Low-res PDF for web posting

IDCS3 -- I have a really cool little brochure with lots of art and transparencies. I need a decent-looking low-res PDF to post on the client's website. At the moment, from the IDCS3 PDF preset [Smallest File Size] it's exporting at 5.4 MB -- that's too big, it should be less than half that size.
I know transparencies use up a lot of space but don't know how to resolve that -- that's probably my biggest issue.
Someone suggested "Printing" to Adobe PDF 8; that's cool except half of my logo is disappearing... Haven't been able to resolve that.
Can someone guide me to some resources/instructions on the best way to save a lovely design for posting on the web as a low-res PDF?

>Replaced the vector art with lo-res PDFs but they didn't help the size situation much.
The lo-res PDF is the same vector data, but in a different format. When you make a PDF from that, you are making the same PDF as before.
>I saved one of the pieces of vector art as a lo-res Photoshop file but its quality in the PDF was awful.
Because it was rasterized at a low resolution.
You have exactly three options, in order of simplicity:
Just keep the file as is and let people download a 5 MB file. While this is obviously the easiest thing for you, I think it's the least productive. I would try the other options if this were my assignment.
Rasterize the vector data. You can do this with a Rasterize effect in Illustrator, using a high resolution, then play with different compression options and resolution when saving the PDF from InDesign.
Simplify the vector data. Delete small details that won't be seen on screen. Use Object > Path > Simplify to reduce the number of points on complex paths. If there is vector art that is cropped out in the PDF, delete it from the Illustrator file. Use symbols and pattern swatches to replace repetitive elements.

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Is it possible to create a script to produce a high res and low res pdf and jpeg from Indesign at the same time

Hi, I'm just wondering if there is a way to automate a long process I have to do to create assets for my job.
I have a single page InDesign 6 file which I have to output three ways:
A low res pdf without bleed or trims
A high res pdf with bleed and trims
A low res jpeg downsized to 2% of original size.
If anyone knows if this is possible I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks in advance

Automation requires creating your own IDML script for output. Scroll down on this page to the section on Scripting resources. The text is a bit confusing. It says InDesign CS5 Scripting resources, but then the paragraph for that section says the PDF files are for CS6. I haven't read through these, I just found them by searching for "indesign automation". It does say in part that is can be used for preparing files for printing, so once you figure it out, it should be a single click option to do all three steps.
You can do them now with the menus you have, assuming you also have Acrobat Pro installed. With any document open, choose File > Adobe PDF Presets, and choose either from the prebuilt defaults, or create your own in the Distiller. However, I don't see a way in the Distiller settings to choose whether or not to include bleed and marks, so I'm not really sure how you'd have them on for one and not the other. As far as JPEG output, that can be chosen under Export. You get a choice to set a resolution and JPEG quality level, but not a size, so the output will be the dimensions of the document.

Errors in Export to PDF for web use - some images are lost when PDF is enlarged & in browser

I have a multi-page PDF in InDesign CS6 that I want to export to view on the web. I need the file to stay under 2MB, and I need it to be crisp and nice enough to read the type on the page (as small as 9pt type).
The errors that are occurring are the following:
On some browsers, some images will entirely not show up. Some of the missing images have been pasted into the document, some placed. I cannot think of a correlation.
When the PDF is enlarged (Adobe Acrobat X 10.1.10) to more than ~200%, there is one placed image that will mostly disappear. What I mean by "mostly" is that little bits of it are still visible, like I masked it carelessly or something. Since this is only occurring with one image it seems that it would be a problem with the image itself, yes? I'm all ears if I'm making a mistake. It is a placed .ai file with no link errors. Should I not be placing directly from illustrator? It renders wonderfully from 100% all the way up to 188%, and then if you enlarge by margins of 1% little bits of it disappear, almost a chunk at a time.
The way I've been exporting is:
File > Export > Adobe PDF (Print)
Adobe PDF Preset: Smallest File Size
Standard: None
Compatinility: Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5)
Options: Optimize for Fast Web View
Export Layers: Visible & Printable Layers
Compression
I always change the downsampling from [100/150] to [150/225]. I usually leave the JPG image quality low. I leave both bottom boxes checked (compress text and line art, crop image data to frames)
Output
Color Conversion: convert to destination
Destination: sRGB 1EC61966-2.1
Profile Inclusion Policy: Include Destination Profile
However, after reading a few other forum questions I started trying to export as Acrobat 4 so that it would flatten. When I do that, problem #2 still persists although I didn't test problem #1. I haven't tried using Distiller, and using the "prepare for web publishing" action within Acrobat itself makes the PDF too artifacted.
At the heart of my question is this: I am a young designer at an old company that is not necessarily keeping up with the times. I REALLY want to know what the best, most efficient way to export a pdf for web viewing is. Does this exist in InDesign, outside of InDesign? Does it exist at all? Tell me what I'm doing wrong so that I can get better!
Thank you in advance.

Show Large Images is a preference inside of Acrobat which might be disabled.
Acrobat - File > Preferences

PDF for Web & Mobile Devices?

Hey There,
My boss and I recently attended an Expo for CS 5.5 and were blown away by all the new animations features for Web. We however are not in the business of creating web books, we only wanted to create a dynamic PDF for our website and then also for mobile devices like iPads, etc. However, we've discovered the animation is all Flash based and therefore useless for mobile devices. Is there any way around that? What is your suggestion for exporting useful PDFs for Web and Mobile Devices?

There’s a big difference in what you want, Joel and what the OP asked for.
For plain old vanilla PDF, you should be fine, but the OP is worried about people needing to download something for EPUB when in reality that’s less of an issue than PDF.
There are no stock PDF readers on many tablets and the ones that are there have limited or no interactive capabilities and the better ones like GoodReader are not free.
BTW, I’m not suggesting EPUB as a replacement but without seeing the actual documents in question and knowing the audience and budget, I really can’t give you a better answer.
Bob

Illustrator CC. Cannot get Image Trace to activate with a placed low-res pdf.

Hi,
I need to trace some simple line art from a low-res pdf that is placed into Illustrator CC.
All option are grayed out when I select to placed object and go to Image Trace.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks.
— Carole R.

CHeck if there are clipping masks applied.

Why does "Print Booklet" from Indesign CS5.5 only create low res pdf? How do I get High Res for Offs

Long time ID user in Agency. Created a simple 4 page brochure in CS5.5 ID. Facing pages for cust size 11x17 half fold document.
Generating the pdf for Press and HQ Print renders a nice high res document, but the print booklet feature only produces a skinny low res version. Tried to mess with the printer settings, but the result is the same with a skinny low res document.
I didn't want to recreate the brochure as a two page manually imposed as I like the option of being able to add more pages in increments of four of course. Plus it's just silly to do that when ID is supposed to handle it for me.
I worked around it this time by printing to .ps output then distilling, and then splitting the document so printer could have a "front" and "back" 11x17. But this seems kludged big time. This has to be a bug unless I am missing something.

You probably never changed the default settings in the PDF printer properties. In the print booklet dialog, click the Print Settings button, then the Setup button at the bottom of the Print Dialog that pops up, choose the PDF printer and click on Preferences. Reset the default reset the default settings to the ones you really want to use, or reset them in Windows... Control Panel > Devices and Printers... Double-click the PDF printer, then from the print queue dialog, Printer > Properties... General tab and clcik the Preferences button.

Best options to save PDF for web?

I'm trying to save a PDF with CS5, which if saved at high-quality for print comes out to about 144mb. It has 30 pages, high-quality pics at 300dpi. The problem comes in when I try to save for web, I save as Interactive, and if I lower it to 72dpi it becomes unreadable, so I try 150dpi and it comes out ok, but at 40mb.
Yet I constantly see other PDFs around the web, of catalogs which have over 140 pages and only 19mb, or 54pages, and only 7mb, and yet the quality looks really good.
How should I save, and what options can I use to make quality reasonable yet in low MBs?

You may want to try optimizing PDF see link:
http://indesignsecrets.com/document-overhead-in-indesigns-pdf-can-be-huuuuuuge.php

Preparing PDFs for web viewing

Can I control how PDFs open for people using my web site? I'd like them to fit on window with page thumbnails.
If I can't control this, can I advise my users how to get that to happen in their own browser?

I am not sure what you are asking. With browsers, PDFs typically open either in Acrobat or Reader or in a plugin for the browser. I am not sure about the thumbnail comments. Do you want to open the PDF or have a thumbnail of it? In either case, this has historically been an issue that varies with browser. I am not sure if the HTML community ever came to a standard to allow this within the browser so that you get consistent results. What I am suggesting is that you may be asking a HTML question and this is probably the best place. Also, you will likely find your answer to be browser dependent that is not a good solution for general posting.

InDesign - export a PDF for web view and print

I have a brochure created for print in InDesign. I need to create a PDF for the web, that would be a link to download and print on a home printer. How do I accomplish this?
Thanks for any help!

export smallest size or take the print PDF in to Acrobat and reduce the size there.

Converting InDesign File to PDF for Web

Hi,
I designed an ad that is to be used for web view only in InDesign (CS3 on PC). The file restrictions I have been given require that it is 72dpi and a PDF file. When I convert to PDF(smallest file size,no spot colors, compressed), I end up with a file that is 4MB. I'm assuming a file that is 72dpi and 6.25"x9.25" shouldn't be that big. When I look at the "Audit Space Usage" window, 90% is under "Contents Stream" (I don't know what this means).
I'm new to creating files for web viewing so I'm not sure how to go about accomplishing this without losing image quality. I've tried "reducing file size" and the "PDF Optimizer" in Acrobat. I always get the message "The PDF document contained image masks that were not downsampled." when I attempt this.
What do I need to do to create a PDF file with these specifications that will retain some of the image quality (won't look pixelated and be read-able)? I don't mind recreating the ad in Illustrator, or Photoshop if I can guarantee that I can end up where I need to be.
I would really appreciate any tips on this!!

You mention pictures. If the file is mostly pictures, then the first step is to reduce the picture content, possibly by using 256 colors rather than millions and such. Check the properties of the settings file for the conversion (I don't have current versions available to check right now - you also did not mention your Acrobat version). It is probably best to down sample in a graphics program such as Illustrator or Photoshop (depending on the image being vector or bitmap) and then include them in the original. It is always a good idea to work on a copy and leave the original in place. Trying to do the reduction in Acrobat is not the best approach.

Indesign 2014 exporting pdf for web large fiel size

I am exporting an Indesign 2014 file to pdf print for web. I have tried smallest file size, Acrobat 4 & 5 and also selected transparency flattener when exporting pdf. File comes out to 12MB either way. I have gone into Adobe pdf and optimized the pdf and comes out around 11MB. The Indesign file has some small photoshop images also layered vector AI file. I have flattened the AI file and placed that image in Indesign but file is still large. With the AI file I have exported it as a jpeg and placed that in Indesign and file comes out fine for web under 1 MB. Checking with the group if there is a way that Indesign can export the AI file without replacing it as a jpeg.

Checking with the group?
The best and most logical way would be to export a PDF from the AI and place that one, so ID just needs to copy. ID is not an AI-to-PDF converter.

Saving PDF for Web?

Hello!
I recently designed a 6-page annual report, meant to be disseminated as a PDF via web and e-mail. I am having trouble getting the PDF small enough and streamlined enough for this purpose. The file is under 4MB, but even on my system it is difficult to scroll through it, and graphics take a moment to appear or flash repeatedly on the screen.
The design is simple but includes many gradients and transparencies, which I assume is the root of the problem. I have flattened transparency and converted text to outlines. There are no images other than one vector logo. When saving as a PDF, I choose "smallest file size," with all options unticked except "save for fast web review." Lowering downsampling under "compression" made no difference. Even external sites like smallpdf.com would not make the file smaller. I'm not even sure changing the file size will ultimately solve the issue of the graphic elements flashing and taking time to properly appear.
Is there anything else I can do to make this file more accessible to a broad audience?
Thanks!

Outlining is considered very bad practice for many reasons (and cannot be undone).
True, but not in all cases...
But that is for a different conversation.
You could try using indesign.
I have found this will create a much more compact PDF then illustrator.
and is much better at dealing with text

Diagnosing output PDF-for-Web problems?

Where I work, we accept PDFs from clients (most using InDesign) and do a conversion so their magazines are accessible via devices like the iPad. Since our software converts pages to images, all layout is preserved. Our online reader allows magazine visitors to zoom in, so page resolution has to be about 144 pixels. We have one unhappy client who insists that we've done something different with their most recent two magazines that has caused degradation in quality. I've zoomed in on an image in one of their older magazines and its most recent version in a newer edition, and confirmed that the recent version looks pixelated and has excessive contrast/saturation. However, 1) None of our other clients have this problem despite their magazines being run through the same software, and 2) the settings inside our software have not been changed in more than a year.
I figure I have two options. Either look at the PDFs they sent us and figure out what they're doing wrong (their graphic designer has limited experience) or find a spec sheet somewhere that lists the best InDesign PDF output settings to use for Web reading (including retina screens), and send those settings to their designer.
Problem is, I don't know how to analyze a PDF, and my search for the optimum InDesign output settings leads me down several different roads. Can't really test it myself because we rarely use InDesign at our end. Suggestions?

Why not run a preflight check in Acrobat Pro? You can set up a check for images of less than x ppi.

QT Pro Export for Web--poster doesn't work in Firefox or IE, only Safari

Hi QuickTime gurus (within Apple and in the 'real world
I had thought that when you Export for Web in QuickTime Player Pro, the 'poster' movie would display in all browsers, on Mac and Windows.
Unfortunately, the poster does NOT work in Firefox (neither Mac nor Windows) nor in IE. It only works in Safari.
See this example - http://www.wellesley.edu/~kenny/a.html
Am I doing something wrong, or is there something wrong with the JavaScript such that it doesn't work in all browsers, or....?
Thanks...k

Ok here try this:
http://setfreedenver.org/a/readme.html
And here's the zip file for the above.
http://setfreedenver.org/a.zip
You should have four files in the folder that makes everything for the video in the html:
video.m4v This is the actual video that plays.
video.mov This is the referance video that points to video.m4v
poster.jpg This is the poster frame.
html.html This is the html for the above video to play in.
Move one of the above to somewhere else and it will break the video playing in the html.
Sidebar:
I couldn't get this to work on my server. I had to go to my server control panel (somewhere out there in Texas) and make a MIME Type setting for the .m4v, so the video could play. Not all servers are setup to play different kinds of videos, documents or images. So, if you ever run across something that plays locally on your computer and not on your sever and your at your wits end.. Contact you server administrator and have them check the MINE setting on the server.
Message was edited by: David M Brewer

Hi Res PDF to Web Optimized PDF

We are looking forward for optimizing the HI- resolution PDF files into low resolution PDF files. Can this by done by some automated way using any adobe s/w. Please provide additional details on this and costs if any.

Ok, let's see. Acrobat is out, because it's technically unsuitable for server use, and Adobe don't sell a server license. Frankly, even if they did, it isn't robust enough to be left doing a task for months unattended.
Adobe do have a family of server PDF products, about a dozen of them, all called LiveCycle something (plus LiveCycle Designer for clients). Most deal with forms, but some do other things like PDF creation or output.
So, it's worth looking at them to see what features are offered (or asking in a LiveCycle forum). Unfortunately, LiveCycle is very much its own world and the Acrobat users here seem to have very limited experience of them.

Low-res PDF for web posting

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