reduce pdf size for email

Question

reduce pdf size for email

Is there a simple trick to reduce pdf file size? I just scanned 21 pages and it came out as 6.9 MB. Zipping only reduced to 6.6. Took 12 minutes to email. I read online that when zip doesn't reduce much, it's already about as small as it could be considering how it was made (scanned at 200 dpi).

I've found a few Mac tricks that can reduce it considerably, but make it unreadable. Won't fly - lots of graphs and #'s.

Here's the thing...I downloaded a pdf document from an email today - 42 pages. 238 kb pdf. Perfectly clear. How are they doing that? Other than lowering the dpi a bit, what can I do? Someone is doing something that makes a huge difference.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Apr 6, 2011 5:25 PM

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Answer 1

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,978 points

Apr 6, 2011 6:17 PM in response to Carl Isackson

When you have those scanned documents in the computer, and choose
Print> Save as PDF> what size file(s) are generated at the page level?

This may reduce files size from that of the original scan, since it would be
using a print alternative to 'save as pdf' instead of printing the file. Since
the system's Preview application as well as Adobe Reader can open the
print> save as pdf> files; you can check to see if this makes smaller pdf.

You could also set the defaults so screen-shot captures are .jpg and then
check their per-page file size to compare the difference. Perhaps one of
these methods could result in a way to send a smaller file of the content.

The .jpegs could be combined in a folder to be sent as a .zip attachment.
I've used OnyX to change the default screen capture to jpg from png; so
all screen shots (command shift 4, or 3) will make jpegs automatically.

There used to be some good freeware tools to change .PDFs, but the
ones I'd tried some years ago are either extinct or cost real money...

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 2

Apr 7, 2011 5:59 AM in response to Carl Isackson

Follow the instructions in this post. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1292868&tstart=0

 Cheers, Tom 😉

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Answer 3

K Shaffer

Level 7

34,978 points

Apr 7, 2011 10:53 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

The +use of filters+ as suggested in the referred post, does promise
to retain details from the original PDF in a smaller re-size of them...

Thanks for the reference tip!

Good luck & happy computing! 🙂

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Answer 4

DHodges

Level 2

352 points

May 1, 2011 6:46 AM in response to Carl Isackson

Afraid I only have the same question with no answer. And the download link inside the above link from Texas Mac Man came back as invalid.

I think the smaller PDF files we see are files that are converted to or saved as PDF from their original application - such as MS Word, etc. - rather than printed pages that have been scanned. Scanning I believe creates an image file even if saved as a PDF - - someone correct me if I'm wrong.

It's the only sense I can make out of it.

Is there a way to reduce scanned PDF file sizes?

THanks

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Answer 5

klmcg

Level 1

10 points

Jul 7, 2011 5:13 PM in response to Carl Isackson

Try this link to add a filter to color sync. I named mine "pdf"

http://www.hoboes.com/Mimsy/hacks/quality-reduced-file-size/

it worked great for me. took a 74mb pdf file using the quality slider set to minimum, the file looked great, kept the pdf extension and was only 6mb when finished

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