Edit Article How to Reduce PDF File Size. In this Article: Article Summary Using Smallpdf.com PDF Compressor Using Preview on Mac Using Adobe Acrobat Pro Community Q&A This wikiHow teaches you how to reduce the file size of a PDF document using Smallpdf.com, Preview on Mac, or Adobe Acrobat Pro. Adobe is changing the world through digital experiences. We help our customers create, deliver and optimize content and applications.

Related Articles

• 1 Compress a Massive PDF
• 2 Reduce the Size of PDFs on Ubuntu
• 3 Switch From Word to PDF and HTML
• 4 Use WinZip to Zip a PowerPoint Presentation

The digital age has made storing and document transfers more efficient than ever. However, many email systems still have a limit to the size of documents you can send or receive. You may additionally want to save on storage space on hard drives or cloud networks. If you have a PDF document that is a large file size, you will need to compress it. To shrink PDF documents in Adobe Acrobat, open the file within Adobe and work within that software program. There are third-party file compressor programs to use but these should be downloaded following all security protocols.

Understanding Acrobat Versions

Adobe Acrobat Pro was the desktop downloadable version of Acrobat. This version went up to version Acrobat XI before Adobe offered most of its product suite to a cloud-based system called Acrobat DC with 'DC' referring to the 'document cloud.' Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Acrobat DC are essentially the same programs just accessed differently by the user.

Reduce PDF File Size

Adobe Acrobat has a file compressor option to reduce the PDF file size within its Save functions. In Adobe XI, go to File and select Save As Other. This lets the program know you aren't merely capturing changes to the document but making a new file. Under Save As Other, choose Reduced Size PDF. Older Acrobat versions may call this Reduce File Size. Saving in the new version of Adobe Acrobat might make sharing the file difficult if the receiving party has an older version of Adobe Reader.

In the process of using the file compressor, select the option Make Compatible With so you can choose to make the smaller file compatible with older versions of Adobe Reader. For example, if you choose Make Compatible With Adobe Reader 8, the new file is viewable by parties with Reader versions going back to version 8.

Optimizer File Option

You can shrink the PDF file size and still have a file that is too large. If this is the case, Adobe Acrobat has an option to optimize the file. When you reduce the size of a PDF, you are compressing it by 10 to 15 percent in something like a ZIP file. When you compress it, you are maximizing the information while reducing the file as much as 90 percent.

To shrink PDF file size as much as possible, choose the Optimizer option instead of the condense PDF option. This is easily done by going to the same menu option in File, Save As Other. Instead of choosing Reduce Size PDF, choose Optimized PDF. Locate the Settings button and press it. Select Custom Settings. Make sure to choose 75 ppi when optimizing to reduce both color and gray scale images. Save the file and check the file size to confirm it meets your needs.

About the Author

With more than 15 years of small business ownership including owning a State Farm agency in Southern California, Kimberlee understands the needs of business owners first hand. When not writing, Kimberlee enjoys chasing waterfalls with her son in Hawaii.

Photo Credits

• Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images

Choose Citation Style

Optimize A Pdf In Adobe For Mac Pro