I'm saving as pdf while checking "use artboards" and choosing only the relevant artboard.
The pdf file size is huge. i think it save data which is outside the artboard while not displaying it (what for?) i guess that beacuse if i copy the relevant artboard content into a new file and then save it, the saved file is light.
It depends on how your artboard(s) is built. I typically avoid having anything fall outside the artboard. But, if you do, then yes, the file will be larger than it has to be because those elements remain part of the file. You have not mentioned whether your image files are linked or embedded and any raster effects if any. So, if your PDF is "huge" and you want help trimming it down, then you will have to be a bit more descriptive in how your file is built and what it consists of. For instance, if your file is 8x10" and you "Place" an image that is 16x20" @ 300ppi and you scale it down to fit and you embed the image then your PDF will be larger than it has to be ( scale the image in Photoshop and Place it @ 100% first, then "Link" the image file ).
The default PDF export settings will have Illustrator Editing turned on, which means that all artboards will be included in the file, even when they are not visible in Acrobat.
Save your file as .ai to keep a complete editable Illustrator file.
In Illustrator choose Edit > Adobe PDF Presets and create a new preset without Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities.
When choosing Export > Export for Screens choose PDF and click the cog wheel to choose the export settings.
Select PDF, choose the one you created without Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities and click Save Settings.
Select the Artboard you want to export and click Export Artboard.
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