Making PDF's smaller

25/05/08 12:45
mac-os-x-leopard
If you use the print to PDF feature in Mac OS X, you have probably noticed that it can create some really large PDF files. This is fine as long as you are copying them to CD or DVD, but if you’re putting them on the web or sending them through e-mail, they can really cause havoc on both ends. Well did you know that you can reduce PDF files within OSX using Preview?




If you open the PDF in Preview, you can reduce the file size by doing a “Save As...” and choosing, appropriately, Reduce File Size from the Quartz Filter menu. Often, that will be fine. But the way that it reduces the file size is by saving all images as JPEGs of middle quality. Sometimes that quality will not be enough.


The answer, it turns out, is in ColorSync Utility in the Utilities folder off of the Applications folder. ColorSync Utility can create new Quartz filters. Open up ColorSync Utility and switch to the “Filters” pane. This will list all of the filters that you currently have available.

QuartzFilters


In the lower left, click on the “+” button. This creates a new filter.


Give the filter a name, and press return.


To the right of the filter’s name, choose the down arrow. A menu will pop up.


From the pop-up menu, choose “Add Image Effects Component”, and from that menu choose “Image Compression”.


Adjust the image compression Mode to JPEG.


Adjust the image compression quality however you prefer.


The next time you use Preview to “Save As...”, you'll have a new option under Quartz filters.


That's it ! This comes in very handy when you need to reduce the files for download on a website. Preview also lets you delete pages within the PDF as well.

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