MicroStation to PDF to reduce file size

I am trying to convert very large .dgn file sizes to a smaller pdf size to make uploading easier on my company's website. I have be able to reduce it a significant amount by changing the dpi, but I am not very familiar with MicroStation, so I am looking for some help. Does anyone know of a way to reduce the file size? I have been using Adobe and Bluebeam to do this.

  • Unknown said:
    I am trying to convert very large .dgn file sizes to a smaller pdf size

    MicroStation files contain 3D models.  They store data, such as 3D coordinates, in 64-bit precision floating point numbers.  DGN is a very different format to PDF, which uses a different representation for 3D geometry. It's not clear what you mean by 'convert very large .dgn file sizes to a smaller pdf size'.

    You can print from a MicroStation to a PDF?  Have you tried that?

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • Yes, that is what I have been doing - print to PDF and in the settings I can change the dpi, which reduces the size, but I still need to make it smaller. I wasn't sure if maybe there are settings when printing to PDF that I can change to help reduce the size of the file once it is printed. I have tried to reduce the size once it is a PDF, but that hasn't worked too well either.
  • What type of data are you trying to print from MicroStation? Just vector or a combination of raster and vector? Are you using the "Rasterized" option at print time? Are you using patterning? Perhaps you are using a dot pattern which can cause a large .pdf file.
    Are you using a copy of the delivered pdf.pltcfg or printe.pltcfg to interface to a PDF printer on your desktop?
    Options which can be disable under the Device Properties for PDF.PLTCG if they are not being used to reduce size are:
    Enable Georeferencing
    Enable measuring
    Enable Searchable Text
    If printing raster images (will decrease fidelity as you zoom in but decrease file size)
    Set RGB Raster Compression to JPEG

  • I do not know a lot about MicroStation, so please forgive me if I'm not understanding you correctly or answering all of your questions. They threw me into this testing without knowing anything about it.

    The files are construction drawings and I believe they are a combination of vector and raster, but I do not know for sure. I am not using the Rasterized option because the file size is smaller when I don't use it. I'm not sure about the dot pattern. The driver I am using was given to me by someone and I believe it is just a version of the pdf.pltcfg.

    I tried disabling the georeferencing, measuring, and searchable text, but it did not make the file size any smaller.

    Not sure if that helped you understand anything other than what I said before. Thank you though!
  • Could you please send me a private email with your contact information and I will call you.