Whether you’re trying to upload a resume for a dream job or submitting an assignment for a client, PDF should be your go-to file format. Why? Because PDFs are an ultra-convenient way to send info, no matter what software, hardware, or operating system you’re using. Let’s say you’ve already converted your file to a PDF though. Sometimes a PDF file might be too large to upload or send, so you’ll have to reduce the file size. If you’re wondering how to compress PDF file size, you’ve come to the right place. Even better? You’ll learn how to reduce PDF file size without losing quality.
What are PDF files?
First thing’s first: what exactly are PDF files? And why are they better than Word or Excel documents?
Well, let’s start with the definition. The Portable Document Format (PDF) file is one of the most popular file types today. It’s commonly used across countless industries, from legal to real estate. And if you’re a student, you’ve probably downloaded tons of PDFs packed with classroom materials, presentations, and study guides.
PDFs earned noteriety in 2008 when Adobe released them as an open standard, which led to their current widespread usage. They offer a few key advantages over other file formats, including:
PDFs are surprisingly portable
As the name suggests, PDFs are portable. Even if you have to compress PDF file size, they beat other formats hands down. You can transfer, send, or move files without sacrificing image quality or losing your format. Think about how many times you’ve tried to open Word documents, only to see warnings about missing fonts. Or Powerpoint presentations missing images. With PDFs, you can share files with anyone without losing fonts, images, tables, or formatting.
PDFs are universally compatible
PDFs are compatible with all types of applications. Most operating systems come with pre-installed apps to quickly open PDFs, while browsers can open and display PDF files without missing a beat. So, if you’re sending online media kits to clients, you won’t have to customize your file format for different applications.
PDFs are a reliable file format
Most importantly, PDFs are reliable. Whether your PDF contains images, graphics, tables, or rich media, it’ll always display data in the same way. Even if you open a PDF on a smartphone or tablet, you can still see the exact information in the way it was intended to be displayed.
What size should a PDF document be?
Now that we’re all PDF connoisseurs here, there’s probably one burning questions left unanswered: what size should PDF documents be? In general, unless you want to use PDFs for high-quality print jobs (think: glossy business cards or brochures), your PDF file should be 1 MB or less. You can even reduce PDF size to 100kb, but more on that shortly.
Just FYI, any PDF that exceeds 1 MB is considered a large file. When this happens, you’ll need to compress the PDF file size. Compressing PDFs makes it easier to send files and upload them online, all while saving storage space and preserving image quality. That’s why, ideally, you’ll want to reduce PDF size to 100kb.
Why are PDF files so large in size?
Unlike other file types, PDFs can contain significant content. Your document might contain images, fonts, embedded hyperlinks, videos, and other types of content, all packed neatly into a PDF file that can be viewed on any system without any formatting problems.
That content adds up. If you’re housing a lot of content in one PDF file, it contributes to the total size of the file. Your PDF will still retain its formatting and quality, but the size of your PDF will be large.
If you get a warning from your application that your PDF is too large, you’re far from alone. PDFs are the recommended file format when uploading files for a lot of online job applications. You might also use PDFs when uploading government IDs, college applications, or tax documents. These PDFs contain significant data, which might exceed the recommended size to upload PDF files on these websites.
3 simple ways to compress PDF files
Let’s face it: it can be incredibly frustrating to deal with large PDF files. It can take forever to download and upload. And if you’re trying to email a large PDF, forget about it.
The good news? It’s easy to compress PDF file size in seconds without losing quality, even if you don’t have any previous editing experience. Here are some simple ways to compress your PDF files so you can skip the headache.
Use Save As instead of Save
Need a quick fix for your PDF file? When you’re saving, compress the PDF file size by choosing Save As instead of Save.
In many applications, these two functions are different. While they both create new files on your device, Save As always creates a new file. Meanwhile, Save compiles your changes onto the original PDF file. That means the original PDF remains intact, including its file size.
When you make changes, the file size continues to grow whenever you click Save. When you use Save As, you’ll create a new, clean, and optimized PDF.
Download a dedicated PDF editor
All major PDF editors come with capabilities to reduce your PDF file size with a few clicks. You just upload your file, choose the Compress PDF option, and save your newly compressed file onto your computer.
Use an online PDF compression tool
If you don’t want to download third-party editing software, there’s a third solution: use an online PDF compression tool to reduce your file size.
With Picsart, you can easily reduce your PDF file for any application. All you have to do is upload your original PDF file, compress the file, and download the optimized file. You don’t have to download any third-party software to use Quicktools by Picsart.
Reduce PDF file size online using Quicktools by Picsart
Wondering how to reduce PDF file size online? One word: Quicktools. When you use Quicktools by Picsart for your editing needs, you can quickly compress PDF files in a few clicks, even if you’re not a seasoned graphic designer.
When you need to convert files or resize images in a hurry, Quicktools can save the day. Plus, you won’t have to pour hours into downloading third-party editing tools just to compress files.
Whether you’re looking to remove backgrounds, generate fun fonts, or crop videos, Quicktools has everything you need to bring your creative vision to life. And if you need to fine-tune your PDF, Quicktools features easy-to-use PDF tools to make life even easier.
How to reduce PDF file size free online
Compressing your PDF files might seem time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re uploading marketing materials for your small business or submitting homework assignments, Picsart makes it easy to reduce your PDF file size in just a few seconds.
Ready to get started? Here’s how to reduce PDF file size without losing quality using Quicktools.
On the web:
1. Open the Picsart Compress PDF Tool.
2. Drag and drop your PDF file into the dotted box. Or, click Select Files to upload an oversized PDF from your library.
3. Once you’ve uploaded your PDF, sit back and let the PDF Compress Tool do its magic. In the right panel toolbar, you’ll be able to check out the before-and-after size of your PDF file.
4. Click Download PDF files to download your newly compressed PDF file. Next time someone’s wondering how to reduce PDF file size, you know what to do. Send them this way.
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