Even with a fairly simple converter, you can reduce the size of a PDF document. But here you need to be as careful as possible, not all documents can be compressed using this method. The use of the converter is considered one of the most simple ways to reduce the consumed disk space.

All actions will be performed using the example application PDFConverter:


A reduced file will be stored in the folder specified in the program.

Online tools

There are a lot of sites on the Internet that allow you to compress a document in any format in just two clicks. For this it is enough:


Attention! For documents containing very important information, it is better not to use such resources. Personal or confidential information can fall into the hands of unauthorized people.

Adobe Acrobat application

You can also try using Acrobat Reader to reduce the file size by saving it again. This method is far from always suitable, in some cases it is the other way around. will increase occupied disk space, so you should be careful with its use:




Compression with Adobe Acrobat DC

This method can reduce the size of very large documents. With pre-compressed files, printing to a file may not help, and in some cases the size will be increased... Therefore, the presented method should be used with the utmost care.

How to use Adobe Acrobat DC:





Printing is completed, now you can enter the catalog in the saved PDF, open him or send by e-mail.

We use Acrobat and Word

This method of reducing the size involves saving it in .doc format in Acrobat DC and converting it back using Microsoft Word or another similar text editor.

Format conversion procedure:




Using the optimizer

Using a dedicated compressor (optimizer) PDF is one of the most simple and effective ways reduction in size. At the same time, the user does not need to perform such difficult actions as printing to a file or changing the format.

All the necessary steps will be shown using the example of the PDF Compressor application:



Archiving files

Archiving can also yield impressive results in reducing the size of any type of data. For these actions you will need to use a special archiver(WinRar, 7zip and so on). Attention, to open data compressed in this way, you also need to use an archiver.

How to compress data using 7zip:


The compression is complete, you can now open or unpack the resulting archive.

How do I compress a PDF to reduce its size?

  1. You can change the compression settings if you want. Start compressing the file by clicking on the appropriate button.
  2. Save compressed files.

How is a PDF file compressed?

Different methods are used to reduce the size of a PDF file. The efficiency of file compression depends on what data the PDF contains. For example, PDFs with images compress well. PDF24 uses the following PDF compression methods:

  1. Remove unnecessary font information when displaying a PDF file.
  2. Reduces the size of the image based on the specified DPI setting.
  3. Decreases the image quality depending on the specified quality settings.
  4. Modify PDF file and compress structural data.

How to reduce PDF size without losing quality?

PDF24 allows you to compress files without loss, but in this mode the file size may be reduced slightly. How it works:

  1. Click on the highlighted area at the beginning of the page and select the files to compress.
  2. Switch the lossless compression mode and start compressing the file by clicking on the corresponding button.
  3. Save compressed files.

Why is my PDF so big?

If the PDF contains images, the size may be large. This is usually why large PDFs are generated. Text-only PDF is much lighter. If there are images in the PDF, you can use PDF24 to create small images, reducing their size and quality.

Does PDF compression degrade quality?

The PDF24 compression tool has several modes. Normal compression reduces the size and quality of the image as this has a greater impact on the file size. You can enable lossless compression, but this will not significantly affect the size. Quality degradation is often not a problem. The only question is how good the quality is in relation to size.

Do PDFs compress well?

Yes, if the PDF contains images. They can be compressed and reduced in size separately. Compressing PDFs without images is not as efficient.

Are PDFs compressed?

PDFs usually use internal compression tools for the objects they contain. However, this compression is optional. Some objects may be uncompressed. The PDF creator determines which objects will be compressed and which will not, but the PDF standard itself does not imply compression.

Is it safe to use PDF24 tools?

PDF24 takes file and data protection seriously. We want users to be able to trust us. Therefore, we are constantly working on security issues.

  1. All file transfers are encrypted.
  2. All files are deleted automatically from the processing server within an hour after processing.
  3. We do not store files or rate them. Files are used only for their intended purpose.
  4. PDF24 is owned by the German company Geek Software GmbH. All processing servers are located in data centers within the EU.

Many PC users face the problem of not knowing how to reduce the size of the pdf document to make it more compact. This article will clarify your doubts about choosing a desktop converter program or online service to compress a PDF file.

PDF (for Portable Document Format) is a format created by Adobe Systems using the capabilities of the PostScript language. It is platform independent and designed for electronic presentation of printed products, documentation and presentations.

PDF documents are suitable for the exchange of information between users around the world.

Benefits of PDF format:

  • cross-platform - the document can be seen as it was created, regardless of the platform;
  • compactness, supports many information compression algorithms;
  • machine independence (it can be printed on a printer and printing unit);
  • multimedia (supports videos and audio tracks, hypertext elements, as well as page previews);
  • safety. The creators of the file can set security options, including the ability to lock (open, change or print after entering a password).

PDF document can be opened using free version Adobe Reader or plugin available in most browsers. IN Google chrome this format is supported even without installing a plugin. Editing a PDF file is possible in the paid version of the Adobe Reader program. Also, many programs have been developed for this format and converting documents from it.

PDF files can include photographs, text information, shapes, and more. The displayed document does not depend on the platform type: in Windows and Mac OS, it will look the same on the screen and when printed.

Why compress PDF files?

The size of a pdf file often reaches tens of megabytes due to the volume and abundance of graphic elements. This can be difficult when sending files by email or when hosted in cloud storage.

Consider free tools for compressing a PDF file and reducing its size: online services, as well as applications for Windows.

Are you looking for a way to compress a PDF document? In our article, you will learn how to reduce the size of a pdf file, and choose the appropriate option.

Using converters

CutePDF will allow you to translate a file that is available for printing into PDF, reduce it to the required size.

Install CutePDF by downloading it for free from the official website. First, the document must be opened in a PDF-compatible program that can be printed. Better to do this in Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word. Click on "File" and then "Print".

When the window with settings for printing opens, you should select CutePDF Writer from the list of printers.

Hover the mouse over "Printer properties", in the window go to "Advanced" and make a choice in what quality will be displayed its content. To compress the file, mark a quality level lower than the original document. Click on "Print" and then save as PDF.

Adobe Reader Pro DC

First, open the document in Adobe Acrobat DC, click on "File", "Save as Other" and then on "Reduced Size PDF File".

Then you need to select the programs in the drop-down list with which you need compatibility for the document. If you turn your attention to latest version, you will be able to compress the file as much as possible, but there is a risk that the recipient will not be able to open it in older versions of the program.

After clicking "OK", wait for the compression procedure to complete, and then you can save the file to the desired location.

It is advisable to use the same method if the file is located on Google Drive, and you need to download it, having previously reduced its size.

Go to Google Drive, double-click on the PDF file you want to compress, and then on the printer symbol to open the print screen.

In a new window that opens in front of you, select Adobe PDF from the drop-down list. By clicking on the "Properties" button, you will see a new window in which you should go to the "Paper and Print Quality" tab, and then on the "Advanced" button at the bottom of the window.

In the drop-down list select the quality of the file, at the bottom of the window click "OK", then in 2 more windows - "OK". Save the document to your computer.

Microsoft Word

How to reduce pdf file size using Word and Acrobat?

This method consists in converting the file from the 1st format to the 2nd, and then in reverse conversion.

First, open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat, in the "File" menu, click on "Save As", "Select another folder", specify the file type "* .docx" and the location where it will be located on the PC. After clicking the "Save" button, open the document in Word, select "File" and "Save as Adobe PDF".

PDF Compressor

With the help of PDF Compressor, you can reduce the pdf file for publication on the website, in social networks and for sending by e-mail. This service will not reduce the density of the document (DPI), the sharpness when scaling and printing is preserved.

By clicking on the "Upload" button, you can select up to 2 dozen files. You can drag them to the download area and wait for the processes to finish. Download compressed documents by clicking on their icons, or all files as a ZIP archive.

Archiving

To make the file take up less space on your PC, you can archive it using one of the popular programs: WinRAR or 7Zip.

To compress a document using 7Zip, move the right mouse button over the file, and the left mouse button over the 7Zip line, select the inscription "Add to" file_name ", and the archive will appear on the screen. Before compression begins, you can specify some characteristics by selecting "Add to Archive".

Using an archiver, you can compress a file or create an archive of several documents, which makes it easier to send them by e-mail. Before sending the archive to the recipient, you need to clarify whether he has this archiver installed.

Online converters

Smallpdf online service

This service is simple in functionality, but it has additional features: Import a document from Dropbox or Google Drive, and then save it to the cloud after the online compression process is complete.

IN this service produced presetting to compress the file up to 144 dpi, therefore different compression rates are possible. For example, a file with a size of 6 Megabytes can be compressed by 2 times, while the quality will not decrease.

But it happens that a file that is 100 megabytes in size will be compressed to 88 megabytes due to the use of elementary algorithms to reduce the file size.

iLovePDF

In iLovePDF, you can upload a document from your own PC, as well as from the cloud service Dropbox or Google Drive, and then select the compression level. The higher the compression ratio is used, the worse the output file quality is. A 100 MB file is compressed to 50 MB at maximum compression.

PDF files are quickly compressed for free, without restrictions on the use of the service, with automatic deletion from the service within an hour. The service is limited to downloading 1 file at a time.

Free PDF Compressor

This program is not regularly updated, but works fine on Windows 10, Windows XP, etc. If online tools are not available, Free PDF Compressor can be useful.

Free PDF Compressor will give you the opportunity to choose 1 of 5 presets for compressing a pdf file. Specify the parameters, the path to the saved file and select "Compress".

Optimizing PDF

You can open the document in Adobe Acrobat. Clicking on the "File" menu, click on "Save as other", and then on "Optimized PDF file".

In the Optimize PDF window, click on Estimated Space Usage. After its implementation, you will understand what and by how many percent you can compress. Then you should close the window by clicking "OK", select the compression characteristics. Using the left mouse button, click on the selected compression ratio, and on the right, change the characteristics to achieve the required quality level.

You can delete photos, convert them to black and white, compress, change the resolution, as well as fonts, etc., and then save the document to the desired folder.

Please note that many conversion and compression programs can be downloaded for free on the official websites.

Choose a program or online service based on your requests for the quality and compression ratio of the document.

When choosing the version of the format in which you save the file, make an allowance for the fact that the addressee may not have newest version program and, therefore, he will not be able to access the document you sent.

Conclusion

On many modern PCs, the size hard drives is several terabytes. However, each megabyte is valuable if you need to quickly transfer a file by e-mail or post it on the Internet. We hope that you have found all the information you need about pdf file compression and that you were able to use our recommendations.

If you need to forward a document, PDF- ideal format compatible with operating Windows systems, Mac and Linux. PDF files are not only versatile, but also well protected, which allows you to assign passwords for especially important documents. However, PDFs can often be cumbersome, making them difficult to send. Fortunately, there are tools to reduce the size of such files.

Reduce PDF file size

One of the easiest and most effective ways is to use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Open the program, then open PDF file you want to do less. Please select Document(Document)> Reduce file size(Reduce File Size).

PDF compression software

You should also pay attention to such popular file compression programs as WinZip, WinRAR or 7ZIP. In most cases, they can help you create lighter versions of PDF files.

Reduce PDF File Size on Mac

Members Mac can compress PDFs using the functions available in the application View (Preview).

Open the file PDF via Preview and go to the menu File(File)> Export(Export).

Select filter Quartz and then select Reduce file size(Reduce file size). Click on Save(Save) to finish compressing the file.

Compress PDF file online

You can also find many free tools on the Internet that can compress your PDF files.

Smallpdf

Smallpdf, a free PDF editing site, helps you reduce size easily and easily required files PDF online. The site includes an automatic compression feature which makes the process very fast. Then you can upload yourself a new compressed file.

The file compression process itself consists of two stages. Go to Smallpdf and drag your file into the box with your mouse or click Choose file(Select File) to find and download a PDF file from your computer:


Wait for the automatic compression process to start, then upload your finished file.

PDF Creator

PDF Creator is a program with several interesting features that can help you create PDF files easily. During installation PDF Creator creates a virtual printer that allows you to save documents (Word, Excel, etc.) in the format PDF.

After installation install PDF Creator, open the file with Acrobat Reader... Click on Printing(Print) and select virtual printer PDF Creator(PDF Creator virtual printer).

Then open Properties(Properties)> Paper / Quality(Paper / Quality) and press Additionally(Advanced).

Please select Print quality(Print quality) and reduce DPI(permission) of the file. After starting the print job, a new lighter version will be created PDF file.

Image: © Artem Samokhvalov - Shutterstock.com

How to quickly compress a PDF file

There are three ways to upload a file: drag and drop with the mouse, point to the path on your hard drive, upload from the cloud.

You can also convert a color document to black and white, which will reduce the size of the PDF file.

Compress PDF file online

No need to download or install anything - process PDF files in your browser wherever you like.

PDF2Go Online Studio is a free and secure alternative to standalone PDF processing software. With this tool, you can downsample images and compress files.

Why compress PDFs?

One important thing to keep in mind when uploading files to the web or sending by email is size. The PDF format is widely used for resumes, all kinds of documents, and even homework assignments.

PDF Compressor allows you to download and send even those files that may seem "overwhelming".

Secure file compression

When uploading files to PDF2Go, you don't have to worry about security. We guarantee confidentiality and protection from unauthorized access. All operations are performed automatically, and the copyright is yours!

See the Privacy Policy for details.

What files can you compress?

Downsizing is only available for PDF documents. We automatically convert files to PDF format and then compress them.

With PDF2Go, you can quickly compress any file regardless of the content (be it tables, images, or just text).

Documentation:

Compress PDF files on any device

You don't need a computer to compress the PDF. Mobile studio PDF2Go is convenient and pleasant, like "coffee to go".

Whether it's a smartphone or tablet, Windows or Mac, Firefox or Internet Explorer- PDF2Go will help out in any situation.