Geoff..
You need to check your Illustrator settings.  See what your print output is at (1200 dpi, 600dpi, etc.) 
Make sure that you have all your colors converted to CMYK if you are sending the file out for printing. Otherwise you
should make sure that both profiles are included in case you are using RGB images/colors.  
I always print to PDF that way I can pre-flight (optimize my settings in advance).  As others have already
recommended you can "optimize" after the fact but you do need to set your selections and there is no guarantee
on output qualiity.  Typically the optimize is used for web and to reduce files for attachment and review. I would not necessarily optimize for a final print job.   If the file it to large for attachement I was request an FTP site to upload
the file. 
Does this help?
 
Deb
 
DK Haines Illustrations & Design 
4906 Skyline Drive • Knoxville, TN 37914 
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----- Original Message ----
From: Mieke Roth <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 4:41:00 AM
Subject: Re: [SCIART] PDF file size

Hi Geoff,

Did you try to make it work with InDesign? Although I sometimes use other
programs to make pdf's it is really the most practical program to get a
managable pdf. The advantage is also that you are able to incorporate files
from different programs without losing the ability to edit them in that
program.

Mieke 


-----Original Message-----
From: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration-
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Geoff Thompson
Sent: zondag 10 augustus 2008 22:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SCIART] PDF file size

Dear David,
          That's what I was doing but the files sizes were still much
larger than .pdfs containing similar images printed as a pdf from Word and
the image quality was terrible. 
I guess the Illustrator compatibility or some other settings are keeping the
file size big?
Geoff

-----Original Message-----
From: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration-
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of DAVID W. EHLERT
Sent: Monday, 11 August 2008 2:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SCIART] PDF file size

Hey Geoff,

If you open a high quality PDF in Acrobat, you can then go to ADVANCED> PDF
Optimizer. Play with the settings to get what you need in terms of file
size.
Save the file with a new name, e.g. oldfilename_a.pdf
Hope that helps. :)

Cheers!
Dave


On Sat, 9 Aug 2008, Geoff Thompson wrote:

> Dear All,
>     I have been saving PDFs in Illustrator CS3 and Acrobat 8
> Professional. The files sizes are a lot bigger than if I print a similar
> file, containing the same images, as an Adobe PDF from Word. I have tried
> optimising the files but I lose a lot of quality in photos and the files
are
> still a lot bigger than if they were made from a different program. My
boss
> has my old CS creative suite and her version of Acrobat Professional has a
> function (I can't remember its name) that reduces file size without losing
> noticeable image quality. This is not available in my version and in any
> case was greyed out on a file made in Illustrator CS3.
> What am I doing wrong and what options do I have to get good quality
images
> in a smaller file size?
> Thanks,
>     Geoff Thompson
>