1 Correct answer
I can't imagine what your graphics card has to do with this. Check your PDF export settings > Compression and use Automatic (JPEG) or JPEG compression. None or ZIP will create a large, uncompressed PDF.
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Replies
By @chrish3171330
Do you have any complex placed vector graphics? In PDF, they sometimes can be broken down into thousands - or hundreds of thousands - tiny pieces, which can result in unusually large PDF files.
Also, can you post screenshots of your PDF export settings.
All vector graphics are clean. Just a simple company logo, which I use in all of their projects.
I went through every PSD image, reduced image size, that brought down the file size, got rid of any extra layers, clipping paths, regular paths, etc., and the PDF files exported from the new InDesign are larger than the PDF files exported from the old InDesign file where the images are 900mb, 500mb, 200mb, etc., and have extra layers. The new InDesign file doesn't have an image larger than 118mb, but yet, exports a larger PDF file size. Baffling.
Not related to this issue, but I have problems with InDesign where it will suddenly stop snapping to guides and randomly change how images are scaled, either from the centre or the left edge when I select an image and type a percentage in the scale box. I also get screen glitches where I have to zoom in or out to clear the screen. I thought it might be my graphics card, but I don't get any glitching effects in any other program. I'm using InDesign 2023.
All vector graphics are clean. Just a simple company logo, which I use in all of their projects.
I went through every PSD image, reduced image size, that brought down the file size, got rid of any extra layers, clipping paths, regular paths, etc., and the PDF files exported from the new InDesign are larger than the PDF files exported from the old InDesign file where the images are 900mb, 500mb, 200mb, etc., and have extra layers. The new InDesign file doesn't have an image larger than 118mb, but yet, exports a larger PDF file size. Baffling.
By @chrish3171330
The file size of your original images, as well as their structure, don't affect the final PDF size (as @Robert at ID-Tasker has already mentioned). The images in PDF will be at their optimal image size as per the PDF export settings regardless of the original state of the images. All excess image data that's not required for the PDF contents will be purged anyway.
The dimensions of the images in your InDesign document would have a much bigger impact on the final PDF size. For example, if you have Letter or Tabloid sized hi-res images then yes your PDF can end up being heavy.
I did a test. I have an InDesign document that has a 3.7gb image placed on the page. I duplicated the page and placed a 74mb image file in place of the 3.7gb image. The 74mb file had to be scaled up, 438 percent, in InDesign to match the dimensions of the 3.7gb. I exported each page to a PDF and the one with the 3.7gb file is 50.6mb and the one with the 74mb file is 4.4mb. I then put a 735mb image in place of the 74mb and got a 96.4mb PDF file. Then I placed a 1.1gb image and got a 35.6mb PDF file.
By @chrish3171330
Most likely because of the JPEG compression during PDF export.
Especially this 74mb scaled up 438% - you got large areas of the same color pixels.
The rest of the cases - it all depends how exactly pixels "lined up" for compression...
You'll most likely get different results - if rotate the same image by 90 degree - order of the pixels will be different.
Also, what is on those images and do you need maximum image quality in the PDF export settings?
They are product photos and the design will be high resolution prints from a professional print shop.
By @chrish3171330
But you're printing 8.5x11?
Yes, 8.5x11 with 300 dpi resolution images.
By @chrish3171330
Then why such big images? Or they have so many layers?
I do all kinds of different layout sizes and use a lot of the same images for those different sizes. I don't have time to resize the same image every time I do a new size. Jobs need to be completed quickly. The larger sized images haven't caused any issues, and like you said, the larger images scaled down inside InDesign reduce the number of source pixels, so I get small, manageable PDF files.
By @chrish3171330
Right. I understand.
But you could have at least two versions of each image - original and 11x17 or something like that?
It won't take too much time to generate smaller size - at the same time as you're making the big one - but it will significantly reduce processing time later, when generating smaller size documents.
Thanks. Yeah, I should really do that. I create designs for large outdoor printed signs down to smaller printed items, as well as digital ads and billboards. For outdoor printed signs, the images aren't high resolution, they just need to be big and that's where the large, high resolution images come in handy. I can size up the already large image by reducing its resolution.
By @chrish3171330
Just in case - you do billboards at scale, right?
Yes, unless the printer wants it at a smaller size, which has happened. Or if I exceed InDesign's size limit. Then I have to compensate for the image being smaller and make sure it's at a higher resolution for when they resize to scale.
Digital billboards are a breeze.
By @chrish3171330
So, when printed - if the banner needs to be 10m x 2m 50dpi/ppi - you're doing it 1m x 20cm 500dpi/ppi, right?
That sounds about right.
I recently did a 47"x68" bus shelter ad and the sign company wanted a 1:8 scale TIFF file. The TIFF file was 300 dpi, and when scaled up to the print size, it was 75 dpi. The TIFF file was 77.8mb. I asked them why they wanted a TIFF file when I could have given them a 4.4mb PDF at full scale. They said printers prefer TIFF files because of the smaller file size. Hmm...
By @chrish3171330
It's rather because they don't have to rasterize it first - then compare with a preview if all texts are there or shadows are OK instead of white cutouts, etc. - just send TIFF to the plotter and done.
Not related to this issue, but I have problems with InDesign where it will suddenly stop snapping to guides and randomly change how images are scaled, either from the centre or the left edge when I select an image and type a percentage in the scale box. I also get screen glitches where I have to zoom in or out to clear the screen. I thought it might be my graphics card, but I don't get any glitching effects in any other program. I'm using InDesign 2023.
By @chrish3171330
You may want to start a separate thread to discuss these problems. Regardless, try to toggle GPU Performance in Preferences to see if it makes any difference for screen glitches.
Also, try these general troubleshooting steps:
https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/
I resized their dimensions to lower their file size, but kept them at the same size in the InDesign layout. So, for instance, a 500mb image in the InDesign layout would have to be scaled down to fit in the rectangle frame and then might be roughly 25 percent of its actual size, whereas, the resized image in the same layout would be scaled down slightly to fit and be at 95 percent of its actual size in the layout. Not sure if this makes sense or if I'm missing your point altogether. I've been up for almost 2 days now.
By @chrish3171330
Not sure to which of my post you're replying - but that's pretty much my point - if you resize image to 25% - you're reducing number of source pixels - reduce "complexity" of the image - so the compression will be more efficient.
95% scale means that pretty much all of the pixels will be processed = lower compression rate.
Of course, as long as we are talking about aerial photo of the forest in autumn 😉 not a frozen lake 😉
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