Why are simple comments substantially increasing file sizes?

[jbeckering]

Adding simple text or text box comments on pdf files using Acrobat DC is increasing file sizes much more than expected.

Example: pdf created from Microsoft Office 365 Word document is 100 kb. Add 1 comment in Acrobat DC and saving the file turns it into 1,000+ kb. Multiply this by thousands of documents and it's using unnecessary storage space, filling email quicker, taking longer to open on devices, etc. Remote session with Adobe support confirmed this issue with absolutely no solution. Why is this happening and how to correct it?

[Bernd Alheit]

Did you save the document with File > Save As... ?

[try67 · Accepted solution]

If you're using a non-standard font in your comments that will explain it, as it means the font is fully embedded in your file.

You can verify if that's the case by going to the Content panel on the left, right-clicking the top-most item and selecting Audit Space Usage. A window like this will appear:

Compare the output of the file before and after you add the comment and it will give you a good idea of what's going on.

My bet is on the fonts, but it could be something else, too.

[dh_aio]

Thanks jbeckering and try67.

I've had the same issue and my question is how do we know which fonts are recommended for making comments on a pdf?

Trial and error has shown that using Helvetica font for comments has little affect on file size whereas Arial font may increase the file size by 1000KB or more.

Seems like the fonts at the top of the dropdown list in the screenshot below are Adobe, does that sound right?

Is there an easy way to set default font selection to one of the preferred fonts or is it just a matter of using them and then they will be the default selection next time around?

Cheers,

Dan

[try67]

That's correct. The fonts listed at the top of the list come pre-installed with the application (which doesn't necessarily means they are by, or owned by, Adobe), so they don't need to be embedded in the file. If you want to keep your file size minimal, stick to those fonts.

Selecting a font does not make it into the default one used, though. To do that you need to edit your field and then right-click it (still in Prepare Form mode) and select the last option in the pop-up menu: "Use Current Properties as New Defaults". If you then create a new field (of the same type) it will have the font you used before pre-selected.