Resizing PDF

I am trying to resize a PDF from 8.5x11 to 5.25x8. What is the easiest way to do this if I already have the PDF that is 8.5x11.

Can I change it in Pages to export that way?

I tried to change the spacing but for some reason I couldn't find that the document I opened. Yet, I opened a brand new document and there it was.

Any help you can be would be greatly appreciated.

Resizing the PDF would be easiest but I don't know how possible this was.

Best,

Evan Jacobs

eMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iMac 2.4 Processor 3GB of Ram

Posted on Nov 1, 2008 2:51 PM

Top-ranking reply

PeterBreis0807

Level 8

41,235 points

Posted on Nov 2, 2008 4:02 PM

Open your .pdf of the document in the Preview app. and go to:

+Menu > File > Print > Paper Sizes > Manage Custom Sizes > Click on the plus button under the list of page sizes > Double click on "Untitled" & rename to whatever you want, I called it "8x5" > Page size: to what you want > Printer Margins: > User defined > make all zero (no margins) > OK > Paper Size > Select "8x5" (it will be halfway down the list under the line) > Click the button next to "Scale each page to fit paper" > PDF (bottom left crnr of dialog box) > Save as PDF… > pick a location > Save+

No, you will not have to do this 166 times. This will convert the entire book.

I did all this based on what you told us, which is that you already have a pdf of the book.

If you want to make the booklet scale to size straight out of Pages:

+Menu > File > Page Setup > Create the custom page as above (not necessary if you have already done this in Preview or any other application) > Orientation (whichever you want) > Scale: 62% > OK+

+Menu > File > Print > PDF (bottom left crnr of dialog box) > Save as PDF… > pick a location > Save+

Unfortunately American paper sizes are not rational. You will have to chose 62% scale for the short side with a bit of extra paper at each end, as the long side would reduce to 72% and lead to some of the page being cut off.

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21 replies

Walt K

Level 4

2,946 points

Nov 15, 2008 12:44 PM in response to Evan Jacobs1

Evan,

A vertical letter size page won’t scale to half a horizontal letter size page. A vertical legal size page will scale to half a horizontal letter size page. That’s the beginning of your layout problem with the margins. Secondly, when you scale readable size type down the amount you are doing, it becomes too small to read easily. Your original layout should have been done in a legal size page using a type size of about 18 pt. Since you are now working with PDFs, there’s not much you can do about the top and bottom margins without distorting the type. And you would have to convert the letters to editable type to enlarge their sizes (and consequently add additional pages). I’ll leave that last to someone who's expert in Acrobat.

Walt

Nov 15, 2008 12:57 PM in response to Evan Jacobs1

You will need to crop it or work out better proportions to fit the exported custom page size.

I just discovered whilst trying something for another poster that it is possible to crop pdfs, including entire documents in Preview. Typically Apple has used as obscure a method as possible.

In Preview open your pdf file and go:

+Menu > Tools > Select Tool > select the area you want to crop > Menu > Tools > Crop+

To see the page as cropped you then need to go:

+Menu > View > Crop Box+

Evan Jacobs1 Author

Level 3

612 points

Nov 15, 2008 3:01 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

Might there be a simpler way to do this?

-Evan

Nov 15, 2008 5:20 AM in response to Evan Jacobs1

Yes.

See that big red button in the middle of your screen?

Just push it.

…oh, there isn't one?

Evan Jacobs1 Author

Level 3

612 points

Nov 15, 2008 11:57 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

Hey...

I guess I am just trying to figure this out as I don't have acrobat pro...

Maybe I could reformat some things and do it out of PAGES as a PDF?

-Evan

Nov 15, 2008 12:20 PM in response to Evan Jacobs1

That was an early suggestion, but you said you were working from the pdf.

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Resizing PDF