How to Make a PDF File Smaller: 8 Steps to Follow

Introduction

A PDF (Portable Document Format) file is an electronic document format that preserves the look and feel of a printed document. It is widely used for sharing documents online, and it can be viewed on any device regardless of its operating system. However, one of the major drawbacks of PDF files is their large size, which can be especially problematic if you need to send them via email or upload them to a website. Fortunately, there are several methods available to help you make your PDF file smaller.

Reduce the Resolution of Images in the PDF File

The size of a PDF file can be significantly reduced by reducing the resolution of images within the file. To do this, open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Pro and select the “Edit” tab. Then, click the “Edit Text & Images” button and select the image you want to reduce the resolution of. Right-click on the image and select “Properties.” In the “Image Properties” window, select the “Resample” option and enter a lower resolution value. Finally, click “OK” to save the changes.

Use a Third-Party PDF Compressor Tool

There are numerous third-party tools available to help you compress PDF files. These tools are easy to use and can quickly reduce the size of your PDF file without sacrificing quality. Some popular tools include Smallpdf, PDF2Go, and Soda PDF. After selecting the tool you want to use, simply upload the PDF file to the website and follow the instructions to compress it.

Select the “High Compression” Option When Saving the PDF

Another way to make your PDF file smaller is to select the “High Compression” option when saving it. This option is available in most PDF editors, including Adobe Acrobat Pro. To select the high compression option, open the PDF file with the editor and select the “Save As” option. Then, select the “High Compression” option from the list of available options and click “Save.”

Remove Unwanted Elements Such as Annotations and Comments

If your PDF file contains unwanted elements such as annotations and comments, these can increase the file size significantly. To remove these elements, open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Pro and click the “Comments” tab. Select the unwanted elements and click the “Delete” button. You can also delete all comments at once by clicking the “Delete All” button.

Save the PDF in Grayscale Mode

If your PDF file contains color images, you can reduce the file size by converting them to grayscale. To do this, open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Pro and select the “Edit” tab. Then, click the “Edit Text & Images” button and select the image you want to convert to grayscale. Right-click on the image and select “Properties.” In the “Image Properties” window, select the “Grayscale” option and click “OK” to save the changes.

Split the PDF into Smaller Documents

If the PDF file is too large, you can split it into smaller documents. To do this, open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Pro and select the “Tools” tab. Then, click the “Split Document” button and select the pages you want to split. Finally, click “Split” to save the changes.

Conclusion

Making a PDF file smaller is an easy task that can be accomplished in a few simple steps. By reducing the resolution of images, using a third-party compressor tool, selecting the “high compression” option when saving, removing unwanted elements, saving in grayscale mode, and splitting into smaller documents, you can significantly reduce the size of your PDF file without sacrificing quality.