Huge PDF file when distilled from PPT

[Guest]

Anybody familiar with distilling a PPT file to PDF? When I do this with my
current template, the file size of the finished PDF file is at least double
the size of the PPT file. When I begin, my PPT file is 3.5Mb. As it is
"printing" through Distiller, the file size jumps to 60Mb. Then, when it
eventually finishes the PDF file, it is at least 10Mb . . . Any suggestions
on what might be happening? My images are all raster now, as I thought the
distiller was converting from vector in the process and this might have
something to do with it, but it looks like this may not be the case . . .
Any thoughts are appreciated. THANK YOU.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Anybody familiar with distilling a PPT file to PDF? When I do this with my
current template, the file size of the finished PDF file is at least double
the size of the PPT file. When I begin, my PPT file is 3.5Mb. As it is
"printing" through Distiller, the file size jumps to 60Mb. Then, when it
eventually finishes the PDF file, it is at least 10Mb . . . Any suggestions
on what might be happening? My images are all raster now, as I thought the
distiller was converting from vector in the process and this might have
something to do with it, but it looks like this may not be the case . . .
Any thoughts are appreciated. THANK YOU.

There's no guarantee that a PDF will necessarily be smaller than the PPT or Word
Doc or other file it was created from, but generally they are.

So let's look at what the problem might be.

First off, which version of PowerPoint and Acrobat do you have?

How are you making your PDF from PPT? The PDFMaker toolbar that Acrobat
installs, printing to the Adobe PDF or Distiller printer driver or ???

In general, vector graphics will give smaller results than raster graphics.

Things like graphic transparency and semi-transparent fills can make the size of
PDFs balloon.

Finally, have a look here:

PDFs from PowerPoint are huge
http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/FAQ00532.htm

Quiz in the morning. <g>

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Thanks for the reply. I am currently running PPT 2003 SP1, and Acrobat 6.0
Standard. When I try to create the file, I have used PDF Maker (the toolbar
drop down in PPT). Interestingly, I had a co-worker try to run the "Print to
PDF" option using PPT 2003 and Acrobat 7.0. The file quality was perfect,
the file size was under 1Mb, and it only took a few minutes to generate . . .
Sounds like it might be time to upgrade Acrobat?

Can you tell me a little more about using vector art in PPT? I have always
run under the assumption that it is best practice to insert images in
bitmapped formats, but does PPT have the capability to accept ai or eps
files, too?

Thanks again for your help. I'll be sure to check out your websites.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Steve,

Thanks for the reply. I am currently running PPT 2003 SP1, and Acrobat 6.0
Standard. When I try to create the file, I have used PDF Maker (the toolbar
drop down in PPT). Interestingly, I had a co-worker try to run the "Print to
PDF" option using PPT 2003 and Acrobat 7.0. The file quality was perfect,
the file size was under 1Mb, and it only took a few minutes to generate . . .
Sounds like it might be time to upgrade Acrobat?

Or try File, Print and pick the "Adobe PDF" printer on your own PC rather than
using PDFMaker. PDFMaker is only really necessary if you need to maintain
hyperlinks and add accessibility features to the resulting PDF. It's very
useful for that but it's slow and adds bulk to the PDF.

You'll also want to have a look at the Adobe PDF Properties. Some of the
settings there (font embedding, image compression) can have a big impact on PDF
file size.

Can you tell me a little more about using vector art in PPT? I have always
run under the assumption that it is best practice to insert images in
bitmapped formats, but does PPT have the capability to accept ai or eps
files, too?

PPT won't import AI and does a bad enough job with EPS that I don't suggest it,
even though I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you're serious about
graphics, you use a PS printer and EPS. Sigh.

If the vector art's simple (ie, can be represented well in EMF/WMF) or drawn in
PPT itself, the results will generally be crisper and lighter weight than bitmap
art; OTOH, if you've got complex gradients, lots of curves and such, it's
probably best to convert to bitmaps.