How do you make a new PDF preset in pages?

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Level 1

5 points

How do you make a new PDF preset in pages?

I had a very embarrassing pages moment today. A price list for my artwork went out a 10mb when exported from pages at the medium setting. The source images are from the media browser- from my aperture library.

I know I am an idiot for not checking but I usually make out OK with apple products right out of the box. I tried the reduce file size option but was not nuts about the results. I would like more control over the output ie a custom preset that scales the image down but results in better quality that the 72dpi that the previous method generated.

I know there is a way but I can not find the relevant thread that i once looked at years ago.

many thanks

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 7, 2010 11:36 AM

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Answer 1

fruhulda

Level 6

15,167 points

Sep 7, 2010 11:42 AM in response to nektai

The image you put in Pages will be in full resolution/size. You have to reduce their resolution/size before you insert them in Pages.

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Answer 2

Sep 7, 2010 11:54 AM in response to nektai

Export as "Good" pdfs is as small as they get. Understandably at the lowest resolution they are not brilliant quality.

If you have a lot of images from your catalog it will be big, hard to avoid.

You can get greater control reducing quality/size using Acrobat Pro but even there there is a limit to how small they can be condensed without making the files illegible.

Peter

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Answer 3

nektai Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 7, 2010 12:10 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Yes the images are full resolution. I am quite attached to working with pages without re sizing the images. If i had to do that step first Pages would loose much of its charm for me.

The export / pdf/good setting did not seem to reduce the file size much at all.

the small file size option did do the job but the print quality was sub standard hence rendering my pages master only suited to web/email use.

There is no other way? I thought I once read about a way to create a new pdf filter. I may be chasing a ghost.

thanks

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Answer 4

Walt K

Level 4

2,946 points

Sep 7, 2010 12:54 PM in response to nektai

Mac Help says this about compressing pdfs:
------------------------------

Compressing a PDF file
Large PDF files can be difficult to archive or email. Using Preview, you can compress a PDF file so it’s easier to share or store.

To compress a PDF file:

Open Preview, in your Applications folder.

Choose File > Open, select the PDF file to compress, and then click Open.

Choose File > Save As, choose Reduce File Size from the Quartz Filter pop-up menu, and choose a name and location for the new PDF file.

Click Save.

This process compresses the images in the file. The compressed images look the same as the originals when viewed onscreen, but may appear to be of lower quality when printed.
---------------------------------
Further exploration of Help will tell you how to adjust the amount of compression.

Walt

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Answer 5

nektai Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 7, 2010 1:00 PM in response to Walt K

Thanks Walt. Quartz filter rings a bell. I think I once read about creating a custom one. I should be able to search it out now. I will report back on the off chance that it help someone else

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Answer 6

nektai Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 7, 2010 6:10 PM in response to nektai

I am back and can report that I was able to get the results I wanted.

applications/utilities/colorsync utility

I clicked on the filters tab then the plus sign to create a new filter.
I named it and hit the right arrow to select Add Image Effects Component and then Color image sampling. I set the resolution to 150 pixels per inch and set the quality to medium. I left the other fields blank.

then off to automator to create a new print workflow. I dragged the apply quartz filter plugin to the workflow, declined the offer to duplicate the file. Then I passed it to a new folder that i chose to be placed on the desktop. I saved it and now I have a new option in the print dialog box PDF dropdown. The file size of the pdf went from10mb on the lowest export setting for an 18 mb pages document to 274k and it prints and emails just fine.

I hope this is helpful.

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Answer 7

Sep 8, 2010 4:57 AM in response to nektai

applications/utilities/colorsync utility

Finally, someone who does not simply flame CIE colour imaging in general and ColorSync in particular 🙂.

/hh

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Answer 8

JJ_2010

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2010 11:54 AM in response to nektai

I'm trying to easily produce smaller PDF files from Pages as well. Modifying the image quality option between good, better, best didn't really do anything for me. I'm attempting to replicate your solution. I believe that I was able to create the new filter and named it "Small PDF".

I'm a little confused on the automator part. I dragged the "Apply Quartz Filter to PDF Documents" item into the workflow, used the Filter: drop down to select "Small PDF", and then saved the workflow as "SmallPDF". I went into Pages, threw some text and an image into a blank document, hit print, dropped down PDF, hit edit menu, added the SmallPDF workflow I created to it. When I select that SmallPDF option a status bar briefly pops up, then nothing seems to happen, the document doesn't get a name or appear to go anywhere. Any advice on what steps I'm missing would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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