Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 9/10/2009

Question
Hello Kevin,
I'm working' with illustrator to edit some contracts for a client.
The contracts are already created by someone else. My problem is this: when I open a pdf file with illustrator the size of file increase with at least 500k without to make major modifies. If I create a pdf from beginning I got 4 pages in 600k. unfortunately I only make modifies on these pdf files and I want to know if its posible to avoid these extra K . The contracts are created first with ilustrator and after that they are edited with acrobat profesional. In acrobat profesional we add forms(check box,text box etc.)If I send the pdf file into a virtual printer and after that I save the pdf on my pc all forms(check box,text box etc.) are automatically deleted when the pdf is compressed.
Please help me!
Thank you in advance !  

Answer
Hi Marius,

The contracts were probably created in InDesign. Unfortunately when you try to edit a PDF in Illustrator, it can increase the file sizes. It is possible to avoid the extra size by how you save in your PDF options dialog box. If you choose the High Quality preset, it will print fine and give you a smaller file size vs. Press Quality or PDF-X1 series that can give you a much larger file size. Do not send your file through a virtual printer. Save as and choose Adobe PDF as the file format. You will always lose your interactive elements from Acrobat when you edit in another application.

Have you tried editing this in Acrobat natively using the Advanced Text Edit tool?

Thanks

Kevin