How to reduce the size of a PDF file

5 simple steps to reduce the size of your PDF file

By Gloria
Pronto Pricelist staff

One of the problems that come up after creating a PDF file with lots of graphics, images, bookmarks etc to make it more appealing, is the huge size of the file. There are several ways to decrease the size of a PDF in order to optimize it for the web.

Below are the 5 ways to reduce the size of your PDF file:

  1. Save it again
  2. Compress it with Adobe Acrobat or Nitro
  3. Remove unwanted objects
  4. Free up unused spacesManage file colors

1. The “Save” command is much faster than “Save As“, simply because any changes you make to the file are added to the end of the document without a complete rewrite, so a lot of information is just added. Instead, by using the “Save As” command, you can forget about this and reduce the size of the PDF. All you need to do is:

  • Open the PDF editor
  • In Acrobat: go to File > Save As > Save
  • In Nitro PDF Professional: go to File > Save As > Choose the file you want to compress > Save

2. There are many features that can help you decrease the size of your files. Some of the most effective tools are Adobe and Nitro PDF. Links, bookmarks, and JavaScript, can increase the size of a PDF file. Whether you use Nitro PDF Professional or Adobe, just follow the steps below:

  • Open the PDF editor
  • In Nitro PDF Professional: Go to File > Optimize PDF > Customize
  • In Acrobat: go to File > Save as Other > Optimized PDF 
  • Choose the objects to remove
  • Press OK to complete

3. A very handy trick to reduce the size of a PDF file is to remove unwanted objects, such as tags and compress images. You can do this with any program that has a “Print PDF” option, or with any free online software. With most PDF editing tools reducing the size of a file can be done by following these steps:

  • Open the PDF editor
  • Choose the Export / Save As dialog box
  • Select the relevant PDF
  • Click Save

4. There is probably unused space in your PDF that you may not be aware of. Deleting unused space is one of the easier ways to decrease the size of a file. If you use Adobe you should follow these simple steps:

  • Select Tools > Advanced Optimization
  • Click on PDF Optimizer
  • Select Space Usage

5. Try using the RGB color method instead of CMYK and you’ll see the change. You can find this feature in the options menu bar of Adobe Acrobat Pro. Here’s how to do it:

  • Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  • Choose Tools > Print Production > Convert Colors
  • Select RGB color space
  • Select the FOGRA39 profile (printing industry standard)
  • Check which pages you want to convert
  • Click OK

Finally, you should remember to save the file again under the same or a different name after making any of these changes. Even if you can’t see it, the size affects the way the file is seen and transmitted. Try to keep it simple and small by using these tricks!

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