PDF File Size

[tonyv]

I am curious to know how others create pdf's of projects to be shipped out for delivery, coordination or whatever. At my firm we generally plot pdf's through sheet sets, using the dwg to pdf.pc3 provided by autodesk. Recently on a large project we had to break up our documentation into three serperate pdf's in order to send them and still we got complaints that the file sizes were too big. There were many xrefs and a ton of line work within the drawings which I am sure contributed to the file size yet our clients said we still shouldn't have "that large of a pdf".

How do others create pdf's in an effort to reduce file size?

[Kung Fu Drafter]

I've noticed over the years it seems that the PDF format is getting more and more bloated. It may just be my own issue, but that is how it seems.

I don't think that XRef's and linework are really issues. PDF is a vector format, so linework should be pretty low overhead. We have had serious issues with creating PDF files from drawings that include aerial images. Really, any large raster image seems to cause the file size of the PDF to explode. It should be noted that we use the Acrobat driver and not the pdf.pc3 that is in the box. Maybe that makes a difference. It seems when we think about it is when we are in a rush so it's never really explored.

I know that there are several versions of PDF and formats. I'd love to learn the best way to optimize the settings to get manageable PDF files.

- KFD -

[jaberwok]

In general, AutoCAD's PDF printer seems to produce larger files than some other software's. Try one or two of the many free PDF printers and see if you get the same results.

[framedNlv]

You might want to check the fonts you are using. I noticed a large reduction in file size (>50%) on some pdf's when the helv-15.shx font was substituted with arial.ttf.

Just my 5 cents worth....
Chris

Edit (fyi):
Just did a test on a cover sheet (90% text) with Helv-15.shx and it was over 13meg while the simplex.shx is just over one meg and yet the arial.ttf is less than half a meg.

[cadtag]

'standard' true type fonts don't have to get embedded in the pdf - since they are everywhere. shx fonts on the other hand, gets treated as vector information, so every stroke goes into the pdf as a pdf line. it's an oddball format invented by atuodesk to work efficiently with pen plotters, so it's unsuprising that other applications have a tricky time dealing with them

For maximum longevity/portability, use the PDF-A format. it skips the smarter stuff in favor of portability and archivability. (The A here actually stands for Archive)

[framedNlv]

'standard' true type fonts don't have to get embedded in the pdf - since they are everywhere. shx fonts on the other hand, gets treated as vector information, so every stroke goes into the pdf as a pdf line. it's an oddball format invented by atuodesk to work efficiently with pen plotters, so it's unsuprising that other applications have a tricky time dealing with them

For maximum longevity/portability, use the PDF-A format. it skips the smarter stuff in favor of portability and archivability. (The A here actually stands for Archive)

Do we have the "PDF-A" format option with the autodesk driver?

[tonyv]

Edit (fyi):
Just did a test on a cover sheet (90% text) with Helv-15.shx and it was over 13meg while the simplex.shx is just over one meg and yet the arial.ttf is less than half a meg.[/QUOTE]

I just tried changing the font from our standard .shx font to arial.ttf and the file size was actually much bigger, double the size in fact. I am assuming that different fonts effect the file size regardless of the file type?

[tonyv]

'standard' true type fonts don't have to get embedded in the pdf - since they are everywhere. shx fonts on the other hand, gets treated as vector information, so every stroke goes into the pdf as a pdf line. it's an oddball format invented by atuodesk to work efficiently with pen plotters, so it's unsuprising that other applications have a tricky time dealing with them

For maximum longevity/portability, use the PDF-A format. it skips the smarter stuff in favor of portability and archivability. (The A here actually stands for Archive)

What constitutes a "standard" true type font? I just changed our fonts to arial.ttf and my pdf file size grew.

[framedNlv]

You might need to check your setting, see attached (capture none might help).

[Kung Fu Drafter]

Now that is some good information. I will have to check that tomorrow when I get to the office.

- KFD -