We all use PDF files to send drawings to clients and contractors, plus just about every one else in the universe, but if your not careful, the file size can run away with you, so be vigilant on creating a pdf, and make sure your not creating a file thats just to big.
I work on a Mac, so I will only look at whats we can reduce and manage pdf files. I use Vectorworks as my main cad package and within this I have two main methods of creating pdf files, one via the print command and using the pdf button, or exporting to pdf, I use both, but to try and keep files manageable, I limit the resolution to about 100 DPI, and unless i an specifically asked for it, I uncheck the export design layers and export classes as pdf layers.
Next open up the newly created pdf file in Preview, select the file, right click, and select open with, Preview, and go to the export menu under file, look at the bottom of the dialog box and select the Quartz filter drop down menu, and choose “Reduce file size”, which I reduced the test file i created from 73.3 MB to 57.7 MB ok still to big to send via email but you get the point.
In this case i could split the file into three and sent three separate files, or I might put it into my Dropbox public folder and send a share link for them to download.
Todays photo is just a nice arch to a shop front I saw in the local village to the survey I did in the rain on Saturday.
The post Architectural Technologist – PDF and how to reduce it’s size appeared first on Konstrukshon CPD Weblog.
