Generalize Vector Data on Export Settings

Idea created by sraretail on Nov 14, 2017

Comment • 6

Implemented

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In ArcGIS Pro, exports in vector format are much larger than the same map exported from ArcMap.

Exporting to PDF from ArcGIS Pro is producing large file sizes

While Acrobat Pro’s option to reduce file size helps to some extent, users may not have access to this software. ‘Generalizing’ features in ArcGIS Pro reduces the size of files, but forces the user to modify their original data set.

It would be great to add a setting to generalize features as part of the export process, leaving the original data unaltered. So many maps become part of larger presentations, and the cumulative effect of large map sizes is significant.

Thank You!

6 Comments

cmathers Jan 18, 2018 9:16 AM
I spent time converting our county road atlases to Pro projects and the file size for a 151 page PDF is 16x larger exported from Pro than from ArcMap with both at 300 dpi. I know the preference is for as rich of a document as possible but the solution for smaller files shouldn't be exporting to rasters and converting/merging them into a PDF.
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- sraretail @ cmathers on Feb 1, 2018 6:35 AM
  Agreed. Rasterizing negates the whole purpose of providing vector data to begin with. Did you try the Reduced File Size option from this thread? This was the only method that reduced the size without rasterizing that I have tried.
  
  https://community.esri.com/message/728955-re-exporting-to-pdf-from-arcgis-pro-is-producing-large-file-sizes?commentID=72…
  
  Ultimately, generalization / simplify export settings would be very helpful--not only for print exports, but exporting features for online delivery as well. Most best practices for design include preserving ALL data at the source (IE, the ArcGIS Pro project file), and trimming out what is not needed during a customizable export process. This is basically what a graphic designer would do when exporting a web version of an image, but without destroying the high resolution original.
  
  Wonder what process was used to create the new vector tile base maps now available via ESRI. They load a lot of information pretty quickly.
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PSLarkin_SpokaneCounty Nov 15, 2018 12:29 PM
I'd love to see Pro export smaller PDFs. I have many examples where an MXD produces a file 50% smaller than an identical Pro project.
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- PSLarkin_SpokaneCounty @ PSLarkin_SpokaneCounty on Jul 2, 2019 12:59 PM
  I'm seeing a 30% reduction in size with 2.4 Pro. Thanks to ESRI for addressing this problem.
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mboeringa2010 Jul 2, 2019 11:19 AM
Hi all,

Now I have upgraded to Pro 2.4, that is supposed to have some enhancements related to export sizes of PDFs, I thought it nice to do some tests by exporting the same maps I created in Pro 2.3.x in version 2.4 and see if there is truly any progress in tackling the issue.

These tests and maps are based on a highly detailed topographic vector rendering of OpenStreetMap data using a style and ArcGIS renderer toolbox developed by myself. The maps also use the Elevation Tinted Hillshade and Multi Directional Hillshade basemaps to enhance display, but all OpenStreetMap data is present as vector data in the resulting PDFs.

As to the answer to this issue: yes there is progress in 2.4, file sizes are reduced by a factor of about 1.5 to 2, depending on map contents and scale. This was with 250 dpi output and "Best" for image quality settings!

Actually, as to pure vector maps, the difference in size might be much more pronounced. Part of the remaining file size in 2.4 is for the ESRI raster hillshade maps, meaning the actual vector size may have shrunk much more in relative size. I need to do some testing without raster basemaps as well...

For some example statistics, see below, and the images entirely below for the kind of data in these maps:
1:2M A0 sized map: 84 MB PDF export in Pro 2.3.x, 46 MB in Pro 2.4
1:250k A0 sized map: 108 MB PDF export in Pro 2.3.x, 72 MB in Pro 2.4
1:50k A0 sized map: 76 MB PDF export in Pro 2.3.x, 55 MB in Pro 2.4

I could not see significant quality loss in the images. At 800% zoom in Adobe Reader, there only appear very minor artifacts in the line work (see red arrows pointing them out) that might be related to the quantization of the vector data in 2.4 (as mentioned here for Pro 2.4 new features in the Reduction in size of PDF exports topic), although I must admit that the 2.4 image also uses the new XI Reader instead of classis Adobe Reader for the 2.3.x which might also make a difference. I still think it likely though this is related to the quantization in 2.4.
Note that at 100% or 1:1 zoom scale in Adobe Reader, these minor artifacts are completely invisible on the average screen, and likely in print as well. In addition, based on the New Features topic mentioned, you should be able to improve on it if needed by raising the export DPI, although at the cost of larger export size.

Example maps:
1:2M map (detail):
1:250k map (detail):
1:50k map (full):
1:50k map (detail):
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KKramer-esristaff Jul 2, 2019 4:50 PM
https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas/blog/2019/07/02/ideas-in-arcgis-pro-24
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