resize a pdf file

How to Quickly and Easily Resize a PDF File

Does your job entail sending all sorts of files to different people? Then encountering PDF files is likely a staple in your everyday work.

The Portable Document Format, or PDF, remains one of the most enduring file formats in the world. There are even over 7.7 billion unique PDF users in 2018.

With the PDFs ability to secure files, we can expect millions of people to continue utilizing them for a long time. However, using PDF is not always a breeze. Sometimes, you need to resize a PDF file for different reasons.

Thus, the question: do you know how to resize a PDF file? If your answer is “no,” then continue reading below to learn how to resize them quickly and easily.

Resize a PDF File Using Adobe Acrobat Pro

There are different ways to resize a PDF file. Since the PDF is a creation of Adobe, nearly three decades ago, let us first discuss how to convert PDFs using the Adobe Acrobat Pro. Using Acrobat Pro is a good option if you want to resize a file without compromising its quality.

To begin, open your Adobe Acrobat Pro and hit the “File” menu. From there, choose “Open” then select the PDF you wish to resize then select “Open.”

Next, drag the PDF file into the “Compress PDF” box. Alternatively, you can hit “Select a file” and select it from your computer. Once the file is ready, you can save it by hitting “Download.”

Next, go back to the “File” menu at the top of the screen. Click either “Compress PDF” or “Reduce File Size.” The option that you will see may vary depending on the Acrobat version you’re using.

Thereafter, you can choose the location you wish to save the PDF file. You may also rename the file while in this step. Complete the process by clicking “Save.”

Keep in mind that resizing your PFs using the Acrobat Pro means buying the Acrobat software. Unfortunately, a lot of people find it quite expensive.

Resizing to A4

Another skill you need to learn is resizing your PDF files to A4. This is important since PDF is one of the favorite formats to use when distributing documents online.

Also, resizing your PDFs to A4 is somewhat tricky especially if you’re using the free version of Adobe Reader. This is because the free version cannot edit the PDF files.

If you wish to resize the PDF for printing purposes, begin by double-clicking the PDF file. You will use your default reader that comes with your computer. Alternatively, you can use the official Adobe Reader, which you can download for free.

Next, hit the “Print File” option at the top portion of the reader. Choose “Fit to Printable Area,” which you can find next to “Page Scaling” on the drop-down menu.

Thereafter, look for the radio button under “Print Rage.” This allows you to print the entire PDF document. If you don’t want to print the entire thing, select “Pages” and pick the range of the pages that you wish to print.

Hit “OK” to begin printing. Make sure to set your printer to A4 settings to ensure that the PDF pages will fit the page size.

Through Mac Preview

Are you using a Mac computer? Worry not, as you can also resize a PDF file with your device. The main tool that you will use to resize PDF files on Mac computers is the Preview app.

Using Preview, open the PDF file you want to resize. Take note if the PDF file opens in a different app.

If it does, close the app then right-click on the PDF file. Choose “Open with” then hit “Preview.”

Next, go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and open the “File” menu. Hit “Export” and click the “Format” menu. Be careful not to select “Export as PDF.”

Next, you want to click the “Quartz Filter” menu. From there, hit the “Reduce File Size” option. Keep in mind that once you hit this button, the quality of your PDF file will go down. This is more evident if the file comes with images.

Thankfully, there is an option to retain the larger version as your original copy of the PDF. To do this, you need to rename the smaller version. A good tip is to type the word “smaller” before “.pdf”.

Thereafter, pick a location where you want to save the file. Finally, hit the “Save” button to complete the process.

Why You Should Resize a PDF

If sending PDF files via email is a norm for you, then resizing them will help you get rid of dead call time.

This is crucial if you need to send the PDF file to another person who needs it right away. By resizing your PDFs, you will be able to send them faster via email. In turn, you can respond to your clients and attend to their concerns swiftly.

Also, you will have a faster time transferring and downloading if you reduce the PDF file size. This is most beneficial when you’re working on PDF documents with hundreds of pages like mortgages and loans. Resizing a PDF also allows you to convert your PDF to EPS and other file formats much faster.

Finally, resizing allows for better collaboration. With faster file transmissions, you can send PDF files to other members of the team more efficiently. They can review the files and provide feedback faster.

As a result, the company becomes more productive. Additionally, smaller files are easier to access using mobile devices. The increase in productivity is only one of the reasons why PDFs are the most important file format around.

Convert Your PDFs and Other Files Today!

Now that you know how to resize a PDF file, you can enjoy faster transfers and better collaborations. In case you don’t have Adobe Acrobat, you can still resize your PDFs through other reliable means.

Check out our different methods for converting PDFs and other file formats, too. Discover the different conversions you can do with our help today!

Posted in PDF