Compress PDF file while still keeping Quality

[The Moose]

I am trying to find a way to make the file size of a PDF smaller without compromising quality. I have a 20 page PDF that is 20MB which doesn't align with the size of other PDFs I see/download/use.

I would prefer not to upload to a website to then compress the PDF docs.

I mainly use Mac. Any recommendations would be gratefully received please.

Thank you

[xeny]

Check if you've embedded any unnecessarily high resolution images in the original document.

[The Moose]

No images at all.

[driver67]

Try right clicking the file then select compress.

That will produce a zip file of the pdf, see how well that does in reducing size.

Also, how are you producing the PDF file ? You may have too high a resolution selected etc.

Dougie.

[mmm-five]

What's the source format (e.g. MS Word, LibreOffice, etc.)?

If you're on a Mac you should be able to print as PDF (for the system to handle the conversion) or in Microsoft Office you can save as PDF (for Microsoft to handle the conversion).

If it's just 20 pages of plain text, the I'd expect something under 200kb. In fact I've just done a 20 page pure text Word file and the different options come up as:

• Saved as PDF (best for printing) / printed as PDF (both use Apple PDF converter) = 173kb
• Saved as PDF (best for sharing) using Microsoft PDF converter = 115kb
• Printed as Adobe PDF (standard preset) using Adobe PDF converter = 661kb
• Printed as Adobe PDF (smallest preset) using Adobe PDF converter = 661kb
• Printed as Adobe PDF (standard preset, then optimised in Adobe Acrobat) using Adobe PDF converter = 140kb
• Printed as Adobe PDF (smallest preset, then optimised in Adobe Acrobat) using Adobe PDF converter = 140kb

If it's another programme, then there may be some tweaks to the output needed (especially if you've somehow selected 4800dpi instead of 300dpi for example).

In some PDF programmes (and in some source programmes) there's an option to 'optimise' rather than 'compress'. The optimise will try to reduce the file size by removing unnecessary elements (like unused layers, transparency, etc.) as well as offering you a load of options to reduce image quality - but you say you don't have any images.

Have you embedded a load of fonts in there by any chance?

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Alternatively, if it's not confidential, you could send it to me to have a look at (the PDF and/or source file).

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 2nd October 19:18

[NWMark]

As above really it sounds like it when it has been created it has saved 20 images (probably 24bit colour rather than 8 bit greyscale too) instead of 20 pages of text.

If you can recreate it from the source this will be your best starting point to reduce the size.

compressing it now will reduce quality of the images and make the text more 'fuzzy'