4 Ways to Reduce PDF File Size

Efficiency is the name of the game in today’s fast-paced digital world. So when the dreaded ‘file too large’ message comes around, you need to make sure it won’t slow you down.

Whether you're sending documents via email, uploading to a website or simply trying to save storage space, Nitro can help you reduce your PDF size—without the stress.

In this blog, we’ll share four easy ways to get started.

Before we show you how to compress your PDF, let’s look at why it's useful.

• Greater efficiency: Large PDF files are slower to upload and download, resulting in slower processing times. By reducing file size, your documents will load faster and you'll improve overall productivity.
  
• Save storage: Whether you're managing documents in the cloud or on local servers, optimizing PDF size can save storage space and cut down on related costs.
  
• Improved collaboration: When files are compressed, you can easily share them with teams or external stakeholders via email and online platforms without any roadblocks.
  
• Greater accessibility: Smaller PDF files are more mobile-friendly, making it easier for you to manage your documents across multiple devices.

With Nitro PDF Pro, you can strip out objects in your document that are taking up space.

1. Open your PDF with Nitro PDF Pro.
2. Click File > Print.
3. Select Nitro PDF Creator from the list of printers.
4. Click Properties and select Web-ready Conversion Quality.
5. Click OK.

The ‘Save As’ function in Nitro PDF Pro is a fast and easy way to reduce your file size.

1. Open your PDF with Nitro PDF Pro.
2. Click File.
3. Click Save As.

PDFs can contain objects such as bookmarks, links, annotations, form fields and embedded fonts which can be removed to make your file smaller.

1. Open your PDF with Nitro PDF Pro
2. Click File > Optimize PDF.
3. In the Optimize PDF dialog, select Reduced Size.
4. Click Show Details.
5. Choose the objects to remove.
6. Click OK > Optimize.

If your PDF contains multiple images, shrinking them is a quick way to reduce file size. Just follow the steps outlined in number three above.

Download your free 14-day trial and experience the benefits of Nitro for yourself.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in March 2021 and has been updated to reflect updates to Nitro solutions.