How To Reduce The File Size Of Pdf

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

In that location's a whole range of rules out there on file sizes depending on what dorsum-part organisation the court is using to manage the filings it receives. In near eFiling courts throughout the U.S. the file must exist below 35 MB., and each California court has its own limits. You can check out the maximum file size for your court on our Back up Center, and find 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 comprise exhibits that admittedly must be saved as very high-resolution photographs. By following just a few simple steps, even filings that are hundreds of pages long tin can be brought downward 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 elementary. Only click on File , so Properties. Y'all'll come across lots of data about your certificate, including its size.

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

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

And so, how should you lot set well-nigh reducing the size of your PDF documents? Hither are 5 quick tips.

#ane Avoid scanning PDFs wherever possible

It's a common misconception that, to create PDFs, or to combine multiple documents and exhibits into a single PDF, you need to print everything out and scan it together. Electronically converted files are mostly much smaller in size than scans.

You lot only ever need to scan documents that exist in newspaper form but — all other documents can be electronically converted from the original file past saving them every bit PDFs. Furthermore, individual documents tin can exist quickly combined as PDFs using software such every bit Adobe Acrobat, avoiding any need to print out documents to combine them.

Read more: How to correctly redact a PDF

#ii Salvage as "Reduced Size PDF"

If your file is still very large afterwards y'all've created it electronically, rather than by scanning, there are still some steps you can accept. The simplest is to re-salve your file as a reduced-size PDF.

In the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, open up the PDF you wish to re-salvage every bit a smaller file, cull File , Save as Other , and so Reduced Size PDF. Y'all'll be prompted to select the version compatibility you need so you can click OK to relieve. We recommend setting your compatibility with at least Acrobat X, every bit that version is still widely used.

This method is quick and simple just be warned that information technology will reduce the quality of images and will remove digital signatures. If y'all want more control over how your PDF is compressed in Acrobat, apply the optimization method described beneath instead.

Read more: How to catechumen a fillable form for eFiling

#3 Use Adobe Acrobat's PDF Optimizer

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

Before you optimize a file, information technology's a good idea to inspect the file's infinite usage — review which elements, such as fonts, images, and so on, are using the most data. The results of this may give you ideas most where best to reduce file size.

To begin optimization, open your PDF in Acrobat, click File, Relieve every bit Other , and and then Optimized PDF. In the dialog box that appears, click on Audit infinite usage in the top right-paw corner. You'll see a table of data a bit similar this:

The optimizer gives you complete control over the elements of your PDF that will be compressed. Select the checkbox adjacent to a panel (e.g. Images, Fonts), and and so select options in that panel. At that place's a lot of choices, so it's worth reading through the Adobe assist file to understand what each option does.

Okay, nosotros know that not everyone uses Adobe Acrobat. What options are bachelor to you if yous're using other software or only the bones Adobe Reader? Here are 2 more options for reducing the size of your PDF file if you're not using Acrobat.

Read more: 7 myths and misconceptions about the PDF

#4 Reduce the size every bit you save in Word

In Discussion, to convert a document to PDF, y'all use the Salvage As selection. This option generally produces a fairly small file, depending on the number of images in your document. However, if you find that your Discussion-converted PDF is nonetheless also large, there is a further option in Discussion that will produce a significantly smaller file. Hither's how to use information technology:

Open the Word document you are going to convert to PDF. Click on the File button and and then Save As. In the Salve equally blazon card, select PDF and enter your preferred file proper noun. Here's the extra 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 (non-Adobe) PDF tools more often than not comprise features that will reduce the size of your PDF. However, if you're looking for a gratuitous option, at that place are some available. Currently, the most downloaded free PDF creator ( co-ordinate to download.com ) is PrimoPDF.

In one case you've installed PrimoPDF, simply open 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 available printers, and and so click Create PDF.

Note that this method, like simply saving as a reduced-size PDF in Adobe Acrobat, reduces epitome quality and resolution.