Insane PDF file size

This is a common issue. I recommend exporting the frame as a JPG first, then converting it to a PDF using Adobe or an online tool.

Exporting directly to PDF in Figma often results in large file sizes—it’s not really optimized for PDF exports. Figma is better suited for design work than for creating PDFs.

Unfortunately that would turn all text on the document into an image as well, but I need the text to remain as text.

So the best idea I got so far is basically turning my document into two documents, one for the background design and one for the text. Then I could export the backgrounds into an image and put it back into Figma.

You can use some online tools like ilovepdf.com for compressing exported from Figma pdf

I take it these PDFs will be printed? For print, we use InDesign.

That unfortunately requires sharing your data with some random online provider. How much compression would it yield? I’m guessing it won’t reduce the file size from 370 MB to <20 MB, which I need unfortunately.

You can try to download and use desktop app for compressing pdf, for example pdf24.org

Or try to export pdf from Figma with a plugins like Compressed PDF and Image Exporter

Do you have Adobe? If so, use Acrobat to reduce the file size.

If not, use a compressor like here. Upload the exported JPGs/PNGs and then reimport them into your Figma frames.

Tried that, unfortunately the compression is not nearly enough if Figma produces such absurdly unusable sizes. I’m now 10+ hours deep into attempts to fix this and I find it truly absurd that there are 5 years old threads talking about the same issue and it’s still not fixed. In my case the PDF export feature is literally bait that got me to waste 50+ hours on designing in Figma for the first time while the final product is not usable so far.

?

Afraid PDF’s are a natural export for Figma, they shouldn’t even offer it.

You can always share the file with me privately and I can help.

You can use ilovepdf.com to compress the file and reduce its size from 370mb to less than 10 mb, also you can use different plugins to export Figma to PDF such as TinyImage compressor - which will export it in a reduced size of about 80%-90% less.