Linked vs. embedded images in PDF [branched]

[Amdival]

I found this post looking for answers to another (similar) issue. I thought I'd add some additional input.

Make sure that your images are linked and not embedded. The compression options in the save dialog does no good for embedded images; those options only apply to linked images.

[Branched from Convert&compress .ai file to a small .pdf ]

[Monika Gause]

billys9362937  schrieb

I found this post looking for answers to another (similar) issue. I thought I'd add some additional input.

Make sure that your images are linked and not embedded. The compression options in the save dialog does no good for embedded images; those options only apply to linked images.

In a PDF all images are embedded.

[Amdival]

Not all of the images are embedded, only the compressed versions of the images are embedded for purposes of viewing the pdf. If you open a pdf in illustrator, illustrator looks for the linked images.

You can test this out by saving as pdf with Illustrator, then deleting (or moving) the linked images. If Illustrator cannot find the image, the image will be missing.

[Monika Gause]

billys9362937  schrieb

Not all of the images are embedded, only the compressed versions of the images are embedded for purposes of viewing the pdf. If you open a pdf in illustrator, illustrator looks for the linked images.

You can test this out by saving as pdf with Illustrator, then deleting (or moving) the linked images. If Illustrator cannot find the image, the image will be missing.

Please watch this about saving Illustrator files:

https://youtu.be/IpDh8Y7q8yE

[Test Screen Name]

When you consider a PDF as a container for Illustrator edits, you might have linked images. But this is purely an Illustrator thing. The PDF part as viewed by every other app in the world uses the images in the file, which ARE embedded for all other purposes: viewing, printing, editing, etc. These images might be compressed or subsampled according to your PDF creation settings.

Yes, this can mean an Illustrator PDF contains linked images and copies of the images as well.

No, Illustrator can't use those copies of the images if the links are lost.

[Monika Gause]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Test+Screen+Name  schrieb

No, Illustrator can't use those copies of the images if the links are lost.

You will need to know how to get them out of the PDF.

[Amdival]

You can get a compressed version of the image out, but you cannot get the original image out; it's not there. If it saved the original images inside the file, the compression options would be pointless.

I have realized that I was mistaken a bit in my original post. I said "The compression options in the save dialog does no good for embedded images; those options only apply to linked images." I see that those options apply if you do not preserve Illustrator editing capabilities.

I do not completely understand how these things work, I can only know what I observe. I stumbled upon this thread looking for clarity on related issues.

The original poster was asking about why his file sizes were still so large when creating a pdf. No one had commented on how embedded images effect file size. I can edit my comment to be more accurate by stating it this way:

When saving as a pdf, if you check "Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities," the compression options do nothing if your images are embedded. If you would like to preserve Illustrator editing capabilities AND save a pdf of a smaller size, then make sure that all of your images are linked.

[Monika Gause]

billys9362937  schrieb

You can get a compressed version of the image out,

Sure. That's why I quoted the remark about the copies.

I linked a youtube video above. It explains how Illustrator saves files.