Creating small PDF files.

When emailing graphics to a client or co-worker there are two important considerations.

1) is the content / text important? if the answer is yes, don’t send Photoshop PDF’s ( rastor artwork ) because you can’t zoom-in and print quality is poor. Be sure your text is vector, i.e., made with InDesign or Illustrator. Now export / save to the PDF.

2) is the file size reasonable for emailing ? Reasonable is 4MG or less.

So how do you get an 80MG file down to 4MG ? Using MENU > DOCUMENT > REDUCE FILE SIZE won’t be good enough. We need to “print” a PDF file. Open your file and do the following…

a) Using MENU > FILE > PAGE SETUP configure your paper size. If I KNOW i am going to email the work i typically set a standard size such as LETTER or TABLOID.

b) Using MENU > PRINT > PRINTER select ADOBE PDF. Note: we are going to print a PDF “file” so we don’t need a paper printer.

c) While still in the PRINT MENU go to ADVANCED and observe the many options available to you. Click to the OUTPUT mode and then go to the SCREENING pull-down menu and select 71lpi 600ddpi. Hit OK.

d) Back to the PRINT MENU go to the COPY & PAGES pulldown menu > PDF OPTIONS > ADOBE PDF SETTINGS > SMALLEST FILE SIZE

e) Back to the PRINT MENU check everything and hit PRINT. You will rename the file. I add the 600 after my file name because that was the resolution I selected.

f) In your DOCK the PRINT ICON pops up while the file is printing. Your file does not appear until the printing
( PRINT ICON disappears ) is completed.

Your file should be 4MG or less with only a little loss in quality.