First Look: PDF Shrink compression program

PDF files may be convenient for storing and sharing files, but they can often be too large to email or share with others. Apago’s PDF Shrink solves this problem by condensing PDF files by up to 90-percent with little noticeable loss of quality. The program shrinks PDF files in the same way that compressing graphic files to JPEG or audio files to MP3 works.

First, the program looks for redundant data, such as a recurring background color appearing on each page. It then removes this redundant data, essentially tossing out information to create a smaller file. Eliminating data always reduces quality, but when done sparingly, compressing can shrink a file without any perceivable loss.

PDF Shrink offers several settings to optimize file compression depending on whether you want to send it by email, view it on the screen, or post it on a web site.

For further optimization, PDF Shrink can target specific PDF viewing programs such as different versions of Adobe Acrobat or Preview – a program that comes with every Macintosh. By targeting a specific PDF viewing program, PDF Shrink can optimize files just for that one particular PDF Viewer.

To protect the contents of your PDF file, PDF Shrink can use password protection to prevent users from printing your file, changing it, or copying text.



Compressing a PDF file is as simple as dragging and dropping one or more files over the PDF Shrink interface. You can then optimize it for email, print, the web, or any custom settings you define. After compressing, PDF Shrink displays how much space is saved with each file.



When handling PDF files that consist of mostly text, PDF Shrink compressed files approximately 1- to 5-percent of their original size. Compressing PDF files that are created from PowerPoint/Keynote presentations, PDF Shrink was able to reduce file size by 2- to 10-percent. PDF files that contain mostly color graphic images, PDF Shrink compressed files up to 90-percent. You can further maximize file compression by defining custom settings or optimizing for specific targets such as email or the web.

The group most likely to benefit from PDF Shrink is anyone who regularly stores and shares graphic files as PDF files. People who store text and slideshow presentations can also benefit from PDF Shrink, but the results aren’t likely to be as dramatic, making PDF Shrink much less of a necessity.

PDF Shrink is a handy utility especially for anyone who creates and shares graphics-intensive PDF files. For $35, PDF Shrink can be a useful utility that can make your PDF files smaller and easier to transfer and store.

Filed under: software
Other story tags: PDF, compression, PDF Shrink, Apago