Creating pdf's

[Jayell]

I'm in the middle of selling a home .. and having trouble sending the pdf's back to the broker because my pdf comes out waaaay too large for my ISP to handle.

Broker sends me an email pdf that's 10 pages .. 1.6 MB
I print it out, sign, scan back into my computer as a PDF (using my HP Officejet 6500 printer controls) .. it comes out to 20 MB!! My ISP only allows about 5MB attachments. Is there some secret to creating pdf's that should be closer to the original document size? I know there's other services I can use, but trying to work with what I have at the moment .. and understand why the huge difference in file size.
I do not have Adobe Acrobat Pro.

[Bob]

Try reducing the scan resolution. I'm not familiar with that software, but it's not uncommon to have a 300 dpi resolution as default. That's fine for photos, but text can be much lower. Try setting the resolution to 100 dpi. Also, try changing the document type from color or black and white, to Grayscale.

[Chris B]

You problem is the scanning.

The PDF would have been created from a document rather than (in your case) pictures of a document. Try lowering the "quality" of the PDF (screen viewing only) or printing one page at a time - this should lower the size of it.

[Bob]

Anyone here use HP Solution Center? I think that's what Jayell is using. Using that, you scan to document and set the target to pdf and it does the rest. I don't know whether you can set the quality when scanning to document. That's why I made the suggestions I did. Anyone know?

[Jayell]

Oohhhh, you mean I have to read the instructions?!? I hate that!
It defaults to 300 dpi .. plus 'color' .. for a black and white document. Duh!!
Yes, Bob, I do have the HP Solution Center, which is fairly simple .. once I remember to start using it. I'll go back and start over again now that I'm pointed in the right direction.
I've been using my previously set up defaults for so long, I just push the buttons on the printer. I forgot I was in charge here .
Thanks guys!

[Steve Grisetti]

I don't know about HP Solution Center. But there are lots of ways to make a PDF -- and lots of resolutions and compression settings.

Printing out, scanning and then converting it to a PDF using Photoshop/Photo Elements is probably not the most efficient way. Although you can greatly reduce the size by lowering the resolution to 150 ppi.

Most likely the original document was created in Word or something that used text to create the PDF rather than pixels.

Is it necessary for you to rescan the entire document? Maybe all broker needs is the signature page(s). At 150 ppi, these pages shouldn't be terribly large. Though it also might be even more efficient to send the scans to your broker as JPEGs, which can be very small and still print out nicely at 150 ppi.

[Jayell]

Is it necessary for you to rescan the entire document? Maybe all broker needs is the signature page(s)..

EVERY page has to be initialed. But after these guys made me go back and read the instructions (and remind me there was actually a place to do all that), I almost have it under control.
Thanks, Steve.

[Peru]

You can save custom presets and also set the default preset for scans in HP Solution Center.

[Jayell]

Yes, that's how I initially got into trouble .. set a couple of those a long time ago, then forgot about them.
Loooooots of options in there. I've now reduced my 3MB file down to .7 MB .. muuuuch better.