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Undergraduate Research - Online Theses and Capstone Projects Submission System: 2. Resizing Your Files

This online guide will walk you through the submission of your undergraduate thesis or capstone project to the institutional repository, IDEALS.

Resizing Your Files

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro to Reduce PDF File Size

  1. Open your file in Adobe Acrobat Pro (examples: Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Adobe Acrobat XI)
    Adobe Acrobat Pro is available to use on-campus on the computers at the Scholarly Commons, Undergraduate Library, and Main Library.
     
  2. Click "File" in the top-left corner of Adobe Acrobat
    Click File
     
  3. Hover your mouse over "Save as Other"
    Save as Other
     
  4. Click "Reduced Size PDF..."

     
  5. Click "OK"
    Click OK

    Use the automatic settings first, the reduction will be significant. If file size still needs further reduction, repeat steps 1-4 and then click the "Make compatible with:" drop-down menu. Choosing a later version will create a smaller file, but will also only make it compatible with later versions of Adobe Acrobat.
    If further reduction is needed, click the drop-down menu next to Make compatible with:
     
  6. Name this compressed PDF file
    Name file
     
  7. Click "Save"

Using Preview (on a Mac) to Reduce PDF File Size

  1. Open your file in Preview. This can be done automatically by double-clicking the file you want to open while in Finder.
    Open file in Preview using Finder
     

  2. Click "File" in the top-left corner of your screen
    Click file in the top left
     

  3. Click “Export…”
    Click export
     

  4. Make sure “Format” is set to PDF
    If it is not, you can change this by clicking on the drop-down menu to the right of “Format:” and then clicking on “PDF”
    Set format to PDF
     

  5. Click on the drop-down menu to the right of “Quartz Filter:”
    Click on the drop down menu to the right of Quartz Filter
     

  6. Select “Reduce File Size”
    Click reduce file size
     

  7. If you want to change the location in which to save the PDF, click on the drop-menu to the right of “Where:” and select a new location
    Use the drop-down menu to the right of "Where" to selecting saving location
     

  8. If you want to rename the new file, do so in the text box to the right of “Export As:”
    Change the name of the new document in the text box to the right of "Export As"
     

  9. Click “Save”
    Click save

Using Smallpdf.com to Reduce PDF File Size
Note: Smallpdf only allows for two free "jobs" per hour.

  1. In your Internet browser, go to https://smallpdf.com/compress-pdf
    Go to smallpdf.com/compress-pdf
     
  2. Drag and drop your .pdf file into the big red box OR click “Choose file,” select the file you want to compress from your computer, and then click “Open”
    Drop file or click choose file and select the file you want to compress
     
  3. Smallpdf.com will automatically compress your file. Afterwards, click "Download File"
    Download file
     
  4. Finish the saving process if prompted by your browser by clicking "OK" or "Save"
    Save file