I know this is a silly question, but I really need to save my digital portfolio as a smaller pdf. It is currently at 30,500 KB. What is a reasonable size to send to firms when looking for a job? I had the file in Indesign, and I have tried making the links smaller (i.e. saving renders as smaller image files, etc). but it is still way too big. Please help!
joshconard
Jan 21, 20 11:24 pm
When you export out of Indesign, check your export settings. You should be able to reduce the size at that point. Have you used the "Reduce File Size" in Adobe Acrobat? That should help too.
You could also export the PDF pages as individual JPEGs, then recombine the JPEG sheets into one file. That can reduce the file size as well.
If none of that works, get it as small as possible, even if it has poor quality. In your email to the firm, let them know that a larger file is available for download from a box site and give them a link to a secure box account.
Archlandia
Jan 22, 20 2:12 pm
+1 for the acrobat method. I reduced mine from 14MB to around 4MB
Archlandia
Jan 22, 20 2:14 pm
Also, make sure to flatten your photoshop files (save a copy of the layered one) and then export to PDF/PNG/JPEG etc... seems to help
kk.ipek
Jan 22, 20 3:46 am
Hi,
Export your indesign file as a medium sized png. first, and then export it as a pdf. You can reduce a 30mb file to a 3-4 mb file without compensating the quality too much. Hope this helps!
Daniaaburouss
Aug 10, 21 9:19 am
This is the only advice that worked for me so far! thanks a lot.
To preserve the text quality, this can be taken one step further by turning off the text layer before exporting the png, then importing the pngs onto the same file with the text, and finally exporting to pdf.
monosierra
Jan 22, 20 11:21 am
1) SmallPDF.com
2) Print PDF to PDF
3) Change embedded vectors to images
natematt
Jan 22, 20 11:24 am
First, try printing to pdf out of indesign rather than exporting.
How many pages is your portfolio? Half the time people ask these questions they are trying to compress a 90 page pdf to 10 mb, which will never work well hahah
shellarchitect
Jan 22, 20 2:18 pm
small is cool but 4" x 4" is the smallest that I would recommend
Archlandia
Jan 22, 20 5:56 pm
Put "Mirco P..." on the front and "..ortfolio" on the back.
Frank_Lloyd_Wrong
Jan 23, 20 3:18 pm
Thank you for all the suggestions everyone! I will try these out. My portfolio is about twenty pages, 8.5" x 11".
architecture?
Jan 1, 21 10:20 pm
Whats the difference between reducing file size and advanced optimization in acrobat in terms of quality/size?
hellion
Jan 1, 21 11:21 pm
You can also try downsizing your images' dpi in the "Compression" tab in the export/print options. Retain the "High-Quality Print" option, but change the dpi of the images to around 72 - 100.
randomised
Jan 2, 21 9:40 am
shrink your portfolio to the size of a stamp and output to 72dpi, you should be just fine...or cut your pages in half literally and discard of half the info, be creative! Or send hard copies and go old skool, if they have a fax, fax your portfolio!
Zach Bundy
Aug 10, 21 11:31 am
Another option when it's possible is to host your portfolio on your Archinect page and hyperlink it to your resume or cover letters. AEC people hate downloading huge files.
Hi everyone,
I know this is a silly question, but I really need to save my digital portfolio as a smaller pdf. It is currently at 30,500 KB. What is a reasonable size to send to firms when looking for a job? I had the file in Indesign, and I have tried making the links smaller (i.e. saving renders as smaller image files, etc). but it is still way too big. Please help!
When you export out of Indesign, check your export settings. You should be able to reduce the size at that point. Have you used the "Reduce File Size" in Adobe Acrobat? That should help too.
You could also export the PDF pages as individual JPEGs, then recombine the JPEG sheets into one file. That can reduce the file size as well.
If none of that works, get it as small as possible, even if it has poor quality. In your email to the firm, let them know that a larger file is available for download from a box site and give them a link to a secure box account.
+1 for the acrobat method. I reduced mine from 14MB to around 4MB
Also, make sure to flatten your photoshop files (save a copy of the layered one) and then export to PDF/PNG/JPEG etc... seems to help
Hi,
Export your indesign file as a medium sized png. first, and then export it as a pdf. You can reduce a 30mb file to a 3-4 mb file without compensating the quality too much.
Hope this helps!
This is the only advice that worked for me so far! thanks a lot.
To preserve the text quality, this can be taken one step further by turning off the text layer before exporting the png, then importing the pngs onto the same file with the text, and finally exporting to pdf.
1) SmallPDF.com
2) Print PDF to PDF
3) Change embedded vectors to images
First, try printing to pdf out of indesign rather than exporting.
How many pages is your portfolio? Half the time people ask these questions they are trying to compress a 90 page pdf to 10 mb, which will never work well hahah
small is cool but 4" x 4" is the smallest that I would recommend
Put "Mirco P..." on the front and "..ortfolio" on the back.
Thank you for all the suggestions everyone! I will try these out. My portfolio is about twenty pages, 8.5" x 11".
Whats the difference between reducing file size and advanced optimization in acrobat in terms of quality/size?
You can also try downsizing your images' dpi in the "Compression" tab in the export/print options. Retain the "High-Quality Print" option, but change the dpi of the images to around 72 - 100.
shrink your portfolio to the size of a stamp and output to 72dpi, you should be just fine...or cut your pages in half literally and discard of half the info, be creative! Or send hard copies and go old skool, if they have a fax, fax your portfolio!
Another option when it's possible is to host your portfolio on your Archinect page and hyperlink it to your resume or cover letters. AEC people hate downloading huge files.