Ask MagCloud: Create a PDF

How can I reduce the size of my PDF file?

Following the instructions in our Software-Specific Instruction Packages is the best way to ensure a smaller file size for your MagCloud PDF. Most publications on the site are less than 1MB per page. If your final PDF seems to be too large, the first thing to do is double-check that your PDF export settings match those in our instructions.

If you find that your PDF is still above our 300MB upload limit, and you have access to Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can use the PDF Optimizer to get some more insight into your file. The "Audit space usage..." button in the upper right corner will tell you what in your file is taking up so much space. You can also use the Image Settings to optimize your images with Bicubic Downsampling to 300 ppi for images above 300ppi using JPEG compression and High Quality. Make sure to uncheck the box at the bottom that reads "Optimize images only if there is a reduction in size."

Another option to reduce your file size is to reduce the resolution of your images, either through Acrobat's PDF Optimizer, or the PDF export settings in the software you used to create the PDF. While we recommend 300dpi images for the highest quality output, you can still get a good quality print with 250dpi images, and many images will print well down to as low as 200dpi. If you are reducing your image resolution by this much, it's a good idea to order a print copy before placing any larger orders to make sure the output of your images is to your liking.