Compress PDF API

Compress and reduce a PDF file size by up to 90%

The Compress PDF API by ConvertAPI is a tool that allows for the compression and reduction of PDF file sizes by up to 90%. This API optimizes PDF quality by compressing text, graphics, images, subsetting fonts, and optimizing document structure. It offers various parameters for customization, including compression presets, color and grayscale image compression, and options to remove elements like bookmarks, annotations, forms, and embedded files from the PDF. The API also provides options for optimizing the PDF for web viewing and preserving the PDF/A standard.

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API Endpoint

ConvertAPI offers a cloud-based solution, which makes Compress PDF conversion effortless with just a single REST-API call:

        HTTP POST
    
https://v2.convertapi.com/convert/pdf/to/compress

Postman OpenAPI cURL CLI

Authenticate your API call

Converting pdf to compress via REST-API is now easier than ever. Sign up for a free account to obtain your authentication secret, append it as a query string parameter to the conversion URL, and voilà! You can find advanced authentication techniques in our docs.

        QUERY AUTHENTICATION
    
https://v2.convertapi.com/convert/pdf/to/compress?secret=your-api-secret

Compress PDF using REST-API in no time!

Once you have your authentication in place, you can convert your files using application/json, multipart/form-data and application/octet-stream content types. A simple HTTP POST request using JSON would look like this:

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI JavaScript Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-js

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI Node.js Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-nodejs

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI PHP Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-php

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI Java Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-java

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI C# Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-dotnet

# Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI Ruby Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-ruby

# Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI Python Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-python

// Code snippet is using the ConvertAPI Go Client: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-go

REM Code snippet is using the command line utility program: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-cli

Conversion request using cURL

You can easily convert pdf to compress with a simple cURL request. Our documentation provides more advanced cURL request techniques.

File conversion using CLI

ConvertAPI CLI allows you to convert files using our command-line file conversion utility tool. Check out CLI documentation for a detailed explanation and usage examples.

REM Code snippet is using the command line utility program: https://github.com/ConvertAPI/convertapi-cli

Upload the file and see how it works

You can set up the advanced conversion parameters and test the conversion result online using our interactive demo tool. It will auto-generate the code snippet for you!

Advanced Compress PDF conversion parameters

Password String

Sets the password to open protected documents.

Presets Collection

Choose compression level from presets. If preset is selected all other compression options are ignored.

Values: none text archive web ebook printer

ColorImageCompression Collection

Color image compression algorithm.

Values: none jpg jpx zip

ColorImageQuality Integer

Color image compression quality. The parameter applies only to JPX and JPG compressions.

ColorImageDownsample Bool

Enable Bicubic image downsampling and decreases the number of pixels in the color image which in turn makes the file smaller.

ColorImageThresholdDpi Integer

Threshold in DPI to activate color images resampling. ColorImageDownsample property must be enabled.

ColorImageResampleDpi Integer

Color image resolution in DPI after Bicubic resampling. ColorImageDownsample property must be enabled.

GrayscaleImageCompression Collection

Grayscale image compression algorithm.

Values: none jpg jpx zip

GrayscaleImageQuality Integer

Grayscale image compression quality. The parameter applies only to JPX and JPG compressions.

GrayscaleImageDownsample Bool

Enable Bicubic image downsampling and decreases the number of pixels in the grayscale image which in turn makes the file smaller.

GrayscaleImageThresholdDpi Integer

Threshold in DPI to activate grayscale images resampling. GrayscaleImageDownsample property must be enabled.

GrayscaleImageResampleDpi Integer

Grayscale image resolution in DPI after Bicubic resampling. GrayscaleImageDownsample property must be enabled.

MonochromeImageCompression Collection

Monochrome image compression algorithm.

Values: none jbig2 jbig2l fax zip

MonochromeImageQuality Integer

Monochrome image compression quality. The parameter applies only to jbig2 and jbig2l compressions.

MonochromeImageDownsample Bool

Enable Bicubic image downsampling and decreases the number of pixels in the monochrome image which in turn makes the file smaller.

MonochromeImageThresholdDpi Integer

Threshold in DPI to activate Monochrome images resampling. MonochromeImageDownsample property must be enabled.

MonochromeImageResampleDpi Integer

Monochrome image resolution in DPI after Bicubic resampling. MonochromeImageDownsample property must be enabled.

RemoveBookmarks Bool

Remove bookmarks from the PDF file.

RemoveAnnotations Bool

Remove text annotations from the PDF file.

RemoveForms Bool

Remove PDF forms from the PDF file.

RemovePageLabels Bool

Remove page labels from the PDF file.

RemoveLayers Bool

Removes hidden layers and flatten visible ones.

RemoveArticleThreads Bool

Remove article threads from the PDF file.

RemoveTaggedInfo Bool

Remove tagged information from the PDF file.

RemovePageThumbnails Bool

Remove page thumbnails from the PDF file.

RemoveDuplicates Bool

Remove duplicate fonts and color profiles from the PDF file.

RemoveAlternateImages Bool

Removes alternate images and leave only the one for on-screen viewing.

RemoveNamedDestinations Bool

Remove named destinations from the PDF file.

RemoveEmbeddedFiles Bool

Remove embedded/attachments files from the PDF file.

RemovePieceInformation Bool

Remove piece information dictionaries like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop private data.

UnembedBaseFonts Bool

Specifies whether to remove the base fonts from the PDF file.

SubsetEmbeddedFonts Bool

Output PDF should only contain font characters utilized in the original document, and any unused glyphs from all fonts in the document should be removed.

CreateObjectStreams Bool

Create object streams in the PDF file. An object stream represents a stream that contains a sequence of PDF objects. This allows a greater number of PDF objects to be compressed. Property compatible with Acrobat 6/PDF v1.5 and later.

Optimize Bool

Optimize page content streams in the PDF file.

LzwToFlate Bool

In streams that use LZW encoding, use Flate instead.

Linearize Bool

Linearize PDF file and optimize for fast Web View.

PreservePdfa Bool

Preserve the PDF/A standard in the PDF file.