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+--- Thread: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? (/showthread.php?tid=55789)
What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - AlphaDog - 05-30-2008
Back in 2001 I downloaded some image files and saved them, for some unknown reason, as PSDs. When I converted one file to PDF this morning, the file size came in at 12MB, which is way too big to attach to an e-mail. I want to reduce the size but retain enough quality so they can be easily read, because they're scans of 1790 tax lists and not easy to read in the first place. I know I can reduce the resolution, but just how far down can I go without making them unreadable to other people? I suspect others will want to print them.
Thanks! I should know this, but I can't get my brain to focus.
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - Stavs - 05-30-2008
There is an option to reduce file size in the file menu of some versions. Otherwise, go to "optimize pdf" under toolds I believe.
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - AlphaDog - 05-30-2008
Thank you! I also changed the encoding and flattened the layers, and that helped a lot, too, although it's still pretty big. I'll play more, because there are several I need to change.
Edit: On my version of Acrobat, it's File>Reduce. I got it down to 212kb, so that is a huge drop. Now to print and see what I got!
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - Ken Sp. - 05-30-2008
You could use YouSendIt.com and upload the file--you send the other person a link to download.
There are many of these services.
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - Forrest - 05-30-2008
Here's a method to reduce the PDF file size from the Print dialog box http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031106110332851
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - AlphaDog - 05-30-2008
[quote Forrest]Here's a method to reduce the PDF file size from the Print dialog box http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031106110332851
Very interesting. I'll have to try it and see how that works. Thank you!
And to Ken Sp. - I do use YouSendIt for some things, but there was little point in having to do that with these files. It's a neat service though!
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - threeprong - 05-30-2008
If these images are of text documents.. I'd save them as GIFs...
They should be much smaller and still ll legible.
Re: What's the best way to reduce the size of a PDF file? - AlphaDog - 05-30-2008
[quote threeprong]If these images are of text documents.. I'd save them as GIFs...
They should be much smaller and still ll legible.
Well, they're not exactly text, either. I did get them down to about 200kb, which was fine. They're scans out of a book of handwritten 1790 tax records.