Photoshop automate PDF massive file size difference compression rates

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
May 22, 2023
1 reply
1837 views

I am producing an A4 image brochure which includes one page of text.

There are 46 images (includes text page), all 12 compression jpegs, a total of 456 megabytes in one folder.

If I save the images to a PDF file in Photoshop using the 'maximum' bicubic sampling jpeg setting option the PDF file is only 371 megabytes.

If I choose the option 'Do not Downsample' and compression setting to 'None' the file is a whoping 1.8 GB

Why is there such a large difference in PDF file sizes?

Does Photoshop's PDF maximum jpeg compression setting option save an image using the same 12 compression algorithms as Photoshop's 12 compression setting for images that are not saved to PDF?

Thanks.

macOS

This topic has been closed for replies.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

Hi @Nick Walker the issue is you are not creating a true PDF - you are simply saving an image with a PDF "wrapper" that allows it to be opened in other program.

Compression rates will vary since there are not other items to compress - live text, vector objects, etc. Your file is just one big image when saved and pixel information varies.

N

Nick WalkerAuthor

Known Participant

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I will compare the two PDF's to see if the image quality is different - no compression PDF versus maximum jpeg compresion PDF, I suspect not. Optimised for fast Web viewing is always off.

Kevin Stohlmeyer

Community Expert

Hi Kevin,

I don't have any dedicated PDF software - for docs I have used Mac Pages for many years. I tried Acrobat Pro the other day, whilst some ways of working were intuitive I spent hours watching online tutorials which left me non the wiser for certain tasks so I cancelled the free trial.

I have been using Photoshop professionally since the late 90's, comopared to Acrobat I found it easier to composit an image perfectly centrally onto a plain background by using the shift key but for the life of me couldn't find a similar method in Acrobat Pro.

Is InDesign a less steep learnig curve than Acrobat?

hi @Nick Walker InDesign is the page creation tool, not Acrobat. It may be more intuitive/familiar for you with your experience in Photoshop. I wouldn't say it's a "steep" learning curve but it will take some time to adjust.

The outcome however, IMO, will be a better produced PDF with improved compression/accessibility.

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