reducing file size from Illustrator to PDF

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

I am trying to reduce an Illustrator file so that when I convert to PDf (via save as function)it reduces the file size (being used for web).The file is black and white only and contains logos (6 the same) and 6 fonts.

I have rec-created the logos as native Illustrator drawings and then converted to PDf but this has made no change the the pdf file size. I have tried flattening transparency, ungrouping items, compressing to Zip, Jpeg, to 72dpi in PDf save function. I have also tried to convert the whole document to outlines (not really an ideal option for this job) but no reduction in file size.

Can anyone suggest anything as the files are so big (1mb)on the web that our customers sometimes can't view the files as they take too long to download and then could crash their browser.

I appreciate any tips, no matter how small, as this is an area I am not too familiar with.

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

What was the file size of your original Illustrator file before saving as .pdf?

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

I just did a test using an Illustrator 10 document that was 15.2mb in file size. I "saved as" Adobe PDF and the resulting PDF file size was 828kb. I chose the following options when "saving as" - SCREEN OPTIMIZED, GENERAL, I did not check PRESERVE ILLUSTRATOR EDITING CAPABILITIES, I checked EMBED ALL FONTS, I checked SUBSET ALL FONTS, I did not check CREATE THUMBNAILS. I did another test and when I checked PRESERVE ILLUSTRATOR EDITING CAPABILITIES and GENERATE THUMBNAILS the resulting PDF file size went up to 6.8mb.
The document I used had several tiff files and alot of text.

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Dear George
The original illustrator file is 144kb. When converted "normally" to pdf made the file 96kb. When tried to flatten transparecy or re-create logos into hand drawings it made the pdf bigger! Thanks for your help so far.

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

Julie,
In your original message you said the PDF files were 1.2mb on the web. In your response you said the PDF files were 96kb. I'm don't understand. Did you want to make the PDF files smaller than 96kb?

George

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Hi George

I am working on a couple of very similiar files trying to reduce both files down, one is 1.2mb and the other is 96K. I have about 18 files I need this to reduce on, sorry should have explained this earlier.

I wish to make the pdf files smaller thank 96k, ideally around 40k, if this is at all possible.

Many thanks.

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

Are the original Logos vector images or are they bitmap images?

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Bitmap images, created years ago in probably Quark, Freehand etc.

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

Here is what I would do. I would export the logos as .jpeg files and set the quality in the export window to a IMAGE QUALITY of 4 which is medium and down at the bottom set the Resolution to DEPTH: SCREEN (72 d.p.i.). This will create a small size .jpeg file. Then place the .jpeg file into Illustrator and then SAVE AS a PDF file using the settings I listed above for smallest file size when saving as .pdf. Try that and see if it gets down to 40kb or less.

George

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Thank you George for taking time to help with this. I will try your suggestions and hopfeully will get them down to 40K or there abouts.
Thanks again

Julie.

[George_McKim@adobeforums.com]

Julie,
You're welcome. Let me know if it works.

George

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for the advice George – unfortunately this increased the file size when converted to pdf in this way I think I will have to investigate how the original logos were put together and if need be re-create these in Illustrator as outlined artwork as opposed to eps/jpeg files being brought into the programme.. – I won’t let it beat me though, when I do find a solution I will let you know!





Thank you so much again for taking the time to help.

With Kindest Regards

Julie.

[Wade_Zimmerman@adobeforums.com]

If these files are being viewed on the web in a browser as a part of a web page then you simply wan them as either jpeg, gif, png or swf files.

Not PDF! what are they being used for?

[kurt_triffet@adobeforums.com]

I have never quite figured out how to get anything other than a huge PDF file size from an AI document using it's save as feature.

Ironically, the best manageable PDF's are done when I place them as eps files in a Quark 4 doc, then use the Quark plugin to save it as a PDF and distill it with Acrobat 5. Can't be beat.

The newer Acrobat 6 (or 7 CS?) is great for preprint and press, but can never get it down to that really manageable file size I always get with 5 through Quark. I usually set it to 200dpi pictures and 300 monchromatic so that it prints well on laser printers.
Have no idea why the same res settings differ so much in file sizes between these apps, but they do.

[kurt_triffet@adobeforums.com]

BTW- I have customers that require having their catalog sheets as pdfs available for download, so image files like gifs and jpgs are not an option for anything that a salesman (or customer) can print out.

The newer Acrobat does have a "reduce file size" option now that in theory in supposed to reduce the doc to a preferred res (with prefs adjusted).

My experience has been that it does this well to some PDFs but leaves others still many megs in res, no matter how you adjust the prefs.

I understand that the PDF engines differ from program to program, too.

It's all too confusing...

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

I must agree with Kurt here, I must have these web files as PDF's as they are being used directly to print from, a jpgeg and the like isn't going to be good enough. I have tried converting to a jpeg and the like and the file size is even bigger. Thanks for your help Wade.

I have already re-created these items within Quark 5, saving the page as an eps then using Acrobat distiller to convert to PDF. Within Distiller I have all the settings on the absolute minimum, but still can't get this file down to 40K.

[Wade_Zimmerman@adobeforums.com]

try saving it as an eBook then that will reduce the file size greatly!

A 5MB file becomes something ridiculously small like 100K and prints real well.

[Julie_Mullett@adobeforums.com]

Wade, What's a e-book?, julie

[Wade_Zimmerman@adobeforums.com]

There use to be an option to save as e-Book for fast web viewing but now there only seems to be a save for fast web viewing?