topic Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present in Documentation

pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:20:35 GMT

I am on MacBook , so in order to SAVE file in PDF, I have to go through File > PRINT.... it is not through the standard routine, so I don't have choice on DPT setting either... in this setting I can only choose to chase in quality Draft, normal or high.

I just downloaded my project schedules in PDF, I kid you not, it is 140MB in normal quality, but draft being similar. I use PDF PRO, which have feature to make files smaller but it ends up being still 90MB. If I save it that way, the layout open VERY slow, IF. When I go to office to print it, the printer crash and I am unable print it.

I tried to simplified certain objects, even removing textures (ouch, because that's part of specifications), but nothing really helps. I know there used to be an option to find heavy objects in archicad but I can't no longer find it.

Anyone who can help please?

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Kristian G — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 23:33:00 GMT

First thing to check is fills! Check for fills you haven't used regularly!

I saw one years ago, that I think was a rock or stone fill, that would cause really large PDFs and would cause it to not print.

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Lingwisyer — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 01:14:22 GMT

Image fills and dense Vectorial Fills murder AC's PDF output no matter if you SAVE, PRINT or PUBLISH.... Though you say that a SCHEDULE was 140mb...? What is on it?

Betreff: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Stefan L_ — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:25:02 GMT

@cocoloco schrieb:

I am on MacBook , so in order to SAVE file in PDF, I have to go through File > PRINT...

Really?! There's no File > Save as > PDF?!

This would be the way to go.

AC doesn't communicate well with 'printers'.

Fills with transparency are approximated with small 8x8 bitmaps - the real bitmaps; each pixel is '0' or '1' for transparent or opaque.

And you need a whole lot of these bitmaps for larger areas, wich leads to larger files.

Some screenshots, fill with 50%, bg pen 0; SavedAs and printed with Adobe:

SaveAs produces an object with trancparency, you could alter the opacity (and color).

Print produces a 100% opaque picture ('Bild') consisting of a pixel grid, every 2nd is transparent > 50%.

And yes, this is early '90s technology. 👻

Betreff: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Lingwisyer — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:24:59 GMT

Given, the inbuild PDF Publisher will generally resolve the % fill cleanly to not be dotty... Still far from ideal...

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Mathias Jonathan — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:38:48 GMT

Sometimes, when PDF are too slow/impossible to print, I use chrome as a PDF viewer and print with it.

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:27:39 GMT

I did check that too. Except a countertops and backsplashes, that need marble drawing fill or tile ( the bare minimum standard to show intent) and the rest I made white gloss paint including cabinets inserts. I assume white is the simplest way (?). But then I spent extra more time with schedules because I have to now put schedule annotation on every-single-cabinet since I can’t use textures. Awful.

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:15:34 GMT

My whole file is 140MB. Not a schedule…?

It’s larger residential project, about 10k SF, so a lot of cabinetry, elevation for each room, … i do need to use some surface fills to show intent. Architectural software would be almost useless if I can’t show some type of fills.

but even a floor plan takes forever to load in pdf. The plan from architect loads in second and has more annotations and more of everything (my floor plan is really cleaned out) . She obviously uses Revit or CAD… but her files are very light. And she has more in them.

I also found the addon that shows heavy files - it’s part of goodies and called something polygon. It helped with some items but didn’t really change the file size

Betreff: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:18:12 GMT

I already have mentioned, the MacBook publisher isn’t ideal and on MacBook it change coloring of photos…. Completely. They told me to save pdf through print…. Yep.

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Davor P — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:19:30 GMT

We built a free web app that runs entirely in your browser - pdf doesn't leave your PC and it it for this kind of troubleshooting.
pdf.vktrs.co

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:19:52 GMT

I can see for the print, if the company can download this type of browser and print from there

but I need to regularly open the pdf…. So it would be helpful to be able to open it without computer crashing.

Betreff: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:26:37 GMT

Gosh. There is. Was it always there?? 🫣 thank you. Oh well, this is embarrassing. I never noticed there was pdf option to save as and adjust the DPI. The solution that came from Archicas was to do it through print-save us.

thank you.

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

Stefan L_ — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:08:11 GMT

@cocoloco schrieb:

My whole file is 140MB. Not a schedule…?

So what's the file size now with 'Save as'?

Re: pdf are to LARGE I can't print or present

cocoloco — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:54:17 GMT

I saved all 50 layouts in 600 DPT , some pages including renderings (from third party) and it's about 27MB now and it opens quickly. I could potentially still adjust this through PDF expert. But this is already huge improvement. Thank you.