Uploading pdf files can become a problem if the file size is large. Mac users try to use Preview app to reduce the file size. Using Preview, you can compress the file but you will have to compromise with the quality.
The result pdf file may be distorted and blurry. Of course, you will not want to send a file that is barely readable. In this blog, I show 10 easy steps to compress pdf files on Mac without loosing the quality.
Note: The approach shown in this blog can also be used to compress image files.
Important: Please do not perform compression on the original files. Try to create a copy of the file first. On this copy perform compression. Your original data has to be safe.
When will you require to compress/reduce file size ?
There can be many cases when you will need to compress the file. Two most common are:
- Sending pdf files via e-mail (like gmail allows 25MB max file size)
- Uploading passport scan pdfs for visa
Solution
Mac users can solve this problem easily by following the steps below:
1 – Go to Mac Applications -> Utilities
2 – Open ColorSync Utility
3 – Select Filters
4 – Click “+” sign to add new filter
5 – Rename the filter and click on list down arrow button on right
6 – Select Add Image Effects Component -> Image Compression
7 – Select JPEG in Mode and Drag Quality button to little left
8 – Open pdf file with ColorSync Utility app
Create a copy of your original file first. Then perform compression on that file.
Open With -> ColorSync Utility” class=”wp-image-1366″/>9 – Choose the filter you created
If your pdf has more than one number of pages then you will have to compress each of them by selecting individually.
10 – Press apply button
You can observe in above image that we have successfully reduced/compressed our pdf file from 777KB to 322KB without loosing the quality.