reducing file size: how to compress large content stream, x object form & retain ADA?

[Scott.Olling]

Hey gang: how to compress large content stream, x object form & retain ADA?

I haven't found a clear reference showing what page objects in InDesign create what size content stream items, or what size x object form data.

If I knew that, I might have a shot at manually reducing filesize?

I've reduced my placed Illustrator files by 50-70%, but InDesign still makes the same sized PDF.

Yes, I have transparencies and other stuff in the file - is that the underlying issue? It seems using PDF Optimizer breaks my ADA compliance schema if I use any adjustment to transparency. How can I reduce the filesize if I can't somehow reduce content streams without taking elements - or, transparency - off the page.

Maybe doing soething with my transparency when I export?

Any advice welcome - thanks! 

[mk-will]

Hi, @Scott.Olling ,

"large content stream, x object form" can be anything, so more information is needed about the content of your ID-file.

So you use text, forms, images, correct? Anything else like videos or others stuff?

What PDF version is your PDF? Version 1.4, 1.5, 1.7?

What settings are you using when exporting your PDF?

Are you editing the PDF afterwards in Acrobat Pro or other software (which one)?

"I've reduced my placed Illustrator files by 50-70% ..."

How did you dom that?

If the content of your Illustrator is only vector data the impact with ID is only small.

Best

Stephan

[Scott.Olling]

Text, images - no forms, no videos. Made in InDesign 20.5 - 12 pages in 6 spreads; 29 links, almost all PDFs saved from Illustrator files, averaging about 5mb each. Most of the placed items have a low-res JPG in them - they are maps.

PDF ver. 1.7

Exported using Interactive - need this file to be ADA-compliant, which it is.
Aiming at no post-Export editing - none right now.

Reduced placed Illustrator file size by flattening files as much as possible.

[Scott.Olling]

realizing this is deceptive - the placed PDFs are Illustrator maps containing hideously complex overlapping paths.

[Luke Jennings3]

You can remove unnecessary points (nodes) in Illustrator by selecting the object and going to> Object> Path> Simplify, you can probably find a setting that preserves the integrity of the maps and reduces the file size, alternately, you can run an Acrobat Preflight fixup to convert smooth lines to curves, Tools>  Print Production> Preflight> Fixups (the blue wrench icon).

[Scott.Olling]

Yes, I did that as part of my flattening routine.

I have not tried the print production prefilght fixups - will try, but suspect it will break all my ADA stuff.

I'll post up the result I get re: ADA.

[Scott.Olling]

did the smooth lines to curves: file went from 38.5mb to 39.2mb - BUT - accessibility didn't break! yay

[Luke Jennings3]

Are the maps causing the large file size? I have seen vector files where patterns and textures were created as vector elements that used large amounts of points, which made the file size huge and could also cause rip issues when printed, the solution was to rasterize these elements (convert to images) at an acceptable resolution for the intended final product. (It's usually best to preserve vector information, but it could help reduce file size in your case). You could convert the entire map to an image, but I assume the maps have text which would probably need to be preserved to be ADA compliant. You might be able to move all text to its own layer using a preflight profile, then rasterize the rest of the map (in Acrobat).  

If your maps are very detailed, I would expect the user could zoom-in on an area for more detail, this is a good thing but would necessitate a large file size. One option would be to include smaller versions of the maps in the pdf with on-line links (via buttons) to full size maps.

Can you upload one of the maps so we can have a look to determine why they are so big? Have you tried creating a new Illustrator file and copy/paste from the original to a new file (at a reduced size)?