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You are here: Home / Mac / Mac OS X: How to reduce PDF file sizes
reduce pdf files

Mac OS X: How to reduce PDF file sizes

By SK 4 comments Last updated November 9, 2013

PDF document sizes can vary a lot. Large PDF files can be difficult to store or share. The best way to reduce PDF file size is with Acrobat professional. But you can also use Preview to compress a PDF file. Here is how:

Steps

1. Open Preview (applications folder)

2. Select File > Open, select the PDF file, then click Open.

3. Choose File > Export, choose Reduce File Size from the Quartz Filter menu, and save the new PDF file.

reduce pdf files

compress pdf files

save pdf fileNote: You can also follow these steps using the ColorSync utility. Simply open the PDF file in ColorSync and select ‘reduce File Size’.

reduce file size

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Show 4 Comments

  1. Sailor says

    December 23, 2017 at 8:31 AM

    Thanks for the information on PDFs using my older mac with OS X. Had some trouble sending a particularly large and detailed file (a map) and this article did the trick!

    Reply
  2. Howard says

    November 11, 2013 at 3:46 PM

    This is a great tip. However the default options are very basic. One doesn’t reduce much and the other reduces too much.
    This is a great way to make your own middle quality filter:
    http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-57585353-263/how-to-create-custom-pdf-compression-filters-in-os-x/

    Reply
  3. Gene Espensen says

    November 10, 2013 at 7:12 PM

    I’m sorry this is NOT a sure fire PDF reduction method. For smaller files which you failed to mention the file size can go up. I haven’t tested to find the breakpoint, but you shouldn’t generate processes without testing them in all conditions. Very poor process.

    Reply
  4. lookmomnohands says

    November 10, 2013 at 2:45 AM

    Only the worst possible way to reduce the size of a scanned document! And by the way, is this new to anyone?

    Reply

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