Scale PDF to A4 (via PDF to JPG to PDF?)

[Laxgi]

Hey,

I would like to scale big PDFs to A4-papersize. Tried different Tools, but all of them delete graphical annotations (you can add them via Adobe - Reader).
So I found the beautiful tool "convert"

PDF to PDF A4 doens't work for me, any fault in this command?

Code: Select all

convert -density 300 win/tmp/A3.PDF -page A4 win/tmp/A4.pdf

Also I've tried convertig PDF to JPG with -scale:

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convert -density 300 -scale 4460x3460 -frame 50x50 -mattecolor white win/tmp/THY.pdf win/tmp/XY.jpg

and then:

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convert -density 300 win/tmp/XY.jpg -scale 4510x3510 -quality 92 win/tmp/XY.pdf

That works, but when I print the PDF with an laser-printer, the Quality is too "corny". The Printer is not the Problem.


PDF to PDF would be the better way...

Thanks for any tricks.

Greetings from Germany
Laxgi

[snibgo]

Sorry, I know nothing about "-page". I would simply resize. The ratio between A-sizes is 1/sqrt(2) = 70.71%.

Code: Select all

convert -density 300 in.pdf -resize 70.71% out.pdf[code]

Note the resize must come after the input has been read.

For best quality you might need different density, eg 600.

[Laxgi]

Resize works perfect, size is correct but the Quality is bad.

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convert win/tmp/THY.pdf -resize 70.71%  win/tmp/THTEST.PDF

When I use

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convert -density 300 win/tmp/THY.pdf -resize 70.71%  win/tmp/THTEST.PDF

Size is "50,4 x 71,3 mm".

[snibgo]

What is the DPI of the scan? For best results, use the same density.

If that doesn't help, can you put the input pdf somewhere like dropbox.com and paste the link here?

[dlemstra]

You should specify -page A4 before loading the PDF.

Code: Select all

convert -density 300 -page A4 win/tmp/A3.PDF win/tmp/A4.pdf

Can you add a link to your PDF so we can use it for testing?

[Laxgi]

No Problem, I made a simple Test-PDF with graphical Annotations (they are very important for me):

http://huebner-tim.de/wordpress/?attachment_id=501
With this

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convert -density 300 -page A4 win/tmp/A3.PDF win/tmp/A4.pdf

I get this result (only cutted, not smaller):

[snibgo]

With ...

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convert -density 600 -page a4 testa3.pdf  a.pdf

... the page size (in inches) is very small, and it is truncated on the right.

With ...

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convert -density 600 testa3.pdf -resize 70.71% a.pdf

... the result seems to be fine.

IM v6.8.8-7 on Windows 8.1, Ghostscript 9.10.

[Laxgi]

With

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convert -density 600 testa3.pdf -resize 70.71% a.pdf

I get:
"Page size: 25,0 x 35,6mm"
That's not the correct page size.

[snibgo]

I get a page size of 8.27x11.69 inches, according to Adobe Reader.

What version of IM and GS are you using?

[Laxgi]

Im using GS 8.7 and IM 6.28.

[snibgo]

Ancient versions of both. I suggest you upgrade.

[Laxgi]

Updating is not possible,

but I found an Solution for me:

Converting to PDF incl. resizing

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convert -density 500 win/tmp/1in.pdf -resize 70.71% win/tmp/6.jpg

Converting to PDF

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convert win/tmp/6.jpg win/tmp/6out.pdf

[Laxgi]

Is it possible to make this a Little bit faster?
Maybe by compressing the pages or something else?
For 3 Pages in A3 in 300 DPI I need about 15 sec.

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convert -density 500 win/tmp/1in.pdf -resize 70.71% win/tmp/6.jpg
convert win/tmp/6.jpg win/tmp/6out.pdf

[dlemstra]

The reason this is not that fast is because of the specified density. Try to lower it to a value that works for you.

And please try to see if you can upgrade your version of Ghostscript and ImageMagick. We have added a new feature that will make the conversion easier and probably faster for you. The new pdf:fit-page option will scale your pdf to the specified size while reading it.

Code: Select all

convert -density 300 -define pdf:fit-page=A4 win/tmp/1in.pdf win/tmp/6out.pdf

[Laxgi]

I'll try to update. density lower than 300 isn't possible, then you can't read smaller parts after printing.