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xtempo

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 2, 2014
459
119
Anybody know of software to create a PDF from a bunch of images that I scanned in from my Epson printer? I am using leopard on a PMG5.
 
I suggest you look into Automator. I has a New PDF from Images action you can use.

Tip : You can also use Get Selected Finder items or Get Specified Finder items as your first action. From Snow Leopard and on you can even create a Service. You can even make an application where you can drop files on to process. Start using Automator today, Otto is there to serve you.

Info : http://macosxautomation.com/
 

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Preview app should be able to do that

How do I use the preview app to do that?

I suggest you look into Automator. I has a New PDF from Images action you can use.

Tip : You can also use Get Selected Finder items or Get Specified Finder items as your first action. From Snow Leopard and on you can even create a Service. You can even make an application where you can drop files on to process. Start using Automator today, Otto is there to serve you.

Info : http://macosxautomation.com/

I am not using Snow Leopard but Leopard (10.5.8) so would it work with a powerpc based Mac?
 
Yes. The screenshot was made on a powerpc based Mac mini that runs Leopard.
Sorry I was a bit confused.

Just open the images in Preview and save as PDF, if you open the sidebar (I think it was renamed at some point, but that little overview thing in the side) there you can edit/add PDF's by just drag and drop.

I can save 1 image as a PDF but not all the images I have on the sidebar. I have highlighted all the images on the sidebar but only one saves. Is there anything I'm not doing right to get all the images saved as 1 PDF file?
 
Just open the images in Preview and save as PDF, if you open the sidebar (I think it was renamed at some point, but that little overview thing in the side) there you can edit/add PDF's by just drag and drop.

Yes, it's called Thumbnails under the View options in Mavericks. The drag and drop method in the Thumbnails sidebar doesn't always work consistently for me. I don't think I'm doing anything differently from one time to the next, why it will or won't work somedays, but anyway, it's nice to have an alternative with an Automator folder action.
 
Thanks I had never used automator before and wasn't sure how it works but it seems to do the job well.
 
Does anyone know how to make the pdf file less than 10mb? I can't seem to figure it out. Currently seems to be around 91mb
 
Does anyone know how to make the pdf file less than 10mb? I can't seem to figure it out. Currently seems to be around 91mb

Add an Apply Quartz Filter to PDF Documents action after the New PDF from Images action and in the Filter: drop down choose Reduce File Size. That filter is kind of overkill, it reduces a file from 30MB to 500Kb. Filter is locked so you can't change anything. You can duplicate a filter in the ColorSync Utility. In the Apply Quartz Filter to PDF Documents action click advanced options then click the question mark. In the Editing Quartz filter Mac Help window click Open ColorSync Utility. In the ColorSync Utility app goto the Filters tab and click the downward triangle besides the Reduce File Size and choose Duplicate Filter. Give it a meaningful name and change some settings to experiment with low file size and good quality as result.

Tip : You can try this with your 91Mb file.

To edit a filter while viewing how the edited filter modifies a PDF file, choose File > Open. When the PDF file appears, select “Live Update from Filter Inspector” from the Filter pop-up menu. As you edit the filter, your changes are reflected in the PDF file.

Edit : Duplicating a filter can also be done from the Apply Quartz Filter to PDF Documents action but your duplicate is not selectable in the Filter: drop down menu unless you delete the action and drag it back in again. Well at least it wasn't for me. YMMV.
 

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