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lilianaorozco2017
Participating Frequently
September 21, 2018
Answered

I need to explain to a client why the size difference of an Interactive PDF vs a Print PDF from the same file

  • September 21, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 1890 views

I need to explain to a client why the size difference of an Interactive PDF vs a Print PDF from the same file...

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

Is the “client” complaining that the “interactive PDF” is larger or smaller than the “print PDF”? One isn't necessarily always larger or smaller than the other.

An interactive PDF file might be larger due to embedded interactive components such as movies, sounds, Flash objects, etc. as well as Javascript controlling same.

A print PDF file might be larger due to raster imagery at higher resolutions (typically 300dpi or higher) although given the resolution of modern desktop and mobile device screens, the old rule of 72dpi for screen viewing makes no sense whatsoever anymore. The desired raster image resolution requirement may actually be higher than that required for printing!

And of course, there is nothing that prevents a PDF file from being suitable for both print and interactivity.

          - Dov

1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
September 21, 2018

Is the “client” complaining that the “interactive PDF” is larger or smaller than the “print PDF”? One isn't necessarily always larger or smaller than the other.

An interactive PDF file might be larger due to embedded interactive components such as movies, sounds, Flash objects, etc. as well as Javascript controlling same.

A print PDF file might be larger due to raster imagery at higher resolutions (typically 300dpi or higher) although given the resolution of modern desktop and mobile device screens, the old rule of 72dpi for screen viewing makes no sense whatsoever anymore. The desired raster image resolution requirement may actually be higher than that required for printing!

And of course, there is nothing that prevents a PDF file from being suitable for both print and interactivity.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
L
lilianaorozco2017Author
Participating Frequently
September 21, 2018

Thanks for your answer Dov, but I still have a question:

The files that I need to deliver to the client are always in those two formats.

Same file, same number of pages but the difference between one and the other is that one has hyperlinks to other pages in the file or to a various URL's.

If I save both versions I get very different sizes even if they are both exported in 300 DPI.

If I save the "interactive" version as a print version, the functionality of the hyperlinks is missing.

Am I doing something wrong?

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
September 21, 2018

Open each file in Acrobat and then open the Content panel on the left. Right-click the top-most item and select Audit Space Usage.

Compare the information in that window for both files, and you'll have a general idea of what's causing this difference in size.

My guess is it's fonts.


It is exceptionally unlikely that it has anything whatsoever to do with the fonts. InDesign PDF export always subset embeds all fonts that are embeddable, regardless of whether the PDF file style is interactive or print. So that variable is gone.

Most likely, a different image downsampling resolution and/or compression method was used for the interactive versus the print version. That is the only thing that would make the print variant so much larger.

I would recommend regeneration of the print PDF by using the default PDF/X-4 settings. Whatever size that yields is probably optimal in terms of the print quality required for the raster graphics in that content!

          - Dov

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