Introduction
PDF files provide us with various benefits, to name a few – they are easy to create, can be opened on any device, support multimedia components, and are not editable without proper permissions. However, one issue that many users face while dealing with PDFs is their large file size, especially when they need to be emailed or uploaded on a website. In this article, we will explore various tips and strategies on how to make PDF smaller.
Understanding PDF file size
PDFs are usually designed to hold and display various contents such as text, images, and high-quality graphics. PDFs become large when the PDF files contain lots of images, graphics, fonts, and other multimedia elements.
There are specific types of content that can contribute to large PDFs, such as embedded images or fonts, and these can increase the size significantly. Large PDFs can affect devices by causing lag or taking too long to open, ultimately affecting productivity.
Specific software compression tools
Compression tools are software applications developed to reduce the file size of your PDFs. Some of the benefits of using compression tools include the ability to handle large volumes of PDFs, easily shareable among colleagues, and ability to compress files in different formats.
Some of the popular compression tools available online include smallpdf, Adobe Acrobat DC Pro, onlineconvertfree, PDF compressor, among others. These tools are capable of reducing the size of your PDF to its smallest possible file size without losing its quality.
Optimization tips for PDF files
Optimizing PDF files refers to editing the document to reduce its file size by minimizing the amount of data stored. There are different ways to optimize image elements in PDFs, such as resizing images, removing unnecessary images, or compressing them.
Optimizing text elements in PDFs may include reducing the size of embedded text fonts, removing hidden elements, and deleting bookmarks and URLs.
Adjusting resolution and color settings
Reducing the resolution or changing the resolution can significantly affect the size of your PDF file. If the PDF contains high-quality graphics, decreasing the image resolution can significantly reduce the file size. Similarly, reducing the color depth to 8-bit or black and white can reduce the overall size of the PDF.
Recommended resolution settings depend on the content. If the image is for online viewing, a resolution of 72 pixels per inch (ppi) is optimal, whereas for print, 300 ppi is ideal.
Splitting and combining PDFs
Large PDF files can be optimized by splitting them into smaller files. Splitting PDF files can be done in two ways: by the number of pages or by the file size.
After creating smaller files, you can combine the smaller files into one larger PDF file. You could use software tools such as Adobe Acrobat DC Pro or online conversion sites.
Conversion of file formats
Conversion to smaller file formats is a way to compress large PDF files. Many sites provide easy conversion options, such as JPEGs or PNGs, an image format that compresses the image without losing its resolution or quality.
Case examples and step-by-step walkthroughs of compression process
Here are some step-by-step examples of the compression process you can follow:
- Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat DC Pro, and then go to File > Save As Other > Reduced Size PDF. From there, you can choose the compression settings and save the PDF.
- Using online platforms such as Smallpdf, you can drag and drop your PDF file on their online site, wait as they compress, and save the file.
- If your file is large and contains a large number of high-quality images, splitting the PDF into smaller files could be a more suitable solution.
- Converting file formats such as PNG files into JPEG and compressing the files can also reduce the size of your PDF.
Conclusion
This article has looked at various strategies and tips on how to make PDF smaller. With the ever-increasing demand for online sharing and emailing, being privy to conversion and compression tools can be time-efficient and cost-effective. Regardless of the method used, the importance of compression cannot be overemphasized when dealing with larger PDF files. Share the tips and suggestions in this article with others to help them manage large PDF files increase their productivity.