Good lord it's huge! PDF file sizing

[Fast Learner]

Unfortunately I'm not. However, I would think you'd be able to buy a (valid) copy of Acrobat 5 off of ebay or such rather than buying 6. Version 5 does the same thing (saving it dramatically reduces the size) and could save you a ton.

 

[Axegrrl]

Does anyone know if there are any other inexpensive programs out there that will do the sort of optimizing that Acrobat is capable of?

No, but you might try asking on the forums at PlanetPDF: http://forum.planetpdf.com/wb/default.asp

This may help, too, and some of it may apply to non-Acrobat ways of producing PDFs:
http://www.planetpdf.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=1519

If it turns out there isn't a better solution, you might consider getting a copy of Acrobat 5 on eBay. Looks like it's running under $100.

 

[Cergorach]

Unfortunately I'm not. However, I would think you'd be able to buy a (valid) copy of Acrobat 5 off of ebay or such rather than buying 6. Version 5 does the same thing (saving it dramatically reduces the size) and could save you a ton.

I'm not sure about the legalities of transferability of software lisences, if heard of instances where it isn't possible. You might want to check that out first.

Maybe one of us who has the software can do you a favor?

 

[madelf]

Oh, I probably know enough people that I can get an occassional PDF shrunk down. If I plan to do this sort of thing on a regular basis, that will get old fast though.



Looking around, it looks like I can find new and still-sealed Acrobat 5 around at tolerable prices, but I'm now I'm wondering if it would actually do what I need. I was also looking at Acrobat6 standard and apparently even that doesn't have the optimizing capability.

Is this a new thing they've done, Acrobat lite sort of? And the older A5 version had the optimizing?
I just want to make sure if I go spend money, that I get the right thing.

 

[Fast Learner]

As I mentioned, Acrobat 5 definitely has optimizing ability: I use it regularly.

Is it the same optimization? I don't know, but the folks at PlanetPDF will likely know.

 

[madelf]

As I mentioned, Acrobat 5 definitely has optimizing ability: I use it regularly.

Is it the same optimization? I don't know, but the folks at PlanetPDF will likely know.

Thanks.
I was mainly concerned at the mention elsewhere that Acrobat6 standard didn't have it.
I just wanted to double check that 5 did. It doesn't matter if its exactly the same, as long as it gets the job done.

 

[simstim]

Before buying Acrobat, you could try Ghostscript with the GSview front-end, which can distill a Postscript file to pdf much as Distiller does.

It will require downloading three pieces of software and installing these (Ghostscript, GSview and the generic Postscript printer driver from Adobe) - but they're free.

From my (admittedly limited) experience, Ghostscript produces pdfs of roughly the same size as Distiller 5/6, and it does have optimisation features.

 

[jmucchiello]

Before buying Acrobat, you could try Ghostscript with the GSview front-end, which can distill a Postscript file to pdf much as Distiller does.

It will require downloading three pieces of software and installing these (Ghostscript, GSview and the generic Postscript printer driver from Adobe) - but they're free.

From my (admittedly limited) experience, Ghostscript produces pdfs of roughly the same size as Distiller 5/6, and it does have optimisation features.

I use Ghostscript as my PDF maker. I don't use GSView at all though and Ghostscript actually recommends that you use an Apple color laser printer driver as your postscript generator.

Ghostscript gives you the option to generate Acrobat 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 or 6.0 compatible files. I currently tend to use the 4.0 setting. And still sometimes I have a customer have problems reading a PDF because it turns out they still have Acrobat Reader 3.0 on their system.

On nice thing about using Ghostscript is it generates postscript. You can go into the postscript and tweak it if you have to. You then run a program to convert the postscript to PDF.

It does take some effort reading the hodge-podge of html files called the documentation of Ghostscript to figure out how to use it, though.

 

[madelf]

simstim,

You officially have my eternal gratitude. I downloaded Ghostscript and it absolutely ROCKS! I believe it honestly did a better job of downsizing than Acrobat 6pro.

I opened the print-quality PDF of my book (124 meg) and optimized it for screen with Ghostscript. It came out to only a tiny 1.68 meg. (Acrobat only got it to 2.4 starting with a smaller PDF in the first place) Completely blew my mind.


Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

And my wallet also thanks you.

 

[Nifelhein]

I think I am finally going to have a pdfmaker...