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M
Mesa316
Inspiring
May 5, 2020
Question

PDFs too large

  • May 5, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 755 views

  My pdf files are coming out way too big, even when set to smallest file size. This has only started happening recently. Appartently I have changed some setting, but I don't know what. I am on a PC using Windows 10 and rimariuly creating the pdfs from InDesign.

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1 reply

AkanchhaS8194121
AkanchhaS8194121
Legend
May 6, 2020

Hey there,

 

While creating PDFs from Indesign, are you using "Create PDFs" feature of Acrobat DC or Exporting Indesign file to .pdf directly from Indesign app itself?

 

While Exporting an Indesign file to .pdf there are couple of export settings you need to set accordingly. Here is a detailed help article which has all the suggestion/steps mentioned: https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/using/exporting-publishing-pdf.html 

 

Thanks,

Akanchha 

 

M
Mesa316Author
Inspiring
May 6, 2020

  Thanks for the help.

  I have been using the Export function in InDesign. That is what I have been doing for years, but the increase in file size has only occured in the last few weeks.

  Out of curiosity I exported an older file from InDesign and it came out exactly the same, proper, size. Could there have been some change in InDesign in a recent update that may be the cause?

  I also tried using the Create PDF feature in Acrobat DC, but was blocked from doing that. It said I need an Acrobat DC subscription, which I have. I have a subscription to the entire Adobe Suite. I guess this is another problem I need to figure out.
  I will read the article you attached.

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
May 6, 2020

There have been no recent changes to InDesign that would account for “PDF files coming out way too big.”

 

The fact that an existing InDesign document is exporting PDF in the same manner and size as previously provides the controlled experiment for that.

 

Each InDesign document has its own characteristics that help determine what size the resultant exported PDF file is. Many, high resolution, large images with high quality compression usually are the biggest variable in terms of PDF file size. Placing PDF from detailed CAD drawings can also inflate PDF file size. Thus, what you really need to determine is what are the differences between the InDesign documents you are currently getting these large PDF files from versus the older InDesign documents.

 

BTW, never use Acrobat's Create PDF for InDesign documents. You should always open the InDesign document in InDesign and export PDF from there. That is the only way to assure that you actually get access for all the InDesign document's assets (fonts and placed content).

 

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