PDF is one of the most universal file formats adopted on different platforms. A PDF created on a Windows PC will be easy to open and even edited on almost all other devices. This make it one of the most widely used and convenient file formats.
On a Windows PC, one can easily create a PDF file without the need for additional software. While the process is simple and fast, customization options are lacking, especially about the quality of the generated PDF.
Compress PDF files
In these cases, you might end up with a very large PDF file that takes up quite a few MB. Of course, the better the quality of the document, the larger the file will be.
There are situations where quality matters more than the file size, but in most cases you’ll probably want to go for a smaller file size, which will make e-mailing easier. Fortunately, there are many PDF editors that allow you to manage an existing PDF file and compress a PDF file to reduce its size.
Method 1. Using a dedicated PDF program
If you have SwifDoo PDF installed on your computer, there is a tool within the PDF editor program called “PDF Compression“. This is one of the best and easiest ways to shrink a PDF document for Windows PC users.
To achieve this, simply refer to the quick tips below.
How to change PDF file size?
First of all, launch the SwifDoo PDF and select “Compress PDF”.
Then add the selected PDF preview on the PDF compressor popup window.
Now compress the PDF by setting everything up and then hitting the “Start” button.
You can also add PDF files from the list for a batch compress processing.
Method 2. Reduce the PDF using Microsoft Word
MS Office has long been known as the best PC suite for Windows, but what most of us don’t know is that since the release of MS Office 2013, we can create and edit PDF files without any problem. This is a major leap from Microsoft and is useful for users who want to compress their PDF files to optimal sizes for various purposes such as sharing, storage, etc.
When using MS Word, all you need to do is save your Word file as PDF. In the “Save As” window (“File” > “Save As“), select PDF from the drop-down list containing the output formats and also choose “Minimum Size” from the options below.
Troubleshooting
One of the biggest annoyances with dealing with a PDF file is the large file size. There’s nothing worse than an email stuck in the outbox of a large PDF file, unless of course it’s a slow PDF download from the web.
How can you reduce PDF document size? While this varies greatly from PDF to PDF and the type of content it contains, there are a few general PDF creation options in particular that you should pay close attention to. A few tweaks here and there will go a long way in reducing the megabytes of your file.
Use the “Save As” command
This is a good place to start reducing swelling. Every time you hit “Save” in an app, you end up with a generally larger file size. This is because the function saves the changes and adds them to the file. The same goes for PDF files.
Instead, use the “Save As” command. Doing so overwrites the entire file, removing unused objects and accumulated changes. The result is a smaller PDF file that you can manage. So, choose the “Save As” option after you’ve added everything you need to your PDF.
Method 3. Using An Online PDF Tools
An online PDF compressor tool couldn’t be simpler. Others offer many more options to help you decide how much quality loss you’re willing to let your PDF files suffer.
You don’t even need an account to use an online tool in the case of Smallpdf. Simply go to the site, add the file and click Compress PDF. You can then drag the PDF onto the page, locate the file on your hard drive, or import the PDF from Google Drive or Dropbox. The file will then be compressed automatically. Just click the download button to save the new file to your hard drive.
You can compress two files per hour for free. If you want more, you’ll need to upgrade to the premium version.
In closing
Depending on who and what the PDF content is intended for, you can reduce the bloat considerably. Applications that create PDF files for specific needs, such as the SwifDoo PDF, will allow you to save PDF files with advanced settings and editing capabilities.
But if your PDFs are not opened exclusively in a specific program for editing, then there is no need to prepare the file for it. So before you save a PDF with all the bells and whistles, have a good idea of how your PDF will be used and you can easily reduce the size accordingly.
