Creating PDF's from Illustrator

[stevenw6034027]

I'm struggling to create pdf's in the way I've done for years from Illustrator. 'Save as' > 'Adobe PDF' etc. etc. For years I have chosen the 'Smallest File Size' option and increased the image quality to maximum. This used to create good screen quality pdf's at a low file size. This funtion doesn't now work and I've been through tonnes of options trying to get reasonable image quality at an acceptable file size – which I'm finding impossible! It's either shocking image quality and a low file size or excellent image quality at a massive file size. Can anyone help?

[Doug A Roberts]

Do you have a PDF that worked well in the past and one that doesn't work well now available to compare?

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi Steven,

Sorry to hear about your experience. As Doug mentioned, do you have this behavior with a specific file? Would you also share more information about the workflow? Please share version of OS & Illustrator as well. This information would help us assist you accordingly.

Looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[stevenw6034027]

Hi Ashutosh and Doug. Thanks for coming back to me.

I'm using MacOS Catlina – Version 10.15.7 and the very latest version of Illustrator on a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019). The issue I'm experiencing occurs across all Illustrator files and isn't just isolated to one file. I just cannot find a suitable preset that allows me to share pdf's of work in progress from Illustrator at a sensible file size. The way I've explained above is the way I've created PDF's from Illustrator for years but it's become must more problematic over the last 6 months or so.

Steve