PSD -> JPG -> PDF problem

[JerH]

Hello.

Just upgraded to elements 6 from 2.

When saving a psd file as a pdf, the size is too big for what I need (say, 30 mb). So I would save as a JPG, then convert to PDF in Acrobat 6.0. File size around 8 MB.

When I try this in 6.0, the file will save as a JPG and is viewable. When I convert to PDF in Acrobat, the file is blank.

I hope this makes sense, but I don't get it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Juergen D]

In PSE5 you can do a >File >Save As and select PDF as the output format. Can that not be done in PSE6, too?

Juergen

[graficalicus]

don't save as a pdf; instead print to pdf. Choose File>Print, and choose Acrobat as the printer.

Adjust your settings in the Acrobat printer dialog, and your PDF should come out just fine.

When you save as a PDF, it's keeping the pixel dimensions the same, as well as all layers & other meta info. Printing is just that - a print (although in this case, the print output is a file).

[JerH]

Juergen - yes, you can but the file size is way too big as I said.

graficalicus - thanks. that sounds like a good option.

any ideas why Acrobat can't read it correctly though?

[Juergen D]

Juergen - yes, you can but the file size is way too big as I said.
Well, I was thinking of still doing the intermediate step and saving as JPEG first. Just trying to get around having to use Acrobat.

Juergen

[JerH]

Well, I was thinking of still doing the intermediate step and saving as JPEG first. Just trying to get around having to use Acrobat.

Juergen


ok, gotcha. thanks. that works, but still pretty big file. only knocks about 10 megs off.

Printing to PDF shrinks the file size down to about nothing. Because the pdf will be used for print, I wonder if the quality will be good enough?

[Chuck S.]

JerH, out of curiosity: why are you using PDF?

[JerH]

Jeri, out of curiosity: why are you using PDF?


Our printing company prefers PDF for whatever reason.

[Chuck S.]

Ah....I understand.

[Chuck S.]

JerH, I just saved a photo out of PSE 5 as a JPEG, but I did it using the Save for Web function. I then opened up Acrobat 6 and told it to File>Create PDF and pointed it at the JPEG. It accepted it and created the PDF. I didn't try it with an ordinary Save As....JPEG but I figured the simplified JPEG created by Save for Web would be less problematic. Have you tried that as an alternative?

[JerH]

JerH, I just saved a photo out of PSE 5 as a JPEG, but I did it using the Save for Web function. I then opened up Acrobat 6 and told it to File>Create PDF and pointed it at the JPEG. It accepted it and created the PDF. I didn't try it with an ordinary Save As....JPEG but I figured the simplified JPEG created by Save for Web would be less problematic. Have you tried that as an alternative?

Chuck - save for web converts the image to a gif (at least it did in 2.0), which significantly reduces quality. I just tried to do it with my 8.75 x 11.25 300 dpi file and it just about stroked out. said file size is too big for save for web etc.

[Chuck S.]

JerH - Check the dropdown box at the top of the Save for Web dialog. In addition to the default setting of GIF, it gives you an option to create a JPEG and specify the quality. Also ignore the message about being too big - it should save anyway.

[JerH]

well Chuck, that seemed to work. it's a nice file size too. Thanks.

any idea why the other way wouldn't?

[Juergen D]

Using Save for Web sets it to 72 PPI resolution, that may not be good enough if print quality is of concern.
With my method you can change the file size/quality when going to JPEG first, which should influence the size of the final PDF file.

Juergen

[JerH]

Using Save for Web sets it to 72 PPI resolution, that may not be good enough if print quality is of concern.
With my method you can change the file size/quality when going to JPEG first, which should influence the size of the final PDF file.

Juergen

I was just looking at that. 72 dpi won't work.

Your way does work Juergen, but again, file size. this doesn't seem to make any sense.

[JerH]

Here's how it seems:

A native JPG converts fine
A JPG opened in elements and saved as another JPG converts fine
A PSD created in Elements, then saved as a JPG will not convert

[Chuck S.]

Using Save for Web sets it to 72 PPI resolution, that may not be good enough if print quality is of concern.
With my method you can change the file size/quality when going to JPEG first, which should influence the size of the final PDF file.

Juergen

Juergen, I think if you save for web with pixel dimensions like JerH has suggested, you don't really wind up with a 72 ppi resolution. I'll have to test that, though, to see how it prints out of Acrobat.

[graficalicus]

Because the pdf will be used for print, I wonder if the quality will be good enough?

Yes it will, if you adjust the PDF creation properties in the print dialog. Acrobat will default to "Standard", which is great for web viewing. For a great print-quality version, change this setting to High Quality or Press setting. The filesize will go up (because there's more pixels & resolution for the printer) but so what? It's for print, not web!:)

I work in the print biz - we ALWAYS want PDFs because they don't change formatting, fonts or pagination (when created correctly) and they're easy to send back and forth for proofing.

I don't understand why you'd want to go to something else (JPG), then convert to PDF from that, when you can go directly to PDF from within the parent app using the print option? PDF is, essentially, a print output format -

[Chuck S.]

I work in the print biz - we ALWAYS want PDFs because they don't change formatting, fonts or pagination (when created correctly) and they're easy to send back and forth for proofing.

Grafi, sounds like a good approach. I've done newsletters in MS Word (I know....not the right tool....but it's all I have) and the pagination can get really fouled up. PDF should fix that problem, even if it doesn't result in a smaller file.

[JerH]

I don't understand why you'd want to go to something else (JPG), then convert to PDF from that, when you can go directly to PDF from within the parent app using the print option? PDF is, essentially, a print output format -

I guess because I never thought of it???

Here's one for you graficalicus...when I print to PDF, the document size changes from 8.75 x 11.25 to 8.5 x 11, no matter if I scale 100% and keep original document size. My printer needs the larger size for bleed. How do I overcome that?

thanks. you guys are great around here.

[Chuck S.]

I guess because I never thought of it???

Here's one for you graficalicus...when I print to PDF, the document size changes from 8.75 x 11.25 to 8.5 x 11, no matter if I scale 100% and keep original document size. My printer needs the larger size for bleed. How do I overcome that?

thanks. you guys are great around here.

I believe you can change the paper size in the printer properties to PostScript Custom Page Size. See if that forces the larger dimensions.

[JerH]

That doesn't work either. Neither does changing the Adobe PDF Settings in Printing Preferences. There's no "custom" size, just pre-sets.

thanks chuck

[Chuck S.]

That doesn't work either. Neither does changing the Adobe PDF Settings in Printing Preferences. There's no "custom" size, just pre-sets.

thanks chuck

When you speak of your 'printer' I assume that's the third party print shop...? How is he setting up his printer? If he prints from Acrobat directly to a color printer, he can resize at that time using the Postscript Custom Page Size - I think.

[JerH]

yes, third party print shop.

Not sure if he can or can't. I was able to workaround by saving as a TIF and then converting to PDF in Acrobat. File size was very nice 400 K and the dimensions were preserved.

I get that there could be easier ways. Right now I don't get how a 2.0 converted JPG will work, but a 6.0 won't.