PDF Compressor

Pros

• Comes with a built-in search dialog box
• Simple graphical interface makes it easy to use
• Displays all information on one page
• Allows users to set the compression level

Cons

• Can't compress all PDF files
• May sometimes cause a loss in quality

PDF Compressor is a desktop publishing tool that can dramatically reduce the size of files stored as portable document format objects. It uses a number of advantaged compression algorithms to cut down on the amount of space that PDF files take up. This makes it easier to store them as well as share online.

Users who want to send PDF files as attachments or need to host them on a web server can use PDF Compressor to slash the size of their files. Since it presents everything on a single page and has a clean layout, the software should be easy to use even for those who don't have any experience in the desktop publishing field. Adding files to the compression list is as easy as dropping them onto the main window or selecting them in a simple browser.

Clearing the list is every bit as easy since the app includes a one-click button for this. Those who need to compress huge numbers of PDF files all at once can add entire folders to the queue. Once the program finishes compressing a PDF, it shows you how much memory was saved in the process.

Those who are particularly concerned about the amount of space taken up by a particular PDF can also check the reduction percentage as well as switch on a special optimization feature that makes files ready for distribution on the web. It even includes a feature that lets you set the title, author and subject tags on any file that you plan to share over a network.

Most users won't notice much of a difference if they run a text-only file through PDF Compressor. However, the results for some objects that contain images can be really surprising. In some cases, you can drop 70-80% of a file's total footprint merely by increasing the compression level setting before running the app. This might cause the appearance of some images to suffer, so it's important to always look at the finished product before you send it to anyone.

However, a small loss in quality might actually be worth it for those who are trying to cut down on the amount of bandwidth their servers use. Since most users don't zoom in on every picture in a PDF file, they're unlikely to notice any compression artifacts anyway. It might take a little practice to figure out where the compression level sweet spot is, but experienced users can blow through entire batch jobs in only a few minutes once they do. Tweaking around with the app's configuration feature can make many jobs process nearly instantly.

Casual users should be fine even if they just decide to stick with the default settings, so PDF Compressor will probably appeal to a large number of users.

Pros

• Comes with a built-in search dialog box
• Simple graphical interface makes it easy to use
• Displays all information on one page
• Allows users to set the compression level

Cons

• Can't compress all PDF files
• May sometimes cause a loss in quality