my computer to start racing, then it says "Application not responding" so I then need to do a Force Quit.

I have tried restarting my computer, removing the Acrobat program and reinstalling it, but nothing is working for these larger files. Smaller than ~10 pages is fine, and fewer images but more pages is OK. But I can no longer optimise larger size pdf's.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.