Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 8/1/2008

Question
QUESTION: I would like to drop an ad design that I've created in illustrator CS3, into an email (like outlook express) so that I can email to several people. The file size is too large to reproduce in a PDF or JPEG. Most of the ad is copy with some pictures. I've reduced the photo images. Do you know what I could do to be able to get this artwork onto an email? Thanks Much!

ANSWER: Hi Karen,

Before you go too far, the easiest way instead of changing files, photos, etc. is when you save as a pdf, choose the "smallest file size" preset in the PDF options window. This is specifically designed for e-mails and on-screen presentations.

Thanks

Kevin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Kevin: I did save as PDF for web viewing and it turns out to be 17MB! What to do?

ANSWER: Hi Karen,

The preset "smallest file size" is the absolute smallest you can go with any semblance of quality at all. You could take the PDF and open in Photoshop and try reducing there. How large is your file (physical size)?!

A 17mb file at the "smallest file size" preset must be an enormous AI file!

Thanks

Kevin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks again Kevin. The Illustrator file is 17MB and then when I save it to a PDF for web viewing it's 17.6MB.
Should I take the artwork into PDF and save as a JPEG? If I copy the JPEG it won't paste in the EMail. It seems that somehow it needs to be in some sort of HTML format, like when you receive pictures or advertisements in the body part of the EMail? That is what I would like to do, I don't want to send as an attachment. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! K

Answer
Hi Karen,

I think you may be saving this wrong since save for web reduces file sizes dramatically, not increases.

Please be sure you are following these steps:

Go to File>Save As (not save for web). The choose the PDF Format at the bottom of the window. Then when the PDF Options window shows up, choose the Smallest File Size as the preset at the top of the window. Do not change anything else. Then hit save and see how big the file is.

If you have already done these steps exactly and its still larger, then you can try File>save for web and save this out as a jpg file direct from Illustrator.

Save for Web is never a good option unless absolutely necessary.


Thanks

Kevin