Do you have a large PDF file that you need to send or upload, but it’s too big? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of shrinking a PDF file size on your Mac. By reducing the file size, you can easily share your PDFs without any hassle.
Method 1: Using Preview
If you’re using a Mac, the built-in Preview app is an excellent tool for managing PDF files.
Step 1: Open the PDF File
Launch the Preview app on your Mac by searching for it in Spotlight or locating it in the Applications folder. Once opened, click on the “File” menu and select “Open” to locate and open the PDF file you want to shrink.
Step 2: Export as PDF
After opening the PDF file in Preview, click on “File” again and this time select “Export..” from the dropdown menu. A new window will appear.
Step 3: Compressing Options
In the export window, you’ll find various options to modify your PDF file. To reduce its size, click on the “Quartz Filter” dropdown menu and select “Reduce File Size”. This filter is specifically designed to compress images and remove unnecessary data from your PDF.
Step 4: Adjusting Quality
You can further fine-tune the compression by adjusting the image quality. Move the slider towards “Better Quality” if you want higher quality images or towards “Smaller File Size” if reducing file size is your primary concern.
Step 5: Save Your Shrinked PDF
Once you are satisfied with the settings, click on the “Save” button to save your shrinked PDF file to your desired location. Preview will now compress the PDF file based on your chosen options.
Method 2: Using Adobe Acrobat
If you have Adobe Acrobat installed on your Mac, you can take advantage of its powerful features to shrink PDF files.
Step 1: Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat
Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF file you want to shrink by clicking on “File” and selecting “Open”.
Step 2: Optimize PDF
In Adobe Acrobat, click on “File” and then select “Optimize PDF” from the dropdown menu. A new window will appear with optimization options.
Step 3: Choosing Settings
In the optimization window, you can choose from various options to reduce the file size. You can adjust image quality, remove unnecessary elements, downsample images, and more. Experiment with different settings to find a balance between file size and quality that suits your needs.
Step 4: Preview Changes
Before saving your optimized PDF file, it’s a good idea to preview the changes first. Click on the “Audit Space Usage” button to see a breakdown of how much space is occupied by different elements in your PDF.
Step 5: Save Your Shrinked PDF
Once you are satisfied with the optimization settings, click on the “OK” button and select a destination folder to save your shrinked PDF file. Adobe Acrobat will now process the optimizations and create a smaller version of your original document.
- Note:
- If your original PDF file contains sensitive or confidential information, make sure to create a backup before applying any optimizations.
- Optimizing a PDF file may result in a slight reduction in image quality or loss of certain elements. Always review the optimized file to ensure it meets your requirements.
Congratulations! You have successfully learned two methods to shrink a PDF file size on your Mac using Preview and Adobe Acrobat. Now you can easily share your PDF files without worrying about their size.
We hope this tutorial was helpful to you. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy shrinking!