How To Minimize The Size Of A Pdf

We are often asked at One Legal how to reduce the size of a PDF filing to ensure that is accepted by a courtroom's example direction organisation and therefore successfully eFiled.

At that place'south a whole range of rules out in that location on file sizes depending on what back-role system the court is using to manage the filings it receives. In nigh eFiling courts throughout the U.Southward. the file must exist below 35 MB., and each California court has its own limits. Yous tin can bank check out the maximum file size for your court on our Back up Center, and find data on other local court rules, also.

In general, though, there'southward very trivial reason for PDFs to be hundreds of megabytes large unless they contain exhibits that absolutely must exist saved as very high-resolution photographs. Past following but a few simple steps, even filings that are hundreds of pages long tin can exist brought down to meet requirements.

How to determine the size of your PDF certificate

If y'all're using Adobe Acrobat, checking the size of your PDF is elementary. Just click on File , then Properties. Yous'll see lots of data nearly your document, including its size.

Alternatively, you lot tin navigate to the folder containing your document, right-click on it, and click Properties.

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

So, how should you gear up well-nigh reducing the size of your PDF documents? Here are five quick tips.

#1 Avert scanning PDFs wherever possible

It's a mutual misconception that, to create PDFs, or to combine multiple documents and exhibits into a single PDF, you need to print everything out and scan it together. Electronically converted files are more often than not much smaller in size than scans.

You 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 equally PDFs. Furthermore, individual documents can be quickly combined as PDFs using software such as Adobe Acrobat, avoiding any need to impress out documents to combine them.

Read more: How to correctly redact a PDF

#two Salvage as "Reduced Size PDF"

If your file is all the same very large after you've created it electronically, rather than by scanning, in that location are notwithstanding some steps you tin take. The simplest is to re-save your file every bit a reduced-size PDF.

In the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, open the PDF you wish to re-save as a smaller file, choose File , Relieve as Other , and and so Reduced Size PDF. You'll exist prompted to select the version compatibility you demand and then you lot can click OK to save. We recommend setting your compatibility with at to the lowest degree Acrobat 10, as that version is still widely used.

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

Read more: How to convert a fillable form for eFiling

#3 Use Adobe Acrobat's PDF Optimizer

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

Earlier yous optimize a file, it's a proficient idea to audit the file'south space usage — review which elements, such equally fonts, images, then on, are using the most data. The results of this may give you ideas about where best to reduce file size.

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

The optimizer gives you complete control over the elements of your PDF that will be compressed. Select the checkbox side by side to a console (due east.yard. Images, Fonts), and so select options in that console. There'south a lot of choices, and so it'south worth reading through the Adobe aid file to empathize what each option does.

Okay, we know that not everyone uses Adobe Acrobat. What options are available to you if you lot're using other software or only the bones Adobe Reader? Here are two more options for reducing the size of your PDF file if you're not using Acrobat.

Read more: 7 myths and misconceptions about the PDF

#4 Reduce the size every bit y'all save in Word

In Word, to convert a document to PDF, you employ the Salvage As option. This option generally produces a adequately small file, depending on the number of images in your document. However, if y'all find that your Word-converted PDF is still as well large, there is a further option in Word that will produce a significantly smaller file. Here'due south how to utilise it:

Open the Word certificate you are going to catechumen to PDF. Click on the File button and so Salvage As. In the Save as blazon menu, select PDF and enter your preferred file proper name. Here'due south the extra step: where it says Optimize for at the lesser of the dialog box, select Minimum size (publishing online).

Read more than: How to correct OCR errors with Adobe Acrobat

#five Use a print-to-PDF tool

Other (not-Adobe) PDF tools generally contain features that will reduce the size of your PDF. However, if you're looking for a gratuitous pick, there are some available. Currently, the most downloaded complimentary PDF creator ( according to download.com ) is PrimoPDF.

One time you've installed PrimoPDF, just open the PDF yous wish to compress (in Acrobat Reader, or a web browser, for example), press C trl+P to open the impress dialog, select PrimoPDF from the list of available printers, and then click Create PDF.

Notation that this method, like simply saving every bit a reduced-size PDF in Adobe Acrobat, reduces image quality and resolution.