I notice that if a CDR file contains bitmaps in it, the file size would become unreasonably huge.For example, I have a JPEG of 1.61MB. If I import the JPEG into a blank CDR file, with only the JPEG in the file, the CDR file size becomes 8.34MB.
I wonder what are the "excessive" information that is stored in the CDR file which causes the huge jump in file size.
You're importing a compressed JPG file Draw enters its actual size into memory.
Does that mean the JPEG (or any JPEG) actually still contains the uncompressed information within the file? I just tested with illustrator. With the 1.61MB JPEG imported, the AI file is 14.8MB, which is even bigger.How can I keep the CDR file small with a numbers of bitmaps in it? I often end up with file size of tens of MB with few bitmaps in it.
The huge file size is after saving and closing the document, not just while editing.Example, I have a 4'x4' food menu lightbox sticker at 150dpi, with 16 food photos and a background photo in it. All photos are at 150dpi. The CDR file size after save and close is 173MB.Note that the food photos are clipped into boxes of 7"x9", so the photos are actually bigger than 7"x9". I usually will resample them to actual dimension after the artwork is confirmed by client. Doing so will reduce the CDR file size to 93.1MB.Btw, recently I just learnt that intersecting part of a bitmap only make the copy looks small in dimension, but it's actually still in original dimension. We can "reveal" the "hidden" part by editing the nodes. Example, if I intersect the 7"x9" food photo with a 5"x5" box, it creates a copy of 5"x5", but I can edit the nodes to show the part outside the 5"x5" area. I will have to resample the 5"x5" copy in order to make it actually 5"x5" without the outer part.
If I powerclip an image only to have a small portion of it visible in the end I'll go into the powerclip and crop the image. Or in your case if you find that by moving the nodes and the rest of the image can be viewed it might be that it was "clipped" in this manner. Draw a rectangle to hide a portion of the image then clip that away. If you don't hit the crop icon all the image is still there. This too can cause the file to be "bloated"
Power clipping or cropping an image doesn't reduce content in memory. After clipping or cropping the image it must be converted to a bitmap at the proper resolution with a background.
In the case of the 4'x4' lightbox above, after all the photos are cropped/converted to the intended size and resolution, the file size is 93.1MB as mentioned. I wonder if such file size is actually normal for such file.
How many images at wht size and what resolution.
16 food photos and 1 background photo, all 150dpi
Right click any image and select bitmap resample, the dialog will tell the file size of that image. Do all the images and add them up. To simplify this and make is as small as possible group all images convert to bitmap.
No bitmap resample option in the right-click context menu. Anyway, it's on the property bar.Background = 197 MBPhotos = 5.94MB x 16 = 95.04 MBTotal = 292.04 MB (CDR file size 93.1 MB)If I combine all photos into one bitmap:Image size = 197MB (CDR file size 89.3 MB)Seem like combining everything into one doesn't help much. Anyway, I would not consider combining all photos into one bitmap in most cases, as I need to keep the content editable in future. Often, client tend to make minor changes (e.g. changes on the menu items, rearrange position, etc.) in future. I did some further testing as below:1. Removing the background, with only 16 food photos -> CDR file size 77.7 MB2. Removing all food photos, with only the background -> CDR file size 15.6 MBSo, seems like it's the food photos that's causing the big file size, despite the background is bigger size individually. Not sure how this works, because with only one big bitmap (197 MB), the CDR is smaller (15.6 MB), but with multiple small bitmaps (total 95.04 MB), the CDR is bigger (77.7 MB).
The CDR file is lossless compressed when saving. To read what's in memory shut CorelDRAW down completely, open the task manager, open CorelDRAW open your file let it set for a few seconds look at CorelDRAW memory in task manager before doing anything in CorelDRAW with the file.
To have quality you must have a minimum of resolution. To make an omelet you have to break some eggs. I understand keeping the file editable I do the same thing but as soon as it's approved I make an output version with all images flattened into one, then if needed I can send it anywhere.
Your files sizes are normal for quality at this output resolution.
Don't use lossy compression you'll just screw up your quality.