Learn how to reduce the size of a PDF file using the Smallpdf.com online utility, the Mac OS X Viewer, and Adobe Acrobat in this article.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using Smallpdf.com PDF Compressor Online Utility
Step 1. Open the site
Click the link or enter the address in a web browser and press ⏎ Return.
You can also install the Smallpdf extension in your Chrome browser (download it from the Chrome Web Store)
Step 2. Click Select File at the bottom of the window
Step 3. Find and select the required PDF file
Step 4. Click Open
The file will download and be compressed.
Step 5. Scroll down and click Download File
This button is on the left side of the screen.
Step 6. Select the folder where the compressed file will be saved
Step 7. Click Save
The compressed PDF file will be saved in the specified folder on your computer.
Method 2 of 3: Using the Viewer (Mac OS X)
Step 1. Open the PDF document in Preview
To do this, double click on the icon of this program, which looks like overlapping images.
- Click "File" on the menu bar and select "Open" from the drop-down menu. In the dialog box, select the file and click Open.
- Preview is an image viewer preinstalled on most versions of Mac OS X.
Step 2. Click File on the menu bar at the top of the screen
Step 3. Click Export As
It's in the middle of the dropdown menu. A dialog box will open.
Step 4. Open the drop-down menu "Format"
Step 5. Click PDF
It's near the top of the menu.
Step 6. Open the drop-down menu "Quartz Filter"
Step 7. Click Reduce File Size
Step 8. Select the folder where the compressed file will be saved
Step 9. Click Save
The compressed PDF document will be saved to your computer.
Method 3 of 3: Using Adobe Acrobat Pro
Step 1. Open the PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Pro
To do this, click on the icon in the form of a stylized red letter "A" on a white background. Then click File (on the menu bar at the top of the screen), click Open, select the PDF document you want, and click Open.
Step 2. Click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen
Step 3. Click Save As
It's in the middle of the dropdown menu.
Step 4. Click Reduced PDF Size
Step 5. Open the drop-down menu "Compatible with: ».
Step 6. Click on the most recent version of Acrobat
By limiting compatibility to newer versions of Acrobat only, the file size can be significantly reduced.
Step 7. Select the folder where the compressed file will be saved
Step 8. Click Save
The compressed PDF document will be saved to your computer.