Files too big 2

[11design]

I didn't know in which forum place this question but since I am working with InDesign and Photoshop I chose one of them. Sometimes after saving a file its size is too big. I know that sometimes saving in pdf can make it smaller. My question is: Am I working wrong with Photoshop or just because I use many details it will be bigger anyway?? Do I have to avoid making artworks nicer and go for simple? I realized that the ones that have shadow are the bigger ones and what I want is having a way to keep doing my work and sending to the graphics in the original format so I won't take a risk to have problems.There are many options why my art can possibly ends bigger but usually when those big ones go to the graphics they make comments like: WOW this file is too big!! They never saw any bigger file? Is just me??
Please someone start helping me and then I'll probably find out something wrong I am doing during the whole process. So far seems to me that I am the only one who makes big files.
Thanks,

 

[Eggles]

Slow down.

>> its size is too big<<

1. What is 'too big'? Too big for what?

2. What is the number of pages and page size of the ID document, and how many graphics and what type? What is the total file size?

3. Are these ID files being sent to a commercial printer?

File size is irrelevant if you want quality.

And you only get quality if there is sufficient resolution in your graphics. 'Sufficient' depends on how this is being printed. If in-house on a colour laser for example, you might be able to get away with 150 dpi. If being commercially offset printed, then you need to have CMYK image files at 300 dpi. Otherwise the results will look bad.

If outsourcing the printing, how are you delivering the files to the printer? Assuming you are sending a ID-generated package of native ID files plus their graphics and fonts, do they fit on a CD? If not, then maybe the files really are too big. Otherwise, what's the problem with a large file size?

I have a 200 page catalogue, divided into 8 documents, with probably close to a 1000 images (about half are high quality 300 dpi CMYK, the rest are smaller vector files from Illustrator) and it still all fits on a single CD, which is how it was delivered to a printer, and how it has been archived. If one project didn't fit on a CD, then yes, it might be 'too big'.

It's difficult to answer your question regarding PDFs until you give us some more information.

 

[11design]

Hi Eggles, I was starting reading your slow down and I can tell I was very happy. Then at the end came the confirmation. Right now I am working on an Insert folded (4 pages). Tabloid size when open. My background is taking the whole page (back and inside) and everything packed doesn't fit in a CD. Then I aplied photos with shadows on top of all pages. Basically everything has shadow because I took a photo of a corkboard (this is my background and in Photoshop I applied the shadows on the photos placed on top of the corkboard) to get the feeling someone hung on them. Now that I really have a biiigg file is there's something wrong, nothing to do or I have to take something out to fit on the CD?? What's your suggestion??

 

[Eggles]

>>My background is taking the whole page (back and inside<<

There's one reason your file size is so big.

You haven't answered a lot of my questions, like, how many graphics? what is their resolution at the size you place them into ID?

How are you getting this printed? Have you asked the printer if they prefer PDF or native files? It may be that the PDF will fit on a single CD where the native file package will not. PDFs can be smaller if the image resolution on the graphics is too high (i.e. grester than 300 dpi @ 100%).

 

[jmgalvin]

What resolution are you using for the photoshop graphics? Anything over 300 dpi for rasters is waste.

Have you used the same corkboard image for the background of ALL pages? You should only have one copy of something like "cork.tif" in your links window. When reusing an image on all opr many pages it's usually easier to make a Master with that image, or other repeating objects, and apply it to pages as necessary - saves time.

If you have a large ID doc with lots of pages and pictures, the folder is gonna be big. Do a quick pdf export, using the Press preset and see what the resulting file size is. As Eggles says, the Press pdf export preset will rueduce any overly large graphics to the proper print resolution.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[11design]

Hi. First thank you for the responses. I didn't answer about the size of the pictures because I got to that point when you told about fitting in a CD. All my pictures are 300dpi and I have so far about 30 to place (this is an Insert to show a lot of products of the company). And I didn't place them in InDesign. I had problems with shadows before so I decide to place all the picture belonging to a specific page on the cork background, everything in Photoshop and then applying the necessary shadows. I saved in psd because TIFF was taking too much space.

Regarding the master. Does it make difference on the size or just on the time?

Now I'll be saving in pdf and I'll answer quickly your last question.

Thanks,

 

[jmgalvin]

11 design, you said: "And I didn't place them in InDesign. I had problems with shadows before so I decide to place all the picture belonging to a specific page on the cork background, everything in Photoshop and then applying the necessary shadows."

Oh boy is that gonna make the folder big. You have that cork background different for every page - at least the page with the picture. That means a different image on every page.

Really, the folder size is not that important to the printer. It should print.

If reduction of file size is important, it would probably be best to make your photoshop images on the cork background to see how they look, but NOT save that background in the PS file - just keep the cork on a separate layer to facilitate that.

Then use the cork backgound directly in ID and place the PS images, with the shadows on that. A lot of space will be saved.

But as Eggels has said, the size of the ID folder is really not that important, as long as you can easily get it to the printer - on a cd or dvd.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[11design]

That's great. I had to finish another and I couldn't complete the whole process. I'll do everything you mentioned. I got to a point that I wasn't able tothink about what I did. Thanks for evrything and I'll let you know the results of the file after doing everything.

 

[11design]

Now I don't know if I have a problem. I just finished two of the pages and decided to make a Flattener Preview. Those two pages appear completely pink when I look for Transparent areas. When I had the Photoshop file together with the background I had one single image and nothing pink appearing. Now I have the background (cork) on the Master Page. Should I continue or I am doing something wrong or better it's normal having those pink areas appearing??

 

[11design]

Now I don't know if I have a problem. I just finished two of the pages and decided to make a Flattener Preview. Those two pages appear completely pink when I look for Transparent areas. When I had the Photoshop file together with the background I had one single image and nothing pink appearing. Now I have the background (cork) on the Master Page. Should I continue or I am doing something wrong or better it's normal having those pink areas appearing??

 

[jmgalvin]

Look at the Overprint preview to see how the thing will print or create a pdf and see how that looks.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[11design]

When I click on Overprint Preview nothing appears. Sorry, I meant, I can see my file beautifully the I would love to have at the end. I'll print it right now to see how it looks.

 

[11design]

Hi guys,
Sorry answering only today. The printer here had a problem and I could solve the problems about one hour ago. Everything printed the way I wanted and I hope this is going to be the way it'll come up at the graphics. I was very happy with the results. I just need one little confirmation. Since the printer won't probably be the same used at the graphics does it make any difference?? Our printer is HP Color LaserJet 5500dtn. I don't know if you hard about it.
And again, I am really thankful for your help.

 

[jmgalvin]

I beleive that was a Postscript printer - meaning it prints cmyk as opposed to RGB. If so, you should be fine. If not, you will get some color shifts.



Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4