How to Reduce PDF File Size in Illustrator

If you are currently facing the frustrating realization that your PDF came out to be 100s of Megabytes, don't worry! In this video, I show you the easiest way to reduce PDF file size in Illustrator. This is an Illustrator-specific tutorial, so if you do not have that software, this will not work for you. However, I plan to make another video soon that does not use Illustrator.
When reducing PDF file size in Illustrator, it comes down to PDF export settings, but if you can use smaller images, to begin with, you will have a higher chance of the PDF coming out very small.
Thanks for watching! How to Reduce PDF File Size in Illustrator
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Check out some of my Graphic Design videos:
How to create and edit clipping masks in Adobe Illustrator: • Video
Adobe Illustrator Quick Tips & Tricks: • Video
How to Crop Images in Adobe Illustrator: • Video
Bleed in Illustrator: • Video
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Blog: wallamoose.com
Facebook: / digitalwallamoose
Subscribe to Wallamoose! bit.ly/2Rr7T66
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[@joannaeread]

You just freed up so much more energy and inspiration within me via these simple instructions explained! I just subscribed :) Thank you so much for providing this helpful info!!

[@PodcastSpainYT]

Incredible man, thank you so much. Reduced some 1 GB architecture panels to 30 mb 😃 You made my uni hand-in possible

[@allieguerin1498]

I have been struggling with this for YEARS! THANK YOU!!!!

[@clarypop2422]

Just emailed my bosses a brochure for review! Couldn’t fit the attachment at first, you’re a lifesaver 🙏🏻

[@milathomas2758]

worked hard designing a resume and the file was too big. watched your video and got it just right, and the photo tip was on point. thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@Mafivenc]

Thank you!!! So simple and the images were still great quality.

[@faroohi]

thank you. this video saved me. love how its short and brief. very useful

[@aspenvanhooser5601]

You solved my problem! Thank you for making this video. Excellent work.

[@juliannieves5588]

This was super helpful! 1.5GB down to 7MB and the best part of it was the print was so clear. Thank you!

[@brandbryce]

Thank you so much! Super helpful and to the point.

[@mcrmuse1]

Thank you for this video!!! You literally helped me graduate because my final project was too large and canvas was not accepting it!! But because of your help it went down enough! Thank you again!!

[@Wallamoose]

That’s great to hear! I’m glad it helped :)

[@jessicaputz158]

Excellent information! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@RenanPietroniro]

Thanks a LOT!
I was struggling with how to properly compress the images and this saved me!

[@Wallamoose]

That’s great! Thanks for watching!

[@mirandadiez9215]

This was amazingly helpful! Thank you!

[@XIIIBeatoSensei]

Amazing video, super helpful, thanks so much! I applied the same settings to do this in Photoshop too

[@quetufineart]

Thanks for this. I was stranded
👏

[@ChristianVandaos]

Always Coming back to this tutorial!

[@michellewhiteheadphotograp1381]

Thank you so much, this was very helpful!

[@michaelbhoy3011]

This is brilliant. You've made my day! I've struggled with this for years so using uncheck Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities and setting to bicubic downsampling To 300 I've got a file size down to 2.5Mb from 108Mb (the smallest I could achieve). And with such a clear and simple explanation.

[@ajilanang99]

Amazing, very helpful. Thank you so much

[@sajiabude]

so clear and concise. Thank you

[@websurfer2344]

Fantastic quick teach!

[@ivyonic]

Thank you very much, this is so helpful. I kept the quality to High or Max for Print Quality, it's still very good size.

[@kaylenpremchund7617]

Awesome video, thanks for the help!

[@saadmir1957]

Thanks man!
It helps a lot. 🤜🤛

[@raquelawerkamp9621]

This video SAVED ME! Thanks so much

[@jamiewcurrie]

Awesome video and helpful!!

[@elcreativastudio2]

Very helpful, thank you so much

[@MA.AZELLANTACO]

Thank u very much. This video is very helpful.

[@Ruccandel]

This really helped thanks a lot!

[@azhaanshah]

The video is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[@Kayreku]

Thank you so much this helped a lot :)

[@manuellamendonca7776]

You helped me out a lot, thanks!

[@michelleesbend1634]

Thank you this was really helpful 😊

[@itsnikka8293]

Thank you! Such a big help :)

[@annieberquist8331]

So helpful, thanks so much! :)

[@sylvestertsigbe9218]

Thanks. Really helpful

[@richardemmerig536]

Thank you, good explanation.

[@elloittrash1232]

OMg this was so helpful tysm!!!

[@travelledmatt3663]

Thank you! Very helpful :)

[@deenashaltout]

wow thank you so much this helped alot !

[@rajanikate6890]

This really helped thanks a lot

[@ricardomarques2334]

Just saved my life forever! Thnks :)

[@quietwave]

Thank you very much man!

[@ecostrong]

Great vid, very helpful

[@Artistram3d1]

I'll definitely try this out. I always get files with large file sizes that I have to shrink down at work (tradeshow graphics). Newly subbed. Thank you!

[@Wallamoose]

Awesome! Hope it works for you! Thanks for the sub

[@canttouchthis5735]

Genius. Thank you friend!!!

[@sudhanshukundu]

Saved my day 💗

[@lucianodevoto5519]

life saver. thank you!

[@zahraturraihani7038]

Thank u for tutorial its literally works!!!😍⚠

[@pavlinaa01]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it helped me a lot many times

[@LiptonikPL]

Thank you so much!

[@jubabaghdad5400]

thank you so much , it worked like a charm, subscribe and like

[@kuteken6312]

You're legend Mate!!

[@QuranRecitations360]

Thank you so Much Man

[@thecanonguru]

Very very helpful for me….I have made total 21 artboards in Illustrator and when I export in pdf the total file size was 855 mb and after watching this I apply the same in my Illustrator and then the pdf size was 155 mb only. Thanks buddy for helping in a intense situation.

[@Wallamoose]

I’m glad it helped!!

[@CadicadMaroc]

Many thanks!

[@mcchezta4656]

Thank You so much!

[@kavitbhatia]

Thanks definitely works

[@Brownmommy1000]

Thanks so much! Was pulling my hair out! Thanks!

[@dimitrimauquoy2177]

Thank you, that was very useful!

[@Wallamoose]

No problem! I’m glad it helped!

[@jasminejoaquin4605]

You just saved me hours. Thank you!

[@Wallamoose]

I’m glad it helped!!

[@widsshinigami]

Thank you for your training, we appreciate it..

[@avergajixa6051]

Thank you very much 🎉

[@edvp8613]

Thanks you much you saved my life.

[@ehdriel4178]

you are the man, thank you

[@asgharali3320]

Thank you so much. Just right on time :)

[@Wallamoose]

No problem!

[@thetalkshop]

Thank you!!

[@tissouben8304]

Thank you! New subscriber. :)

[@elizabetkafka8976]

Thank you!

[@kreativekraal]

thanks a lot brother

[@vpolekar]

Thank You so much

[@QuranRecitations360]

Thank you So Much Man

[@noorgraphiste4292]

Thank you so much

[@Betuins]

THANK YOU MAN!!!!!!!

[@abhiramipavithran9946]

Thankyouu sooo muchhh!!!

[@omarabuali541]

JUST THANK YOU ♥

[@abenegootim9868]

You just saved my butt...! Thanks😎

[@bocahpetualang89]

thanks a lot mate..

[@hanoonhfuad5937]

Wow beautiful

[@jaypzl]

Great vid, thank you! Saw in the comments that someone used "High Quality Print" setting and it worked too. So I did also (plus unticked preserve Illustrator editing) and didn't mess with any of the Compression settings (quality's were set at Maximum). Worked just as well, taking my 3 letter-size page AI file from 498 MB to a 5.3 MB PDF. Hyperlinks were all still in tact and functional too. I'm using AI 2022 on iMac. Hope this helps!

[@Wallamoose]

Awesome! How do you add hyperlinks in illustrator? I thought you could only do that in In Design?

[@jaypzl]

@@Wallamoose oooo super easy! copy and paste the url onto your AI document. That alone will work as a hyperlink when you save it as a PDF and view it in Acrobat, Preview, etc. Another cool way to make an image or object a hyperlink, is to copy and paste the url, then send it to the back of your image or object. When you view it as a PDF, drag your pointer over the area where that text box of the url is (hiding behind your image/object), and bam! It's an active hyperlink too. So what I did to make the whole area of the image/object an active hyperlink, is to copy & paste it multiple times so it covers the whole area. Now when you drag your mouse over, the whole area is now clickable as that hyperlink! Hope that helps! Maybe you can make a vid about it!

[@creatiw]

Yes, that’s what I do too. Untick editing capabilities and keep the rest at best/high quality. That does the trick.

[@camillemiaxo7909]

Thanks a lot!!!!

[@bekrisyrine7217]

Thank you 😊

[@farhanachmadfajari1290]

thank you so much

[@annette1202]

thank you!

[@lisaquest]

Thanks!

[@saran6756]

Thank you 🙏

[@jclee48]

Thank you :D

[@chanthorndrawing]

Thanks 🙏

[@jerrythenn]

wow life saver ❤❤❤

[@teran7237]

Hey dude your my hero 😘

[@donnababylon]

How do you change the photos to smaller size within illustrator? I believe you said you could at the end of the video. Thank you. This video was very helpful.

[@meliodasnaruto6460]

Very very very thanks....

[@Wallamoose]

Most welcome

[@noon6774]

thank you very much for the helpful video but will the quality of the file be reduced when it comes to printing the file?

[@FravisoEU]

Life Saver!!!

[@user-je6fz6nt3k]

Thank you

[@helmterbang2652]

You are life saver man, my 200mb files are now 15mb!😂🎉

[@abhiramipavithran9946]

I did my portfolio which had 21 artboards and was so tensed how to compress the 700mb! Everyone told me it would be hard to compress the pdf. ThankU so muchh😍 l compressed it into 50 mb!

[@SuraGraphics1]

Thenkyou so much

[@Athelia]

Thank you pro