Remember the days when websites and online users would share a link to a document with the disclaimer "PDF warning"? that time wasn't so long ago, and the warnings stemmed from the common knowledge that PDF files can be quite large. On older computer hardware and web browsers, it could sometimes take several long minutes for the system to catch up and finally display the document.

While better hardware has made that problem less apparent, sharing PDFs with huge file sizes can still be problematic. Attachment limits on emails and capacity constraints on systems such as slack mean you can't always share the content you want when you need to. Offering a streamlined file for online users to download quickly may also be necessary.

PDFs can undergo file compression to make them take less space on disk. However, you need to know the proper method to use. Otherwise, you could end up with a low-quality PDF that doesn't accurately reflect the information you wanted to share anymore. So what do you need to do for effective compression?

Let's take a quick look at everything you should consider when you want to compress a PDF effectively.

Pick the right software

The right tools make a difference, and that's especially true when it comes to compressing a PDF. A fully-featured PDF editor, such as Tungsten Power PDF, delivers the functionality you need to enjoy total control over the document quality. Online-only tools and standalone software might offer size reductions, but they won't give you fine-tuned control over the output. Power PDF does, and that means more options for more scenarios.

Remove unnecessary pages and content

One easy way to shrink the size of your file before applying algorithmic compression is to reduce its actual footprint. Are there pages that your audience doesn't need? Are there embedded media or high-resolution photos that don't add anything to the text? If all you need is a file that communicates information quickly, you may be able to remove these elements and save a substantial amount of space. Likewise, use tools such as Power PDF's "document assembly" window to remove blank pages and other clutter.

Know your compression options

Remember, not all types of compression are the same. Lossless compression won't impact the contents of your document, for example, and achieves its size reduction by re-ordering the contents of the actual digital file to be more orderly. Power PDF also offers a built-in solution for tweaking image quality along a scale if you can sacrifice quality for the sake of size. When you need the smallest PDF possible, a low-bandwidth compression is the way to go. While it will remove most image elements and color, it can achieve the best size reduction. Choose the one that makes the best sense for your application.

Related post: Compress PDFs effectively in 3 simple steps

Take control of your documents today

PDF compression solutions can seem confusing at first glance, but the right software makes the entire process simple. Because Power PDF puts a full range of options right at your fingertips, you can experiment with which combination of settings yields the perfect balance between quality and size. From making the document as small as possible to simply removing unnecessary elements, the choice of how to best compress your PDFs lies with you.

To explore more about Power PDF and discover how easy it is to use to compress a PDF, start a free 15-day trial now.