How To Reduce Scanned Pdf File Size

We are often asked at One Legal how to reduce the size of a PDF filing to ensure that is accustomed by a court's instance management system and therefore successfully eFiled.

In that location's a whole range of rules out in that location on file sizes depending on what back-office system the courtroom is using to manage the filings information technology receives. In nigh eFiling courts throughout the U.South. the file must be below 35 MB., and each California court has its own limits. You can bank check out the maximum file size for your courtroom on our Support Center, and observe data on other local court rules, too.

In general, though, there's very little reason for PDFs to be hundreds of megabytes large unless they contain exhibits that absolutely must exist saved as very high-resolution photographs. By post-obit only a few elementary steps, even filings that are hundreds of pages long tin can exist brought downwards to meet requirements.

How to determine the size of your PDF document

If you're using Adobe Acrobat, checking the size of your PDF is uncomplicated. Merely click on File , and so Properties. You'll see lots of information nearly your certificate, including its size.

Alternatively, you lot can navigate to the folder containing your document, right-click on it, and click Backdrop.

Larger files will take longer to upload, are cumbersome to share electronically (via email, for case), and will use up your law house'due south file storage more rapidly. And even when the courts take larger file sizes, they prefer to handle smaller, optimized files.

So, how should y'all set most reducing the size of your PDF documents? Here are 5 quick tips.

#one Avert scanning PDFs wherever possible

It'south a common misconception that, to create PDFs, or to combine multiple documents and exhibits into a single PDF, y'all need to print everything out and scan information technology together. Electronically converted files are generally much smaller in size than scans.

You only e'er need to scan documents that exist in paper class just — all other documents can exist electronically converted from the original file by saving them as PDFs. Furthermore, individual documents tin can be quickly combined as PDFs using software such as Adobe Acrobat, avoiding whatsoever need to print out documents to combine them.

Read more: How to correctly redact a PDF

#ii Save as "Reduced Size PDF"

If your file is notwithstanding very big after you lot've created it electronically, rather than by scanning, there are still some steps you can accept. The simplest is to re-relieve your file as a reduced-size PDF.

In the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, open the PDF you wish to re-save equally a smaller file, choose File , Save as Other , and so Reduced Size PDF. You'll be prompted to select the version compatibility you need and so you can click OK to save. Nosotros recommend setting your compatibility with at least Acrobat X, every bit that version is all the same widely used.

This method is quick and elementary but be warned that information technology volition reduce the quality of images and will remove digital signatures. If you want more control over how your PDF is compressed in Acrobat, employ the optimization method described below instead.

Read more: How to convert a fillable course for eFiling

#3 Use Adobe Acrobat'southward PDF Optimizer

Sometimes you'll want more control over which elements of your document are reduced in quality or removed. In these circumstances, you lot should choose the PDF optimizer tool.

Before y'all optimize a file, information technology's a good thought to inspect the file'due south space usage — review which elements, such equally fonts, images, so on, are using the most data. The results of this may give you lot ideas about where all-time to reduce file size.

To begin optimization, open your PDF in Acrobat, click File, Save equally Other , and then Optimized PDF. In the dialog box that appears, click on Audit infinite usage in the elevation right-hand corner. Y'all'll see a tabular array of information a bit similar this:

The optimizer gives you complete control over the elements of your PDF that will be compressed. Select the checkbox next to a panel (east.g. Images, Fonts), so select options in that console. There'south a lot of choices, then information technology's worth reading through the Adobe help file to sympathise what each pick does.

Okay, we know that non anybody uses Adobe Acrobat. What options are available to you if you lot're using other software or only the bones Adobe Reader? Here are two more options for reducing the size of your PDF file if y'all're not using Acrobat.

Read more: 7 myths and misconceptions about the PDF

#4 Reduce the size equally you lot save in Discussion

In Word, to convert a document to PDF, you use the Save Every bit pick. This option generally produces a fairly small file, depending on the number of images in your document. Even so, if you find that your Word-converted PDF is still also big, in that location is a farther choice in Discussion that will produce a significantly smaller file. Here's how to use it:

Open up the Discussion document y'all are going to convert to PDF. Click on the File push and then Save As. In the Save equally type menu, select PDF and enter your preferred file name. Hither's the actress footstep: where it says Optimize for at the bottom of the dialog box, select Minimum size (publishing online).

Read more: How to correct OCR errors with Adobe Acrobat

#5 Use a print-to-PDF tool

Other (not-Adobe) PDF tools mostly contain features that will reduce the size of your PDF. Still, if you lot're looking for a costless selection, in that location are some available. Currently, the most downloaded free PDF creator ( co-ordinate to download.com ) is PrimoPDF.

Once yous've installed PrimoPDF, simply open up the PDF you wish to compress (in Acrobat Reader, or a web browser, for example), printing C trl+P to open the print dialog, select PrimoPDF from the list of bachelor printers, then click Create PDF.

Notation that this method, like just saving as a reduced-size PDF in Adobe Acrobat, reduces image quality and resolution.