PDF file size becomes very big when generating by [Save As PDF]

[y.masu]

I have just started using FM2020 in Windows 10.

(upgraded from FM2015, not structured, English UI, edit in Japanese and English)

When I edit files that created by FM2015 and generate a PDF by [Save As PDF] in FM2020, the file size of the PDF becomes about three times that of the PDF generated by [Print Book] (Distiller) (about 6,000 KB → about 18,000 KB, both English and Japanese).

In [Pulish]/[Setting File:]/[Outputs]/[General]/[Preset Name:], I selected the same setting as the Distiller (the same PDF job option), but the file size was increased.

I would like to generate a PDF of a similar size to the PDF created by Distiller without losing photo quality by [Save As PDF] in FM2020. It would be very much appliciated if you advise me how to set it up or any hint to reduce the PDF file size.

Thank you.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

First make sure that your version of FM2020 is all patched up - there were fixes made to PDF creation (I seem to recall). The new PDFL engine is used in both the Publish to PDF and the Save As PDF routes; the Print to PDF (the Adobe PDF printer instance) still uses the older PDF distiller process. Try all three and compare results in file size and creation speed.

[y.masu · Accepted solution]

Hello Jeff, 

Thank you so much for your quick reply. 

My FM2020 was 16.0.1.  I updated it to 16.0.4 and generated PDF by all three ways, however, the result was the same as before...  The generating speed was almost double: Print book was around 30 sec. and Save As PDF was 60~70 sec. 

I also tried to generate PDF with the same fm/book files using the preset PDF joboptions by the two/three ways, since I usually use the original joboption.  The PDF files becomes big as well.  I recheck my setting and try again next week... 

+++

*JOR03 = the original joboption

*std = standard

*highQ = high quality print

*smallest = smallest file size

[shalomb61686619]

Another thing to check is the selected quality. Best Print Quality is much larger than Standard or the others. I ran an experiment once and found that Standard was much smaller but quality was still great, even the graphics and photos. It might be that in the move to FM2020, the quality selected was changed and you did not notice.

Another way to reduce PDF file size is by compression. There are many free PDF file compression utilities on the Internet and the quality still looks fine. Note that I am not talking about regular file compression, like ZIP. I am talking about techniques that produce PDF files from the original, just much smaller.

All my experiments were on FM 2015.

I could share the numbers I recorded in my experiment, if someone is interested.

[y.masu]

Hello shalomb61686619,

Thank very much you for your reply.  

As you advise me, on FM2020 it might be required to review and modify the current setting of the original joboption that I use in FM2015. 

Regarding the techniques to produce small PDF files, does the "utilities" mean using another software...? 

[shalomb61686619]

Yes, but only for compressing a PDF. Again, I am not referring to general file compression like ZIP or RAR, but rather to SW that takes a PDF file and turns it into an equivalent but smaller PDF. You can do it on the internet, or download and install SW that does it and then run it locally.