Seeing images in a PDF file

Z
Posted By
Zak
May 22, 2006
Views
223
Replies
5
Status
Closed
If a PDF file is created out of a GIF image then does the recipient who is trying to view the PDF need to have some application which will view GIFs?

Alternatively, would the viewing of any graphic in a PDF (such as a GIF or TIFF file) need only the PDF reader itself?

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

C
CSM1
May 22, 2006
"Zak" wrote in message
If a PDF file is created out of a GIF image then does the recipient who is trying to view the PDF need to have some application which will view GIFs?

Alternatively, would the viewing of any graphic in a PDF (such as a GIF or TIFF file) need only the PDF reader itself?

You only need the PDF reader. That is the beauty of PDF, whatever is put into a PDF will be displayed by the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

PDF is also the universal document format that insures that it will print as the author intended.


CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
Z
Zak
May 25, 2006
On 22 May 2006, CSM1 wrote:

If a PDF file is created out of a GIF image then does the recipient who is trying to view the PDF need to have some application which will view GIFs?

Alternatively, would the viewing of any graphic in a PDF (such as a GIF or TIFF file) need only the PDF reader itself?

You only need the PDF reader. That is the beauty of PDF, whatever is put into a PDF will be displayed by the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
PDF is also the universal document format that insures that it will print as the author intended.

I use XP.
I scan a document to a graphics file (eg jpg, gif, bmp, etc) Then I make a PDF from the graphics file.

I see that if I save a large bitmap (BMP) and then create a PDF then the PDF is no bigger than if I had compressed the image to a GIF and used that to create a PDF file.

In order to preserve quality, avoid artefacts and interference patterns, would it be better to save to a large and detailed intermediate file like a BMP (or even a jpeg) or to save to a small lossless file like a GIF or TIF?
C
CSM1
May 25, 2006
"Zak" wrote in message
On 22 May 2006, CSM1 wrote:

If a PDF file is created out of a GIF image then does the recipient who is trying to view the PDF need to have some application which will view GIFs?

Alternatively, would the viewing of any graphic in a PDF (such as a GIF or TIFF file) need only the PDF reader itself?

You only need the PDF reader. That is the beauty of PDF, whatever is put into a PDF will be displayed by the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
PDF is also the universal document format that insures that it will print as the author intended.

I use XP.
I scan a document to a graphics file (eg jpg, gif, bmp, etc) Then I make a PDF from the graphics file.

I see that if I save a large bitmap (BMP) and then create a PDF then the PDF is no bigger than if I had compressed the image to a GIF and used that to create a PDF file.

In order to preserve quality, avoid artifacts and interference patterns, would it be better to save to a large and detailed intermediate file like a BMP (or even a jpeg) or to save to a small lossless file like a GIF or TIF?

If you have OmniPage 15, you can scan and create the PDF in one step. Actually three steps in Omnipage. Scan, OCR(with edit), Save file.

Pro version (The best choice. Includes PDF Create! and PDF Convert). http://www.nuance.com/omnipage/professional/
If you own any OCR package, You can buy the upgrade version. Or the Standard version:
http://www.nuance.com/omnipage/standard/

I use PDF Create! for a great number of my PDF files.
A large number of the PDF Film data sheets on my web site were created with PDF Create! The sheets were scanned to a 300 DPI TIFF then I used PDF Create!.
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/film_data.htm

As to your question, I think scanning to TIFF is the best approach, if you scan to an image first. OCR does require at least 300 DPI to do well.

Tif is not small unless you scan at a low resolution and use compression. You do not want a low resolution scan, 300 DPI for text and more if Line drawings.

Tif is lossless. Jpeg is Lossy and may create artifacts on lines and some text.

BMP and Gif do not store the scan resolution in the image file. TIF does.


CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com
Z
Zak
May 26, 2006
"Zak" wrote in message
I use XP.
I scan a document to a graphics file (eg jpg, gif, bmp, etc) Then I make a PDF from the graphics file.

I see that if I save a large bitmap (BMP) and then create a PDF then the PDF is no bigger than if I had compressed the image to a GIF and used that to create a PDF file.

In order to preserve quality, avoid artifacts and interference patterns, would it be better to save to a large and detailed intermediate file like a BMP (or even a jpeg) or to save to a small lossless file like a GIF or TIF?

On 25 May 2006, CSM1 wrote:
If you have OmniPage 15, you can scan and create the PDF in one
— snip —

I use PDF Create! for a great number of my PDF files.
A large number of the PDF Film data sheets on my web site were created with PDF Create! The sheets were scanned to a 300 DPI TIFF then I used PDF Create!.
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/film_data.htm

Omnipage is way too expensive. Is "PDF Create!" the same application as "PDF Creator" (by Philip Chinery etc?

As to your question, I think scanning to TIFF is the best approach, if you scan to an image first. OCR does require at least 300 DPI to do well.

Tif is not small unless you scan at a low resolution and use compression. You do not want a low resolution scan, 300 DPI for text and more if Line drawings.

When you create the PDF from a TIFF, do you not find that the PDF file is noticeably smaller than the TIFF file?

This is what made me ask about the best file format and resolution as it seems that the PDF uses its own settings.

I am guessing that the conversion process works when the larger file’s specifications are an exact multiple of the smaller file’s specs. If you see what I mean.

Tif is lossless. Jpeg is Lossy and may create artifacts on lines and some text.

BMP and Gif do not store the scan resolution in the image file. TIF does.

That’s interesting about TIF storing scan resolution.
C
CSM1
May 26, 2006
"Zak" wrote in message
"Zak" wrote in message
I use XP.
I scan a document to a graphics file (eg jpg, gif, bmp, etc) Then I make a PDF from the graphics file.

I see that if I save a large bitmap (BMP) and then create a PDF then the PDF is no bigger than if I had compressed the image to a GIF and used that to create a PDF file.

In order to preserve quality, avoid artifacts and interference patterns, would it be better to save to a large and detailed intermediate file like a BMP (or even a jpeg) or to save to a small lossless file like a GIF or TIF?

On 25 May 2006, CSM1 wrote:
If you have OmniPage 15, you can scan and create the PDF in one
— snip —

I use PDF Create! for a great number of my PDF files.
A large number of the PDF Film data sheets on my web site were created with PDF Create! The sheets were scanned to a 300 DPI TIFF then I used PDF Create!.
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/film_data.htm

Omnipage is way too expensive.

Would you pay $79.99 or $99.99 for Omnipage 15?
They claim:
But hurry, this exclusive offer expires on April 30, 2006.

I have often found that Nuance will repeat the offer sometime. Maybe when they come out with a new version. (look for Omnipage 16 next year).

Is "PDF Create!" the same application as
"PDF Creator" (by Philip Chinery etc?

The About says :
ScanSoft PDF Create! English
Copyright(c) 2005 ScanSoft, Inc and Zeon Corporation.
All rights reserved.

So the answer is No, not the same program.
If the program you are using does the job, then that is great!

As to your question, I think scanning to TIFF is the best approach, if you scan to an image first. OCR does require at least 300 DPI to do well.

Tif is not small unless you scan at a low resolution and use compression. You do not want a low resolution scan, 300 DPI for text and more if Line drawings.

When you create the PDF from a TIFF, do you not find that the PDF file is noticeably smaller than the TIFF file?

Yes, they usually are, sometimes the PDF is larger. Depends on the content of the TIFF.

This is what made me ask about the best file format and resolution as it seems that the PDF uses its own settings.

PDF does use its own settings and compression, but the resultant PDF is much better when you start with a good clean 300 DPI Image.

I sometimes edit the image file before PDF Create!.
I clean up the specks and creases in the scan if I can. PhotoShop Elements is a fantastic Image editor.

I am guessing that the conversion process works when the larger file’s specifications are an exact multiple of the smaller file’s specs. If you see what I mean.

You mean if it is an exact multiple of 8 bits or power of two?

Tif is lossless. Jpeg is Lossy and may create artifacts on lines and some text.

BMP and Gif do not store the scan resolution in the image file. TIF does.

That’s interesting about TIF storing scan resolution.

So does Jpeg, but Lossy. PNG does also on some editors.

TIFF is the most universal format. More readers can read TIFF than any other image format.

Wayne Fulton has a chart of the different image file formats. And a detailed look at them.
http://www.scantips.com/basics09.html


CSM1
http://www.carlmcmillan.com

MacBook Pro 16” Mockups 🔥

– in 4 materials (clay versions included)

– 12 scenes

– 48 MacBook Pro 16″ mockups

– 6000 x 4500 px

Related Discussion Topics

Nice and short text about related topics in discussion sections