Decreasing File Sizes for pdfs

[Mrsdepew]

Hi everyone,
I have been making pattern pdfs for a few months now and it's been going pretty smoothly for me. my problem is, I'm starting to work with larger patterns now and getting up there in file size.
I have been using a Mac, and using preview to size them down a bit, but 25 mb is still way too big for an email!

Any ideas? Sodtware I should by, etc?
Thanks!

[Former_Member]

What software are you using to create them now? Are you breaking them into tiles, or is it one big picture? Is there color in your files?

[Former_Member]

I trace them with the pen tool in Photoshop, then I flatten the layers (as a copy, in case I have to go back and make changes) and break them into tiles, save the tiles as grayscale JPEGS, and place them into an InDesign document. I make the PDF from InDesign using the PDFX1a preset. This results in a file that is usually around 3-5 Megs depending on how many pages are in the pattern.

There is a free program called the Gimp that is supposed to work like Photoshop, but I've never tried it. I'm a graphic designer, so I have to have all the Adobe software anyway.

[EmbonpointVintage]

Hi there.. if you've got Leopard or Snow Leopard, there's a trick you can use.. this blog post explains it pretty clearly: http://www.mactricksandtips.com/2010/02/compressing-pdf-files.html

I hope that helps!

[Former_Member]

Hi
When I first started doing pdf patterns I bought a digital camera, then one magical day I used my iPhone camera (02) I got great photos with low pixels. Now when I send a pattern the number is with KB not MB. Some of my early patterns are MB heavy. I include lots of step photos and some times what I call a fashion show page of several finished projects using that pattern. I have not tried my new 4s phone but the apple people tell me that I can still use and import photos from my 02. Hope this is helpful
peg