Quick Guide: How to Resize a PDF on Mac Effortlessly

Learn how to resize a PDF on Mac with our quick and easy guide. Discover the best tools for altering PDF dimensions on Mac, including built-in features and third-party software, ensuring fast loading speed and optimized storage.

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resize a pdf
CapCut
CapCut2023-11-25
0 min(s)

Effortlessly resizing a PDF on a Mac is a skill that can significantly streamline your digital document handling. Whether you are a professional looking to optimize file sizes for easier sharing or a student preparing documents for submission, the ability to resize a PDF efficiently is invaluable. The question of how to resize a PDF on Mac frequently arises in various contexts, from changing the size of a PDF on Mac for email attachments to simply reducing the storage space it occupies.

This quick guide is designed to equip you with the know-how to resize PDF in Mac using your Mac's native features and additional tools, ensuring that whether you're at your desk or on the go, you can modify your documents as needed. Let's explore how you can adjust the scale of your PDFs with ease, transforming this once-daunting task into a simple, quick, and stress-free process.

Table of content

Advantages of resizing a PDF on Mac

Resizing a PDF on a Mac comes with several practical benefits that enhance your digital document handling. Let us look at some advantages when you want to know how do I resize a PDF on Mac.

1. Save storage space - Firstly, reducing the file size of a PDF can substantially save storage space on your device, allowing you to keep more files organized and accessible.

2. Effective transmission of Emails - Smaller PDF files yield quick transfer speeds, which is especially useful when sending documents as email attachments without hitting size limits.

3. Faster loading speed - Lastly, fast loading speeds are a boon for those who need to quickly view or share documents without long waiting times for loading and rendering, enhancing productivity and the user experience.

3 types of PDF resizer in your Mac

Finding the right tools to resize a PDF on a Mac can be crucial for handling documents efficiently. To help you find which available options works best for how to resize a pdf on Mac, here are seven recommended tools that cater to different resizing needs.

1. Built-in tool: Preview

Preview, the built-in macOS application, not only lets you view PDFs but also offers basic editing features. It is the free Mac program that includes the ability to adjust the size of your PDFs. Although the functionality of this tool is not much stretched, it is still a good option for how to resize PDF on MacBook.


preview

How to resize a PDF in Mac using Preview

    Step
  1. Open the PDF with Preview.
  2. Step
  3. Select 'export' from the 'file'menu.
  4. Step
  5. Choose 'reduce file size' from the 'quartz filter' drop-down menu.
  • 
    • Its 100% free to use for Mac users
    • Ease of access, no need to download or install any third-party application
    • You can preview the PDF files before resizing
    
    • It needs advanced features, and sometimes the quality reduction can be too significant
    • Batch PDF resizing isn’t possible with this option
  • 2. Using third-party software

    As you can see, the built-in solution to resize a pdf on Mac is not perfect to keep the original file quality. Moreover, if you are looking to deal with plenty of PDF files and don't want to resize them one by one with Preview, you would need to try a third-party PDF resizer.

    (1). Adobe Acrobat

    Adobe Acrobat is a professional tool offering extensive features for PDF editing, including resizing. It offers plenty of sophisticated features that enable you to do things you can't do with any other program. Let’s see how to change size of PDF on Mac using Adobe Acrobat.

    
    adobe acrobat

    How to resize PDF in Mac using Adobe Acrobat

      Step
    1. First of all, open the PDF in Acrobat.
    2. Step
    3. Select 'optimize PDF' from the tools menu.
    4. Step
    5. Adjust the size reduction options as needed.
    
    • Offer a range of powerful editing capabilities
    • You can set compatibility to different Adobe Acrobat versions
    
    • The downside might be the cost of the software and the complexity for new users
    • You might not be able to select a compression level

    (2). Foxit Reader

    Foxit Reader is known for its robust and secure PDF solutions, offering features to edit and resize PDFs on Mac.

    
    foxit reader

    How do you resize a PDF on a Mac using Foxit Reader

      Step
    1. Launch Foxit Reader after installing the program on your computer.
    2. Step
    3. Click on 'file', then 'optimize PDF' to compress the file.
  • 
    • It offers a friendly user interface and reliable performance
    • Also includes some other powerful tools for optimizing PDFs
    
    • The resizing options might not be as detailed as those in Acrobat
  • (3). PDF Expert

    PDF Expert is another tool that provides an intuitive interface for handling PDF files, including size optimization for PDFs.

    

    How to resize PDF Mac using PDF Expert

      Step
    1. Open your document with PDF Expert.
    2. Step
    3. Now, head over to the 'file' tab and select 'reduce file size' option.
    4. Step
    5. Choose the desired compression level and hit the 'click' button.
    
    • PDF Expert is known for its simplicity and speed
    • Allows you to select the required compression level
    • You will be able to instantly share the compressed file
    
    • The free trial version is only available for 7 days
    • The compression options may not be as granular as those in Adobe Acrobat

    3. Online tools

    In the digital age, convenience is paramount, especially when modifying documents. For Mac users seeking to resize a PDF on Mac, online tools provide a swift and straightforward solution. These web-based platforms offer various features that cater to your needs without installing software. Below are three online tools, each with a snapshot, highlighting their capabilities for resizing PDFs.

    (1). Small pdf

    The Small pdf is an online platform that enjoys large popularity to provide various online PDF services. It is a comprehensive tool that merges simplicity with functionality, allowing users to resize their PDFs directly from their browsers.

    
    smallpdf

    How to resize a PDF on Mac

      Step
    1. Visit the Small pdf website from the web browser you are using on your MacBook.
    2. Step
    3. Upload your PDF file that you want to shrink.
    4. Step
    5. Choose the compression level in between 'basic compression' and 'strong compression' and let Small pdf do its magic.
    
    • Like most of the online tools, you can use the basic features for free
    • One of the advantages of Smallpdf is its user-friendly interface, making it accessible to everyone
    
    • On the downside, batch compression is not free
    • There will be a potential risk of information leakage

    (2). PDF Compressor

    As its name implies, PDF Compressor is a dedicated platform for reducing the size of PDF files with ease. It also offers batch processing, and you don’t have to pay for anything unlike other online services offering this capability.

    
    pdf compressor

    How to resize PDF on MacBook online

      Step
    1. Access PDF Compressor's website from your MacBook.
    2. Step
    3. Upload the PDF you wish to compress.
    4. Step
    5. Finally, click the 'download all' button to get the compressed PDF files.
  • 
    • The site is free and requires no user registration, which is a significant plus
    • Allows to process up to 20 files per batch
    
    • However, the compression results may sometimes be less effective as you won’t be able to select a compression level
  • (3). iLovePDF

    iLovePDF is an online platform that brings together a suite of PDF tools, which including an efficient PDF resize function.

    
    ilovepdf

    How to resize PDF Mac using iLovePDF

      Step
    1. Go to the iLovePDF website using Safari or any other preferred web browser on your Mac.
    2. Step
    3. Upload your document.
    4. Step
    5. Select the compression option and initiate the process.
  • 
    • iLovePDF stands out with its additional PDF tools beyond just resizing, offering a holistic PDF solution
    
    • On the flip side, high compression levels might lower the quality of images within the PDF
    • Your file size and the speed of internet connection will greatly impact the compressing
  • How to design or convert a PDF file with CapCut

    The realm of digital documents is ever-evolving, with PDF files standing at the forefront due to their versatility and wide acceptance. Whether for professional presentations, academic submissions, or personal use, being able to design or convert PDF files adeptly can significantly streamline your workflow. In a Mac environment, tools that blend ease of use with powerful features are highly sought after. CapCut emerges as a top contender, offering a suite of online tools that simplify the design and conversion process for Mac users.

    CapCut's basic editing features to design PDFs

    CapCut, often recognized for its video editing prowess, extends its capabilities to photo editing and, by extension, to PDF design and customization. CapCut’s user-friendly platform enables Mac users to resize a PDF or embellish it with various design elements effortlessly. Here are some of the popular features that make CapCut the best option available on the internet to design PDF files.

    1. Add text to image

    CapCut Web’s online image editor allows for the seamless addition of text over images. When dealing with PDFs that originate from images, this feature is convenient. Users can select from a diverse range of fonts and styles to create text overlays that are both readable and aesthetically pleasing.

    Another impressive aspect of this feature is its ability to add text to images with a transparent background. It features AI-powered template designs for social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and many others. These templates will help you create stunning graphics that are optimized for each platform’s unique specifications. And what’s even more special about this service is that you can create stunning designs in just a few clicks, and there are no watermarks to worry about.

    
    add text to image

    2. Custom stickers online

    With the custom stickers feature of CapCut, personalizing PDFs becomes a creative endeavor. This tool can add elements like custom stickers that you can integrate into your PDFs, providing a unique way to emphasize important information or brand documents.

    You will be able to animate, customize, and play with free stickers to make them unique and stand out from the crowd. It allows you to take your stickers designing game to the next level by offering creative editing, which gives you complete control over how your stickers look and feel. That’s not all; this tool also offers a custom canvas feature, which allows you to create stickers that fit perfectly with your design’s dimensions. This feature is particularly useful if you’re working on a project or PDF file with specific size requirements.

    
    custom stickers

    3. Photo frame design

    The photo frame tool offered by CapCut grants an additional layer of customization. By incorporating frames, users can set the tone and context of the image visual content. With unlimited photo frame options, you can choose from a wide range of designs, including classic, modern, and trendy frames that will help to enhance the overall look of your images. It’s an elegant way to present images that must be included in the PDF, ensuring they capture attention while serving their purpose.

    Customizing your photo frames is as easy as pie with CapCut’s photo frame design feature. You can adjust the elements to match your image’s theme and style. Furthermore, export your image in PDF format.

    
    photo frame design

    Meet CapCut's image converting features

    Transitioning from design to conversion, CapCut’s prowess is not limited to mere aesthetics. The image converter feature is a vital tool for anyone looking to change the format of a PDF on a Mac. It provides a straightforward method to convert images into various formats, which can then be compiled into a reduced-size PDF. This is invaluable for those pondering how to resize PDFs on MacBooks, as it directly influences the PDF’s dimensions and file size.

    The importance of designing and converting PDF files online cannot be overstated. It's about maintaining control over the document’s final appearance and file size, which impacts storage considerations and transferability. CapCut stands out by offering these functionalities through a web-based interface, which eliminates the need for complex software installations on your Mac. With CapCut's convert features, you can easily convert image format to PNG, JPEG or PDF as you like.

    
     image converting

    Final thoughts

    Mastering how to resize a PDF on Mac not only boosts your productivity but also refines the way you manage documents daily. Whether you aim to save storage space, enhance transfer speeds for email attachments, or improve loading speeds, adjusting PDF size on your Mac efficiently is an essential skill in the digital age. Through this guide, you've gained insights into many tools, each with its merits, addressing the common inquiry of how to resize a PDF on Mac.

    The built-in Preview application stands out for those who prefer a quick and straightforward approach to resizing PDFs on Mac. At the same time, software solutions like Adobe Acrobat, Foxit Reader, and PDF Expert offer more advanced features for those who regularly work with PDF files; when it comes to online tools, platforms like Smallpdf, PDF Compressor, and iLovePDF have made it easier than ever to resize a PDF on Mac without the need for any downloads or installations. Moreover, the best solution available to design or convert a PDF file on Mac is in the form of CapCut. It not only comes with the simplest way to design PDF files, but also provides the widest range of features to edit images in the industry.

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