Eliminating the margins on PDF's

Sapien · 03-12-2009, 06:43 AM

Hi Everyone,

Just got my 505 last week, and now I can't go anywhere without my little companion.

Now for my question: I have some PDF's that I would love to be able to read on the 505, but the text is just a little too tiny. I know about the reflow option by using the zoom, but I tend to loose to much of the formatting. However, I would be satisfied if I could crop the the margins and according to the wiki entry below, then this should be possible.
But I can´t get it to work, so I am wondering if that is a faulty entry?

From the Wiki (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS505):

"
PDFs are so small as to be unreadable...The PRS-505 sizes PDF pages to the Reader's (tiny) screen. First, if you are in portrait mode, hold the button labeled with a magnifying glass for 5 seconds to change into landscape mode. You will only see half a page at a time, but it will be enlarged. Second, at the bottom of the screen, you will see a circle with an "S" or a "M." If you see the "S," press the button labeled with a magnifying glass for half a second. This will eliminate the margins.
"

Cheers, Alex

Juggle4Evr · 03-12-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapien

However, I would be satisfied if I could crop the the margins and according to the wiki entry below, then this should be possible.

Hi,

well if you're a Mac user I can recommend Skim (http://skim-app.sourceforge.net/). I use it to reduce the margins of (non-DRMed) PDFs.

Bye,
Juergen

DDHarriman · 03-12-2009, 08:41 AM

Hi Alex

This should have been so before the Jully 2008 firmware upgrade - when reflowing PDF text files was introduced.
Now what you get when pushing the “enlarge” button” is reflowing the text, be it in portrait more or landscape mode.

What you can do now, is to cut the white margins in the PDF with a PDF editing software, per example in Acrobat you do it by accessing “Document” and “Crop Pages” and activate “Remove White Margins” or do it manually.

Best regards,

jefferson_frantz · 03-12-2009, 11:16 AM

Hi Sapien.
You can use Nitro PDF, it works for me

Jeff.

frabjous · 03-12-2009, 03:29 PM

The problem with NitroPDF and Acrobat is that they're not free.

There are a whole bunch of free applications available here at MobileRead that work great for making PDFs easier to read on a Sony PRS-505. I've been experimenting with a bunch of them.

Here's a list of the ones I've tried (with links):
PDFLRF
Rasterfarian
PDFread
SoPDF
PaperCrop

All of these can remove the margins and other whitespace.

Some of those convert from .PDF to .LRF; some leave in .PDF format. Either format works on the Sony, so that doesn't matter much to me personally. Some of them convert the text to images, which can multiply file size, but some will only use images if you begin with an image-based .PDF (e.g., from a scan).

Personally, I've mainly been using SoPDF for text-based .PDFs, since it doesn't automatically convert it to images (though it does remove the margins) -- I even made a Windows GUI for it, which you'll find in the thread. It's also blazingly fast compared to some of the others, including Acrobat itself, which does this rather slowly.

I've been using PDFLRF for .PDFs that are already image based, especially two-column ones. It works very well.

I occasionally use PaperCrop if the original has more than two columns, or uneven columns.

Sapien · 03-12-2009, 03:42 PM

Thanks to all of you for the tips.

Some of the PDF's I have are protected, so I guess that I won't have much luck in using converting tools on them. But I will definately try out my luck with the tools on the reminder.

And thanks DDHarriman for clearing up the "Press the magnifying glass for half a second" issue.

nobylspoon · 09-02-2009, 09:55 PM

I tried pressing the magnifying glass for half a second to get rid of the margins but all it did was change the font size to medium, am I doing something wrong or did I just misunderstand something?

doreenjoy · 09-02-2009, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

Hi Alex

This should have been so before the Jully 2008 firmware upgrade - when reflowing PDF text files was introduced.
Now what you get when pushing the “enlarge” button” is reflowing the text, be it in portrait more or landscape mode.

What you can do now, is to cut the white margins in the PDF with a PDF editing software, per example in Acrobat you do it by accessing “Document” and “Crop Pages” and activate “Remove White Margins” or do it manually.

Best regards,

Nope, that won't work. The margins are still in the document, they will only be "hidden" in Acrobat. When viewed on the Reader the margins will be as wide as ever.

nobylspoon · 09-03-2009, 08:53 AM

I just installed the trial of NitroPDF and it works great. I can actually read full pages from my Microsoft Press books now

WillAdams · 09-03-2009, 09:04 AM

doreenjoy,

I've been able to crop .pdfs and view them sans the margins (and in some instances cropped off text / image) on my Sony PRS-505 --- what tool are you using to crop .pdfs? Do you have an example of one which views cropped in Adobe Reader, but is un-cropped when viewed on an ebook reader?

William

DDHarriman · 09-03-2009, 01:40 PM

Hi doreenjoy,

I’m sorry but with acrobat it will.
As you say it really does not crop the margins just hides them, but they are not shown in the reader.
Take care that if the final cropped page does not respect the screen ratio (length by with), it will “fill” with a little white margin the smaller side.
In landscape mode, it just “cuts” the page in 2 superimposing it a tinny little bit - the final part of the first half is greyed out and repeats itself in the begin of the second half. Still no margins.

Best regards,

doreenjoy · 09-04-2009, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDHarriman

Hi doreenjoy,

I’m sorry but with acrobat it will.
As you say it really does not crop the margins just hides them, but they are not shown in the reader.
Take care that if the final cropped page does not respect the screen ratio (length by with), it will “fill” with a little white margin the smaller side.
In landscape mode, it just “cuts” the page in 2 superimposing it a tinny little bit - the final part of the first half is greyed out and repeats itself in the begin of the second half. Still no margins.

Best regards,

I've been using Acrobat 5.0 and I still see the huge full margins in the reader. Pretty sure this isn't user error. Perhaps I need a newer version.

DDHarriman · 09-04-2009, 06:00 AM

Hi

Probably that’s the case - I do not have version 5 at hand to test.

Using version 8 here.
If you want, you can send me one pdf (can be just a page), per example by PM if you want, that you have tested and got no good results and I will very pleased into sending you back one done with version 8 for you to test in your reader.

Best regards,

doreenjoy · 09-04-2009, 06:38 AM

That's very kind of you. I believe one of my work computers has a more recent version of Acrobat...I'll definitely have to test it out.

WillAdams · 09-04-2009, 07:02 AM

I crop .pdfs using Acrobat (Professional) 7, 8 and 9 quite regularly and they all display correctly in the reader --- just be sure to alter the trim box.

William

03-12-2009, 06:43 AM	#1
Sapien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: PRS 505	Eliminating the margins on PDF's Hi Everyone, Just got my 505 last week, and now I can't go anywhere without my little companion. Now for my question: I have some PDF's that I would love to be able to read on the 505, but the text is just a little too tiny. I know about the reflow option by using the zoom, but I tend to loose to much of the formatting. However, I would be satisfied if I could crop the the margins and according to the wiki entry below, then this should be possible. But I can´t get it to work, so I am wondering if that is a faulty entry? From the Wiki (https://wiki.mobileread.com/wiki/PRS505): " PDFs are so small as to be unreadable...The PRS-505 sizes PDF pages to the Reader's (tiny) screen. First, if you are in portrait mode, hold the button labeled with a magnifying glass for 5 seconds to change into landscape mode. You will only see half a page at a time, but it will be enlarged. Second, at the bottom of the screen, you will see a circle with an "S" or a "M." If you see the "S," press the button labeled with a magnifying glass for half a second. This will eliminate the margins. " Cheers, Alex

03-12-2009, 03:29 PM	#5
frabjous Wizard Posts: 1,213 Karma: 12890 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts, USA Device: Sony PRS-505	The problem with NitroPDF and Acrobat is that they're not free. There are a whole bunch of free applications available here at MobileRead that work great for making PDFs easier to read on a Sony PRS-505. I've been experimenting with a bunch of them. Here's a list of the ones I've tried (with links): PDFLRF Rasterfarian PDFread SoPDF PaperCrop All of these can remove the margins and other whitespace. Some of those convert from .PDF to .LRF; some leave in .PDF format. Either format works on the Sony, so that doesn't matter much to me personally. Some of them convert the text to images, which can multiply file size, but some will only use images if you begin with an image-based .PDF (e.g., from a scan). Personally, I've mainly been using SoPDF for text-based .PDFs, since it doesn't automatically convert it to images (though it does remove the margins) -- I even made a Windows GUI for it, which you'll find in the thread. It's also blazingly fast compared to some of the others, including Acrobat itself, which does this rather slowly. I've been using PDFLRF for .PDFs that are already image based, especially two-column ones. It works very well. I occasionally use PaperCrop if the original has more than two columns, or uneven columns. Last edited by frabjous; 03-12-2009 at 03:37 PM.

09-03-2009, 01:40 PM	#11
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi doreenjoy, I’m sorry but with acrobat it will. As you say it really does not crop the margins just hides them, but they are not shown in the reader. Take care that if the final cropped page does not respect the screen ratio (length by with), it will “fill” with a little white margin the smaller side. In landscape mode, it just “cuts” the page in 2 superimposing it a tinny little bit - the final part of the first half is greyed out and repeats itself in the begin of the second half. Still no margins. Best regards, Last edited by DDHarriman; 09-03-2009 at 01:44 PM.

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03-12-2009, 08:41 AM	#3
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Alex This should have been so before the Jully 2008 firmware upgrade - when reflowing PDF text files was introduced. Now what you get when pushing the “enlarge” button” is reflowing the text, be it in portrait more or landscape mode. What you can do now, is to cut the white margins in the PDF with a PDF editing software, per example in Acrobat you do it by accessing “Document” and “Crop Pages” and activate “Remove White Margins” or do it manually. Best regards,

03-12-2009, 11:16 AM	#4
jefferson_frantz Member Posts: 14 Karma: 12 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lima, Perú Device: Kindle 2 and Sony Reader PRS 505	Hi Sapien. You can use Nitro PDF, it works for me Jeff.

03-12-2009, 03:42 PM	#6
Sapien Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: PRS 505	Thanks to all of you for the tips. Some of the PDF's I have are protected, so I guess that I won't have much luck in using converting tools on them. But I will definately try out my luck with the tools on the reminder. And thanks DDHarriman for clearing up the "Press the magnifying glass for half a second" issue.

09-02-2009, 09:55 PM	#7
nobylspoon Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 1234598 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Asus Transformer, WIFI Xoom, EVO LTE, 3G Paperwhite 10/2	I tried pressing the magnifying glass for half a second to get rid of the margins but all it did was change the font size to medium, am I doing something wrong or did I just misunderstand something?

09-03-2009, 08:53 AM	#9
nobylspoon Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 1234598 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, Asus Transformer, WIFI Xoom, EVO LTE, 3G Paperwhite 10/2	I just installed the trial of NitroPDF and it works great. I can actually read full pages from my Microsoft Press books now

09-03-2009, 09:04 AM	#10
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	doreenjoy, I've been able to crop .pdfs and view them sans the margins (and in some instances cropped off text / image) on my Sony PRS-505 --- what tool are you using to crop .pdfs? Do you have an example of one which views cropped in Adobe Reader, but is un-cropped when viewed on an ebook reader? William

09-04-2009, 06:00 AM	#13
DDHarriman Guru Posts: 860 Karma: 4380 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Almada, Portugal Device: Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS 505, Kindle DXG and Samsung Galaxy Note	Hi Probably that’s the case - I do not have version 5 at hand to test. Using version 8 here. If you want, you can send me one pdf (can be just a page), per example by PM if you want, that you have tested and got no good results and I will very pleased into sending you back one done with version 8 for you to test in your reader. Best regards,

09-04-2009, 06:38 AM	#14
doreenjoy 01000100 01001010 Posts: 1,889 Karma: 2400000 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Polyamorous	That's very kind of you. I believe one of my work computers has a more recent version of Acrobat...I'll definitely have to test it out.

09-04-2009, 07:02 AM	#15
WillAdams Wizard Posts: 1,234 Karma: 3350652 Join Date: Feb 2008 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (300ppi), Samsung Galaxy Book 12	I crop .pdfs using Acrobat (Professional) 7, 8 and 9 quite regularly and they all display correctly in the reader --- just be sure to alter the trim box. William

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