The first step is to install the Apple quartz filters to your computer, specifically the Filters folder within the system’s Library folder. Step 1: Move the quartz filters to your ~/Library/ folder. You can download the filters for free from this Github page as well. The problem with Preview’s built-in file compression is how image quality drops drastically afterwards, causing any image or graphic in your PDF to look blurry and at times incomprehensible.Ī workaround is to use custom quartz filters that achieves the balance you need to reduce the file size while preserving image quality throughout the document.įor this tutorial, we’re going to install and use these Apple quartz filters by Jerome Colas to reduce a 25MB PDF file down to a more manageable size. While Preview can reduce your PDF, it isn't able to preserve image quality. To compress a PDF, simply click on File → Export… → Quartz Filter and select Reduce file size.

The default Preview app built into OS X is designed to handle your basic PDF needs, from viewing to annotation to file compression.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to reduce large PDFs on any computer without compromising image quality so you can send out quality documents without ever having to worry about people getting turned off by fuzzy images. Moreover, typical compression creates copies with blurry images that lower the quality of your documents. Besides the actual text, you can add photos, clipart, and other graphics to make your work stand out.īut while these design elements can make your documents pop, they cause your PDF to balloon in size, making it almost impossible to send and for others to download. From professional proposals to your mother’s Christmas potluck invitations, the PDF is the go-to format for creating eye-catching digital documents and marketing materials.

How to get pdf file size down