How To Reduce Pdf File Size For Free

Nosotros are ofttimes asked at Ane Legal how to reduce the size of a PDF filing to ensure that is accustomed by a court'south case management arrangement and therefore successfully eFiled.

There'southward a whole range of rules out there on file sizes depending on what dorsum-office arrangement the court is using to manage the filings information technology receives. In nearly eFiling courts throughout the U.S. the file must be beneath 35 MB., and each California court has its own limits. Y'all can check out the maximum file size for your court on our Back up Center, and discover information on other local court rules, too.

In general, though, there's very trivial reason for PDFs to be hundreds of megabytes big unless they contain exhibits that absolutely must be saved as very high-resolution photographs. By following just a few uncomplicated steps, fifty-fifty filings that are hundreds of pages long can be brought down to meet requirements.

How to decide the size of your PDF document

If you're using Adobe Acrobat, checking the size of your PDF is simple. Simply click on File , then Properties. You'll meet lots of information about your document, including its size.

Alternatively, you can navigate to the folder containing your certificate, right-click on it, and click Properties.

Larger files will accept longer to upload, are cumbersome to share electronically (via email, for instance), and will utilize upwardly your police firm'south file storage more than rapidly. And fifty-fifty when the courts have larger file sizes, they prefer to handle smaller, optimized files.

So, how should you lot set almost reducing the size of your PDF documents? Here are five quick tips.

#1 Avoid scanning PDFs wherever possible

It'due south a common misconception that, to create PDFs, or to combine multiple documents and exhibits into a unmarried PDF, you need to impress everything out and scan information technology together. Electronically converted files are generally much smaller in size than scans.

You lot only e'er need to browse documents that exist in paper class simply — all other documents can be electronically converted from the original file by saving them as PDFs. Furthermore, individual documents tin exist quickly combined as PDFs using software such equally Adobe Acrobat, avoiding any need to print out documents to combine them.

Read more: How to correctly redact a PDF

#2 Save every bit "Reduced Size PDF"

If your file is still very large after y'all've created it electronically, rather than by scanning, there are still some steps you lot tin can take. The simplest is to re-save your file as a reduced-size PDF.

In the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, open the PDF you lot wish to re-save as a smaller file, cull File , Save as Other , and and so Reduced Size PDF. Yous'll be prompted to select the version compatibility y'all need and and then you tin click OK to relieve. We recommend setting your compatibility with at least Acrobat X, as that version is nonetheless widely used.

This method is quick and simple but be warned that information technology will reduce the quality of images and will remove digital signatures. If you want more than command over how your PDF is compressed in Acrobat, utilise the optimization method described below instead.

Read more: How to convert a fillable class for eFiling

#3 Apply Adobe Acrobat's PDF Optimizer

Sometimes you'll want more control over which elements of your document are reduced in quality or removed. In these circumstances, you lot should choose the PDF optimizer tool.

Before you optimize a file, it's a good idea to audit the file's space usage — review which elements, such every bit fonts, images, then on, are using the about data. The results of this may give you lot ideas nearly where best to reduce file size.

To begin optimization, open your PDF in Acrobat, click File, Save as Other , and then Optimized PDF. In the dialog box that appears, click on Inspect space usage in the top right-paw corner. You'll see a table of information a flake like this:

The optimizer gives you complete control over the elements of your PDF that volition exist compressed. Select the checkbox next to a panel (due east.g. Images, Fonts), and so select options in that console. There'due south a lot of choices, so information technology's worth reading through the Adobe help file to understand what each selection does.

Okay, we know that non everyone uses Adobe Acrobat. What options are available to you if y'all're using other software or merely the basic Adobe Reader? Here are 2 more options for reducing the size of your PDF file if you're non using Acrobat.

Read more: 7 myths and misconceptions most the PDF

#iv Reduce the size as you salvage in Word

In Word, to convert a certificate to PDF, you lot apply the Relieve Equally selection. This option by and large produces a fairly small file, depending on the number of images in your document. Yet, if you notice that your Give-and-take-converted PDF is still too big, in that location is a further option in Discussion that will produce a significantly smaller file. Here'due south how to use it:

Open the Discussion certificate you lot are going to convert to PDF. Click on the File button and then Save Equally. In the Save as type card, select PDF and enter your preferred file proper name. Hither's the extra pace: where information technology says Optimize for at the bottom of the dialog box, select Minimum size (publishing online).

Read more: How to correct OCR errors with Adobe Acrobat

#5 Apply a impress-to-PDF tool

Other (not-Adobe) PDF tools by and large incorporate features that will reduce the size of your PDF. Withal, if you're looking for a free option, there are some available. Currently, the nearly downloaded free PDF creator ( according to download.com ) is PrimoPDF.

Once you've installed PrimoPDF, simply open the PDF you wish to compress (in Acrobat Reader, or a web browser, for example), press C trl+P to open the print dialog, select PrimoPDF from the list of available printers, so click Create PDF.

Note that this method, like but saving as a reduced-size PDF in Adobe Acrobat, reduces image quality and resolution.