Welcome To Fly Free or Die

Very cool! Can't wait to see this AP in action!

This is the Starfinder AP of my dreams. Having an absolute BLAST with this adventure.

SHINY! I aim to misbehave!

Neat! I like that!

My table won't start til January but I'm having a blast prepping it and hearing what characters my players are making.

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

Hi Wzrd,

Not sure if you want to go through the trouble, but if it helps - you can grab Inkscape online for free (open source, full program, no fees)

Use File > Import to import a specific page
Right-click on the page and select ungroup
Repeat two more times to ungroup all layers
Delete what you don't need, marquee (click and drag around) the bits you want to create a specific image, and right-click > group, export in the format you need.

(This is a very general overview)

This is how I get images to use with Fantasy Grounds Unity.

Inkscape is a great tool though it has a bit of a learning curve.

Wzrd wrote:

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

Hi Wzrd,

Not sure if you want to go through the trouble, but if it helps - you can grab Inkscape online for free (open source, full program, no fees)

Use File > Import to import a specific page
Right-click on the page and select ungroup
Repeat two more times to ungroup all layers
Delete what you don't need, marquee (click and drag around) the bits you want to create a specific image, and right-click > group, export in the format you need.

(This is a very general overview)

This is how I get images to use with Fantasy Grounds Unity.

Inkscape is a great tool though it has a bit of a learning curve.

Yes, Inkscape is a good tool. I have used it whenever I need to do a vector drawing, never thought to use it for PDF manipulation. Thanks for the info. Followed your instructions and it worked, but still that is a bit more effort then just right clicking and copying as can be done with all other Paizo PDFs.

I'm thinking that this is a mistake someone has made with a setting in the PDF export process as the problem is only happening with the recent Starfinder AP PDFs.

VeDocha Sinjin wrote:

Wzrd wrote:

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

Hi Wzrd,

Not sure if you want to go through the trouble, but if it helps - you can grab Inkscape online for free (open source, full program, no fees)

Use File > Import to import a specific page
Right-click on the page and select ungroup
Repeat two more times to ungroup all layers
Delete what you don't need, marquee (click and drag around) the bits you want to create a specific image, and right-click > group, export in the format you need.

(This is a very general overview)

This is how I get images to use with Fantasy Grounds Unity.

Inkscape is a great tool though it has a bit of a learning curve.

Yes, Inkscape is a good tool. I have used it whenever I need to do a vector drawing, never thought to use it for PDF manipulation. Thanks for the info. Followed your instructions and it worked, but still that is a bit more effort then just right clicking and copying as can be done with all other Paizo PDFs.

I'm thinking that this is a mistake someone has made with a setting in the PDF export process as the problem is only happening with the recent Starfinder AP PDFs.

Thanks for bringing this up. I will refer it internally for review.

While I definitely plan on enjoying myself, I too hope I live long enough to do so. I couldn't be more excited to begin playing! I love the idea of an AP about freedom and personal choice and look forward to seeing what all you have in store for us!

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

This is a known issue that can’t be fixed. It’s either a 150 MB file with selectable images or what we have, with selectable text. Given that this is a free supplement that will see a lot of downloads, we have opted to go with the smaller file size. Since none of these images is a map required to run the AP, you should be able to use the contents when building a character in a VTT just as you could an in-person game.

Wzrd wrote:

VeDocha Sinjin wrote:

Wzrd wrote:

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images.

For example, while using the selection tool in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, click on the middle of the main image on the front cover. The selected area will be just the middle of the image and if you copy and paste it you will only get part of the image. This makes it a pain if you want to share it in a VTT.

Since no Pathfinder PDFs or any of the Starfinder rule PDFs have this problem, I expect it is a setting somewhere in the software that generates the PDFs.

Hi Wzrd,

Not sure if you want to go through the trouble, but if it helps - you can grab Inkscape online for free (open source, full program, no fees)

Use File > Import to import a specific page
Right-click on the page and select ungroup
Repeat two more times to ungroup all layers
Delete what you don't need, marquee (click and drag around) the bits you want to create a specific image, and right-click > group, export in the format you need.

(This is a very general overview)

This is how I get images to use with Fantasy Grounds Unity.

Inkscape is a great tool though it has a bit of a learning curve.

Yes, Inkscape is a good tool. I have used it whenever I need to do a vector drawing, never thought to use it for PDF manipulation. Thanks for the info. Followed your instructions and it worked, but still that is a bit more effort then just right clicking and copying as can be done with all other Paizo PDFs.

I'm thinking that this is a mistake someone has made with a setting in the PDF export process as the problem is only happening with the recent Starfinder AP PDFs.

Thanks for bringing this up. I will refer it internally for review.

The PDF format is intentional in order to keep the file sized down. For your convenience the text is selectable. For VTT play we provide maps as separate files along with each Adventure Path volume. This Players’ Guide does not contain maps.

Wzrd wrote:

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images...

This is a known issue that can’t be fixed. It’s either a 150 MB file with selectable images or what we have, with selectable text. Given that this is a free supplement that will see a lot of downloads, we have opted to go with the smaller file size. Since none of these images is a map required to run the AP, you should be able to use the contents when building a character in a VTT just as you could an in-person game.

I don't understand. All the Pathfinder PDFs are fine, small size selectable text and the images are in one piece. Same goes for all the Starfinder rulebooks and APs before #31. Actually looking at it, seems like something started happening at #25 where the average size jumped from 25MB to 75MB.

So, something changed in the process. But just for the Starfinder APs. Be it a PDF export setting or the image format.

Sorry about fussing over this, but I also like using the images, not just the maps, from the PDF. This change makes the PDF less useful to me.

It sounds weird, but we don't really know what software they are using, or how things work internally.

The best, greatest solution would be to add a zip file with all the artwork to download alongside the .pdfs. Most of us already rip that material from the book to use during the sessions, but in this way we would have a high-res version.

Stamp a Paizo watermark on one of the corners, just in case, or something similar.

Mark Moreland wrote:

Wzrd wrote:

Thanks for this.

Seems like this PDF is suffering from the same issue that is present in the Starfinder APs #31 to #35. Most of the images are comprised of multiple images...

This is a known issue that can’t be fixed. It’s either a 150 MB file with selectable images or what we have, with selectable text. Given that this is a free supplement that will see a lot of downloads, we have opted to go with the smaller file size. Since none of these images is a map required to run the AP, you should be able to use the contents when building a character in a VTT just as you could an in-person game.

I don't understand. All the Pathfinder PDFs are fine, small size selectable text and the images are in one piece. Same goes for all the Starfinder rulebooks and APs before #31. Actually looking at it, seems like something started happening at #25 where the average size jumped from 25MB to 75MB.

So, something changed in the process. But just for the Starfinder APs. Be it a PDF export setting or the image format.

Sorry about fussing over this, but I also like using the images, not just the maps, from the PDF. This change makes the PDF less useful to me.

Mark is out, but I think the answer you are looking for is that file sizes increased when we when we decided to make our maps higher res for VTT use and provide them as both jpgs and PDFs, across both lines.

We are trying to improve VTT play; there is an internal task force, which Mark leads. They had to prioritize maps over images. As a player, I understand your desire. But I also know Paizo needs to protect its intellectual property. To give away the rules for free with the open gaming license, and then the raw story text, maps, and art at high res levels at the low price of a PDF—even if they are individually watermarked... well, you can see why there is a task force. If it were up to me I would charge a premium for such access.

Mark is out, but I think the answer you are looking for is that file sizes increased when we when we decided to make our maps higher res for VTT use and provide them as both jpgs and PDFs, across both lines.

We are trying to improve VTT play; there is an internal task force, which Mark leads. They had to prioritize maps over images. As a player, I understand your desire. But I also know Paizo needs to protect its intellectual property. To give away the rules for free with the open gaming license, and then the raw story text, maps, and art at high res levels at the low price of a PDF—even if they are individually watermarked... well, you can see why there is a task force. If it were up to me I would charge a premium for such access.

Don't get me wrong, everyone here certainly appreciates everything you guys do and have done and especially the OGL. But it seems like there may be something missed/lost here...

The PATHfinder stuff is and has been fine for the same time. But there are numerous issues with the STARfinder stuff. This reply really doesn't address the issue there at all.
...Or am I missing something here?

Aaron Shanks wrote:

Mark is out, but I think the answer you are looking for is that file sizes increased when we when we decided to make our maps higher res for VTT use and provide them as both jpgs and PDFs, across both lines.

We are trying to improve VTT play; there is an internal task force, which Mark leads. They had to prioritize maps over images. As a player, I understand your desire. But I also know Paizo needs to protect its intellectual property. To give away the rules for free with the open gaming license, and then the raw story text, maps, and art at high res levels at the low price of a PDF—even if they are individually watermarked... well, you can see why there is a task force. If it were up to me I would charge a premium for such access.

Don't get me wrong, everyone here certainly appreciates everything you guys do and have done and especially the OGL. But it seems like there may be something missed/lost here...

The PATHfinder stuff is and has been fine for the same time. But there are numerous issues with the STARfinder stuff. This reply really doesn't address the issue there at all.
...Or am I missing something here?

I’m trying to help but I’ll let someone on the VTT task force answer next week. Happy New Year!

Good to have some free flyin' stuff for SF. ;)