TECHNOLOGY

How To Reduce The File Size Of A PDF On A Mac

Or… How to access a hidden feature in Apple’s Preview application that provides you with various filters, including reducing the file size.

Image by Author

• PDF file size too big to send over email or upload?

Here is a handy and easy way to reduce the file size — in the example below — the document size was reduced by 99% and the steps to do it.

‘Portable’ Document Format

Adobe launched the PDF format in June 1993 as a way to share documents, including text formatting and inline images, among computer users of disparate platforms who may not have access to compatible software

Whilst it is now ubiquitous — it wasn’t always the case and it redefined how documents were shared over email and deposited to online storage systems.

Alas — the documents have become much larger — especially when you start adding in images.

Here is the document that I would like to share with someone — it weighs in at 6.9MB and I know that some email providers have limits on how large attachments can be — not to mention that the person on the other end of the email may have a limited download capacity.