File sizes of new pdfs created from old publisher files are way too large

[Kaysar]

Hi,

On three occasions recently the file sizes of new pdfs created from old Affinity Publisher were massive.

By ‘old’ I mean files which I’ve not worked on for a few months. This problem happens which I open and old file and make a few changes. The changes aren’t drastic, just a couple of photos or images added/removed our chapters swapped around.

A doc which used to export to 4mb at 300 dpi and JPEG compression at 80% now exports at 102mb! Even when set to 192 dpi the file exports at 46mb.

No matter how much I play around with the export settings I can’t resolve this issue. My only work-around is to open a new file and copy and paste the layers over. 

 

Is this a bug?

[Kaysar]

Update: If I remove all images, and just leave in text. The file size is still 90mb+

What is causing the file size to inflate, and can I deflate it back to normal?

[lacerto]

(...)

[Kaysar]

Hi Lagarto,

Yes, the text exports as text. I can select and copy it from a PDF and paste it into a word doc. 

In the Exports option panel, under Rasterize if I select the  'Nothing' then the file size is reduced back to a manageable size. However the file doesn't match my original design.

All other non-affected files are selected to only rasterize 'Unsupported properties' only, and they export fine.

So I wonder what has happened to the text in this fles to make them export so massively?

Also, when I delete all text boxes and export the file with just the images, it exports fine and the size is manageable. So it problem has to be with the text.

[lacerto]

(...)

[Kaysar]

It happens if I export just parts of the document.

However, I've just spotted something. I think it's to do with Colour space set at RGB.

When I exported document as 'Press ready, colour space at CMYK', it exports fine.

When I exported document at 'Digital - High quality, colour space at RGB', it exports massively at 102mb.

If I then export document at 'Digital - High quality, colour space at CYMK' it exports fine.

I've attached the 3 files.

What is it about Colour space at RGB that's making this document export at large sizes? All my other documents print fine with RGB?

mk2_Press_ready_300dpi_CMTK.pdf mk2_Print_high_quality_300dpi_CMYK.pdf mk2_Print_high_quality_300dpi_RGB.pdf

[lacerto]

(...)

[Kaysar]

Hi Lagarto,

I replicated the issue you identified. Removing the blue shapes reduced the file size, but only by a bit.

Strangely, when I painstakingly copy and pasted all of the layers onto a new blank document, the problem had disappeared and the exported file size was normal again.

I wish the was a way to check, i.e. via the preflight check, which layers could cause exported file sizes to balloon.

[Gabe]

Hi both,

@Kaysar, can you attach the .afpub file, and any linked resources (if any)

[lacerto]

(...)

[Kaysar]

Agree, strange indeed. Even removing pages 4 and 5 the file is still 39mb which is too large for a doc with less than 10 pages.

 

@GabeThe .afpub file is attached. 

 

Kay

mk2.afpub

[Gabe]

It's a 16 bit document. Change it to 8bit in Document Setup > Colour and you should be fine

[Kaysar]

Yaaaas! This has fixed the issue! Thanks @Gabe and @Lagarto for all your help and speedy responses.

Regards,
Kay