Transparency Effects in InDesign - File Sizes and Quality Problems

[lain_k...@adobeforums.com]

Hello,

We are experiencing new problems exporting InDesign files to PDF.

To summarize, though our largest workflow is to create files for offset printing, we also deliver our work to PDF for mounting on a website so our clients can download directly from the web. Our new problem is Transparency Effects, and creating a PDF that will both have a high quality (or resolution), and be a small file size.

We are working with multiple page documents (24 to 48 pages), and would very much like to work with InDesign Transparency Effects. However, after spending much time testing a variety of PDF types, we are finding there is a radical difference between quality and file size. I was curious if anyone has had these problems, and if there is a simple answer. InDesign is an incredible program that allows us to design on the fly with Transparency Effects, but, if we are going to experience these problems, we will have to eliminate these wonderful tools.

Can you help me or lead me to information online that will help.

Thank you,

Lain

[Dov Isaacs]

To maintain the highest quality and the smallest PDF file size, you want to export PDF in which "live transparency" is maintained, i.e. no premature "flattening" of those transparency effects. Flattening implies that you have exact knowledge of the final rendering conditions including the print or display resolution and the color space of same. Flattening also very often generates raster images where there are intersections of non-opaque objects. Such raster images are not resolution-independent and can contribute a significant bulk to the resultant PDF file size.

Thus, you want to use an export setting that calls for PDF 1.4 or higher.

- Dov