I'm trying to create a PDF from a presentation in Ubuntu using LibreOffice, but I'm running into a huge file size issue. I created a one-page PDF that ended up being 8.8 MB, even though the images in it only total around 560.4 KB. I also tried another program, Officemaker Present, and got an even larger PDF size of 9.6 MB. In contrast, when I booted into Windows and used WPS Office, I managed to create a similar PDF that was only 722 KB. What's going on? I want to use Windows less, but these size discrepancies are making it hard to completely switch over.
5 Answers
Also, check your print to PDF settings. It may treat your presentation as a single large image instead of optimized document images. Switching to a better PDF export option could help!
It sounds like the compression settings are different on the two platforms. The Windows PDF creator might use a better compression algorithm by default. When exporting from Ubuntu, make sure to pick a high compression setting to reduce file size.
I found that when I export to PDF in LibreOffice, there's an option for adjusting the DPI for images. I did a test and noticed that exporting with 300 DPI made my file 6.3 MB, but when I switched to 150 DPI, it dropped to just 93 KB. You might want to check your export settings for image compression; that could make a big difference!
Have you considered trying OnlyOffice? I’ve heard it does a good job with PDF exports too, and might give you better results in terms of file size.
I think you’re spot on about the software differences. Just because they both create PDFs doesn't mean their underlying compression or image handling is the same. It could be causing the size difference you're seeing!
Thanks for the tip! I didn't realize I could adjust the DPI like that. I'll give it a shot!