Output PDFs file size too big

[Brooke2490024306y7]

As a photographer I have been using Bridge for over a decade. One of the most important ways I use it is to create PDF documents of low res (but good quality) images to show clients as contact sheets, often with one image per page. I found this to be a quick easy way to create a high res or low res PDF that can be emailed.

Recently with the new Bridge updates, the PDF sizes have become exponentially bigger - and therefore not possible to email. I never used to have to resize every image as the Output panel was very good at compressing and doing this for me and creating a usable file size. It is even creating large file sizes from small LR images. I don't know what has happened or if there is any solution to this, but my workflow is now incredibly slow as I try to compress and optimize PDFs in Adobe Acrobat which also is very glitchy and sometimes doesn't work at all. I'm now doing more work to try and do something I have done in Bridge for years and it's driving me crazy. I have already read the one post I found about this where someone suggested removing transparency option. I have already done this, and still the files are too big to email. For example, the images themselves (around 10-30 depending on job) together in MB make less than 15MB but as soon as I drag them into a PDF in Output panel, the file size will jump to over 100MB. This makes no sense to me - what information is it adding? I am also selecting a web size file at 1200x1600 px 72 dpi and high quality but not max which I have done for years. So why are the PDF'S SO BIG. Any help would be apprecaited as this used to just work well.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Shashwat_Srivastava I'll send you the details you are looking for.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Shashwat_Srivastava wanted to confirm you recieved my email with the documents and details you requested.

[Shashwat_Srivastava]

Hi @Kevin Stohlmeyer ,
Thanks for sharing the details.
We've received the required details but we are currently not able to reproduce this issue.
We'll reach out to you if we need any additional details.
Thank you

[Stephen Swain]

I am still having an issue with the output size of PDF files...I have given up to be honest and I just apologise to my clients telling them it is an Adobe thing 🙂

[Lawrence Photography]

I am in the same situation with huge files. My workaround is i use Adobe Bridge 2022 for my pdf's. What sucks is that i do need to make JPGs out of PSD files. So first i open AB 2025, convert psd to jpg cause it processes thru PS 2025. Then i close AB 2025 and PS 2025. Open AB 2022 and make my PDFs. And the files are managable/small enough to use email etc. I hope that helps.

[Fairburn]

I'm still experiencing the issue -- I've found the the JPG to PDF conversion too time consuming so I've resorted to processing the super large Bridge PDFs via a free site. https://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf#r=compress
Does the trick. 

[timmerton]

Same problem here! Using version 15. The files are absolutely huge with no easy way to reduce them.

[timmerton]

What's the earliest version of Bridge where this doesn't happen? Asking for a friend (ADOBE).

[Creadius]

Incase anyone reads this, I have found the following work around...

When I open up Bridge and get my docs ready to export as a PDF I do the following:

1. Export at lowest reloution and detail (if you don't do this for the first export you need to quit and open Bridge again).

2. Save at higher resolution and detail (can save over the same file name)

I have found this works, I hope it works for others.

[marcellomds]

I have the same issue here.

I don't understand how the Bridge output mechanism works. It's not enough to reduce the resolution or the chosen quality. Sometimes even reducing the quality makes the PDF bigger!
I use it to export images, one per page with the file name in the footer, around 30 photos. Sometimes it's 50MB and sometimes 130MB.
Adobe needs to adjust this function better. I've had this issue for many years.

[Jock_Bermann]

I can't believe that this thread is now almost 18 months old and nothing has been done about it. !!!   We are paying a subscription to be using the latest software with all the new features however am stuck on a 2022 version because something as simple as this hasn't beef fixed. The only reason Adobe keep that particular version on the download list is because they are yet to fix this issue. It's mindblowing that this hasn't beend done. 

They are happy to waste billions of dollars on AI functionality that no one uses and yet can't fix a pretty simple known issue that everyone is complaining about.   Just grab the code from the 2022 version and slot it into the latest version. !!!!!!  

COME ON ADOBE !!!!!

[Stephen Swain]

Well said, it is a farce...every update has me thinking "it must be solved this time" . When I phoned the help line they cut me off when they realised what I was talking about...

[Jaime35928812donp]

Came here with the same issue -- Massive file sizes that cannot be reduced in acrobat. I only use bridge to create contact sheets and browse images quickly (it had one job!). After reading a lot of comments, I went to Creative Cloud and installed Bridge version 14.0. Problem solved and fine for me to never update again since I don't use any other features!

[Michelle at DM]

Same. Issue. Had to go back to version 12 (2022). How have they not addressed this? Bloated PDF files aren't helpful OR useful. Get it sorted! 

[timmerton]

Has anyone found a fix within the latest version of Bridge itself? It was working better for me after I disabled transparency in Output settings, but now the files are bloated again and I have no idea why. Come on Adobe!!!