topic Betreff: 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.