3 Replies Latest reply: Jan 18, 2010 1:13 PM by CtDave RSS

    image archiving in a PDF

    imagex ideas Community Member

      I'm using Acrobat 9 Standard to create PDFs for a genealogy archive.  I've scanned several large images, eg maps, and saved them temporarily as lossless TIFs.  For example, one map is a 8600x4700 Dot Gain 20% TIF.  I want to incorporate these images into a PDF - or save them as a single-page PDF - for archival purposes.  To preserve all the detail in the image I want to avoid reducing the (resolution) pixel count and avoid compression - or at least use only completely lossless compression.  I'm willing to use any page size and PDF file size necessary to do this.

       

      I tried using Distiller to set the preset at "PDF/A-1b: 2005" then creating a PDF from just the large TIF cited above.  The TIF file was about 40MB and the PDF file was 2.5MB.  There must have been some pixel shrinkage or lossy compression to get that reduction.

       

      How can I achieve my goal of full TIF fidelity when creating a PDF from a TIF?

       

      Perhaps more generally, is there a good reference or manual for creating PDFs for high-resolution archiving?

        • 1. Re: image archiving in a PDF
          CtDave CommunityMVP

          Some configuration of Acrobat preferences will help.
          Edit > Preferences > select Category: "Convert to PDF".
          In the center column ("Converting To PDF"), scroll down and select "TIFF".
          Click the "Edit Settings" button.
          Configure the Compression pane's values.
          (You may find these useful - Monochrome to CCITT G4, Grayscale to ZIP, Color to ZIP.)
          Configure the Color Management pane's values.
          (You may find using a value of "Off" for all may be useful.)


          Also -
          Open Distiller. Access the settings edit dialog.
          Create a job option that has the "Images" "folder" configured in a manner that meets your needs.
          You may want to try:
          Color Images
          --| Downsample: Off
          --| Compression: Zip
          Grayscale Images
          --| Downsample: Off
          --| Compression: Zip
          Monochrome Images
          --| Downsample: Off
          --| Compression: CCITT Group 4
            Anti-alias to grey: Off


          If you want to use the archival PDF format (PDF/A) and if you've not used it much before then take some time to review what Acrobat Help has to say.
          After that, give it a try.


          Be well...

          • 2. Re: image archiving in a PDF
            imagex ideas Community Member

            Thanks for this very quick and helpful reply to my posting.  One follow-up if I may.  You suggest ZIP compression as the lossless choice for color and grayscale images.  JPEG2000 is also available in a lossless option, and standard JPEG with maximal quality is virtually lossless and artifact-free.  Is your preference for ZIP over either of these two motivated by archival durability or by typical file size reduction without loss?

            • 3. Re: image archiving in a PDF
              CtDave CommunityMVP

              Yes,
              JPEG 2000 lossless is certainly "good-to-go".
              Anything "JPEG" *will* result in some destructive removal of pixels.
              For your needs, this may not be an issue.


              Why ZIP?
              Periodically, I provide specific document collections, as PDF, to a federal regulatory agency.
              They in turn submit to NARA.
              The "how-to" for what is acceptable was provided pre-JPEG 2000.
              Although JPEG 2000 is now ok to use for these submittals, I prefer to leave the compression variable in my workflow alone.
              For your purposes you may find JPEG 2000 to your preference.


              As you are decidely interested in archival aspects I would suggest a close study of PDF/A and its flavors.
              Being an ISO standard, PDF/A will go the distance for establishing your PDFs as archival documents.
              I not be too concerned with any individual file size.
              Banking the PDFs to a server, WORM, archival grade OSM (CD/DVD), or a combination thereof provides adequate "real estate".


              Be well...