PDF file size
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ā2017-10-17
11:05 AM
- last edited on
ā2023-05-19
10:09 PM
by
Gordana Radonic
We have a large project with 200+ drawings and a client that cannot open the majority of the files unless we open the ArchiCAD published PDf files in photoshop, flatten them, and then re-save as a PDF.
I have tried various combinations in the publish options within ArchiCAD and there is no option to genuinely 'flatten' what you see. We're not interested in preserving layers etc (that's what we have DWG's for).
Does anyone have a low-effort workflow for reducing files like this en masse?
I am considering that if I can add an 'acrobat' print driver to windows, then I could possibly select 'print' from the ArchiCAD publisher (instead of publish) and then tick 'print as image' but this is a long shot.
Any help appreciated.

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ā2017-10-17 07:25 PM
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), Windows 10 PRO ENG, Ac20-Ac28
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ā2017-10-18 10:19 AM
Thanks very much for the offer! I've just sent you over a link privately to two files that have been causing us problems.
Incidentally, if anyone else wants to take a look at the files for interest sake just shoot me a PM and I will send you a link.
If we get to the bottom of it I'll make sure I post a resolution here for others to see but might just need to edit the problem files to redact our client's information.
Many thanks, Laszlo.
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ā2017-10-18 11:21 AM

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ā2017-10-19 02:26 AM
- Some of these Fill patterns are pretty dense, which means they take quite some time to draw in Acrobat. You could try to make them less dense, if it is feasible.
- Fill pattern Pens have a thickness. I am wondering if it would make any difference if Fill Pattern Pens were hairline Pens. You could test this by creating a new Pen Set based on the current Pen Set used, but in this new Pen Set you would set the thickness of all Pens used for Fill patterns to zero. This could potentially make the PDF lighter and faster to redraw. (Of course the other option is to use the Hairline option in the PDF Option Dialog, but you may want line thicknesses in other elements.)
But the main issue seems to be the "non-flattened" way of saving these PDFs. When I open the PDF and Pan around in it, I can see that a lot of drawing content is drawn, only to be then covered with a large Fill. These elements shouldn't be saved with the PDF file to begin with. And if I understand correctly, this behaves the same even if Layers are not saved to the PDF.
I would recommend that you create a wish for a "Flatten View content before saving as PDF" option in the PDF Options Dialog. That would be a very useful and intelligent option for ARCHICAD and I am sure users would support the wish. We could then vote for it and submit it to GRAPHISOFT as a wish.
AMD Ryzen9 5900X CPU, 64 GB RAM 3600 MHz, Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, 500 GB NVMe SSD
2x28" (2560x1440), Windows 10 PRO ENG, Ac20-Ac28
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ā2017-10-19 10:55 AM
Will give your recommendation a try on line weights and in the meantime have created a poll for the issue;
I would be interested to learn if anyone has a workaround for this outside of ArchiCAD? We have tried batch processing the PDF's in photoshop but for whatever reason, we have only ever managed to do this with one drawing at a time (not a practical way to continue).
Thanks again Laszlo for the help.
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ā2017-10-19 05:57 PM
--------------------------
Richard Morrison, Architect-Interior Designer
AC26 (since AC6.0), Win10
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ā2018-03-16 01:12 AM
I am still in early stages with my CD set, so by the time the set is ready to be released, I am afraid it will be so large as to be useless.
I've reduced the PDF file size somewhat by removing hatch patterns from the roof plans and substituting air space for insulation in my composite walls, but that's not a great long-term solution.
Ought to add that I am new to ArchiCAD, so I may be doing something really bone-headed. Would appreciate any further suggestions from more experienced users...meanwhile off to see if I can figure out how to flatten the PDFs.

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ā2018-03-16 10:24 AM
I have A0 sheet with a project that has tatched roof where I have a very busy dot pattern to show that. This file is just over 1 MB as a PDF.
20 page A3 detail booklet is 2,5 MB.
www.leloup.nl
ArchiCAD 9-26NED FULL
Windows 10 Pro
Adobe Design Premium CS5
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ā2018-03-16 02:14 PM
Would be delighted to have a 20 page detail booklet at only 2.5M!