Multi-page TIF to PDF

[rchu2005]

I am preparing a script to convert a few thousand multi-page TIFF files into PDF. In the process, I also need to mask out certain "static" information on specific region of the TIFF page by page while placing some text there to identify each TIFF.

Here are the steps taken:

- Convert the multi-page TIF (around 600k) into individual JPG files (around 500k-1.5MB but still manage-able).
- Perform some masking on individual JPG using the watermark function. At the same time, some JPGs will be added with text using the text function. (File grew to about 1.5MB-2MB)
- Combine each JPG into a multi-page TIF or PDF (either one is fine) using the "-multi" option but the result file grew to about 120-160MB. I tried using compression for TIF but still didn't help much.

My question is:
- Is there a faster/more efficent way of doing this? Converting TIFFs into jpgs take quite a bit of time and then after the masking and applying of watermark also significantly increase the process time.
- Is the "Watermark" function the easiest way to remove "stuff" on the original image? Is there an alternate way (ie. paint)?
- Can Watermark function be applied directly to the TIFF files instead of the jpg files (that way no conversion required and lots of time saved)?
- How to compress the size of the output jpeg/PDF? Which step should I apply the compression (ie. -c)?


Thanks

[xnview]

Do you have try to use -xall -multi -wmfile in one pass?