Huge jump in file size from xara file to PDF export

[WideEyedLife]

[Thank you so much for your continued help!]

If I use the PDF/X-3 profile from XDP using JPEG compression set to 100, I get a PDF of a bit over 5 megabytes.

Mike

The 5 megabyte file size sounds far better than the 17.5 I've been getting [the 17.5 was the file size for a PDF export of both pages of the two-page spread]. I tried to follow your instructions, and immediately saw the end result be a smaller file as soon as I used the PDF/x3 instead of the pdf/x1. But I think I may have done something wrong as my file isn't the 5 megabytes you spoke of, but rather 10.4.

Okay, so here's what I've done exactly:

In Xara Designer Pro 6, starting with the document exactly as it is in the attachment at the top of this forum topic:

*File--->
*Export--->
*Enter file name--->
*In the General Tab, I select "PDF/X3; 2002", and make no other changes in the general tab.
*In the Objects Tab, under "Bitmap Compression" I change "native" to "JPEG", then move the bar until it is set at "100". I make no other changes.
*I ignore the document, pre-press, and security tabs.
*In the "Layers" tab, I deselect "Include crop and printer marks"
*I hit "export"

The PDF file generated is 10,372 KB.

Have I missed something in the instructions? Or, in order to get the 5 megabyte file size, did you export the entire document (as in both the left and the right sides of the two page spread)---or does that number only represent 1 page (as in, either the left or the right hand side)?

Thanks so much for your help!

[Not quite ready to give up on this printer, quite yet.]

[Gamerprinter]

Though it doesn't always work, I find that my PDF files exported from Xara, then opened in Adobe Acrobat Pro can be optimized to further reduce file size.

[handrawn]

you are using designer pro 6 ? - it's possible that the export filters for that version are not as 'efficient' as the later ones [mike I think uses ver 9, I use version 8]

[mwenz]

Hi Wide, Yep, those are the same settings. So likely as mentioned, it is further optimization Xara has done with the export filter.

...Not quite ready to give up on this printer, quite yet.

I fully understand. I have a particular service bureau I have done work with since 1989 and will do work with them as long as we both are in business. But I am not always in control of where the work goes and so the printer has to be capable of doing the work. Which for some clients mean they have to choose a different printer. For instance, the last book I did had the PDF at about 1.25 gigabytes for the interior.

There isn't any way to get your PDF smaller than I have done without lowering the DPI. It's a limitation of the physical size of a bitmaps being used for the page.

Only vector elements will reduce the PDF size. Do you have vector elements of these pages?

Mike

[WideEyedLife]

Hi Wide, Yep, those are the same settings. So likely as mentioned, it is further optimization Xara has done with the export filter.

It appears I'm doing the same thing you are, settings wise.

you are using designer pro 6 ? - it's possible that the export filters for that version are not as 'efficient' as the later ones [mike I think uses ver 9, I use version 8]

Let's see if I get this---
Based on the two comments above, it's possible that my problem is an antiquated version of Xara that isn't as efficient at exporting PDFs?

So if I download the latest version of Xara Pro my PDF file size may go down?

[mwenz]

Download the trial and see for yourself is the best way to know. Version X10 has had further work as regards PDFs. At least for import. I don't know about export. Handrawn was correct that I use X9.

Mike

[Albacore]

Adobe had the same problem with users complaining in their forums when AI CS2 was released the file size increased by 3 fold. Their reply was much the same as Mike's it was the meta info carried in the file but also the thumbnail of the file. They since have reduced the PDF export file size down as the CS numbers have increased and it looks like Xara's import filter supplier has done the same (were they Proteus?).