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Participant
October 10, 2018
Question

Is Optimizing worth it?

  • October 10, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 1173 views

     Morning,  I am currently attempting to find out if optimizing a PDF is worth the time and effort.  I know it can decrease file size, however is there any draw backs?  Thank you all in advance. 

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1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Legend
October 10, 2018

The PDF “optimization” process is primarily oriented towards reducing PDF file size. In most cases, however, such file size reduction is lossy. You might lose image quality if you change compression type and/or resolution. You might have problems displaying text if you remove embedded fonts. You might lose searchability, editability, and/or the ability to export to other formats if you flatten transparency. The PDF “optimization” should be used with great caution. In general, if you find yourself using this function very often, you should question how (i.e., what options you specify) when you create the PDF files in question.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Participant
October 10, 2018

Would you use lossless if you are scanning in financial data and personal data?  I want to conserve as much data as I can because I know when this scanning project is done, it will take up a lot of data.