Ibooks author file larger than it should be

Question

Hello,
I started a new ibooks author file a little while ago.  I began by dragging in a number of tiff files that I created in a music noatation program.  It was about 500 images at about 50 - 60 kb each.  I also pasted a few jpgs of a smaller size.  When I went back to it, the file size said 11.4 gb, which seems ridiculously large to me.  I've already completed one book the same way and it was no where near this size.
  I did notice apport support mentions problems like this with anything earlier than 10.7.5, but I'm running 10.7.5.  I've also duplicated it like they suggested, but it still says its 11.4 GB.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks.
DJC

Answer 1

The file size should be 2 gig only.  Tiffs are "heavy" files, you should  really download and read up in the iBA Assett Guide.    Images should also be 2meg although  Apple seem to accept files of 3meg +
iPad retina display is 2048 x 1536 =3.1 meg.   resolution is suggested at 85 dpi/ppi.
If you have adjusted files sizes in Photoshop or similar - I  also set the file size and adjust - then set the resolution or check  the files size is set to whatever you prefer between 72 - 150 max
I cannot explain why your end file size seems enlarged, all you can do is check the source files as they are before inserting/dropping into your pages.
I use original files sized at 2048 x 1536 @72dpi / ppi  or 1024 x 748 @ 72 dpi / ppi    these are landscape reverse the sizes for portrait. These are the files sizes whatever size I decide to finally display on the page.
Assett Guide:
Optimizing Images in Fixed Layout Books
In addition to the image recommendations in “Interior Image Requirements” (page 22), the following apply
to working with images in Fixed Layout books:
● Images inside Fixed Layout books must be in JPEG or PNG format. To reduce file size, use JPEG for any
images that do not require transparency. Using JPEGs results in a smaller file size and better performance.
We recommend using a quality of 85 for JPEGs.
● Images inside Fixed Layout books must not exceed 2 million pixels. You can calculate whether an image
inside the book file exceeds 2 million pixels by multiplying the height and width of the image
If you have done all the above, already.. all I can suggest is check everything again.