Compress PDF using Python

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

Features of Our Compress PDF for Python

The Compress PDF Python library by ConvertAPI is a tool that allows for the compression and reduction of PDF file sizes by up to 90%. This Python library 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 Python library also provides options for optimizing the PDF for web viewing and preserving the PDF/A standard.

Lightning-Fast Compression

Shrink your PDFs in just a few seconds without compromising quality.

Advanced Image Recompression

Force image recompression to ensure even pre‑compressed images get smaller.

Compression without losing quality

Maintain visual quality of the original file while dramatically reducing file size.

Preserve Fonts & Vectors

Compression keeps text, fonts, and vector graphics sharp.

Multiple Compression Levels

Choose from predefined compression presets or set up your own settings.

Secure by Design

File compression is encrypted and compliant with ISO, GDPR, and HIPAA.

Integrate using Python

Easy Compress PDF integration programmatically using our simple Python SDK

Install the ConvertAPI Python library

Install the ConvertAPI Python SDK using PyPi: pip install --upgrade convertapi.

Authenticate

Sign up for a free account and authenticate the library using your Secret key or API token.

Customize Parameters

Set up the conversion parameters, and copy the auto-generated code snippet in your account dashboard.

Try the Compress PDF conversion online

Try it Free

Customizable Parameters

Fine-tune your automation with these powerful conversion options

Compression preset Collection

Choose a compression level from the available presets. If a preset is selected, all other compression options will be ignored. These presets are optimized for various use cases, such as balancing file size and quality.

Available values:   Not set - advanced properties used Text - 20 image DPI, lowest quality, highest compression Archive - 40 image DPI, low quality, high compression Web - 75 image DPI, medium quality, high compression Ebook - 150 image DPI, high quality, medium compression Printer - 300 image DPI, high quality, low compression

Image resolution Integer

Set the maximum image resolution in DPI.

Image quality Integer

Set image quality in percentage.

Remove forms Bool

Remove PDF forms from the PDF file.

Remove duplicates Bool

Remove duplicate fonts and color profiles from the PDF file.

Remove piece information Bool

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

Remove embedded files Bool

Remove embedded/attachments files from the PDF file.

Remove structure information Bool

Remove all structure information from the PDF document.

Remove metadata Bool

Detach the XMP metadata embedded in the document from its catalog, clear all properties in all schemas, and remove metadata from marked content.

Remove unused resources Bool

Remove references to resources such as fonts, images, patterns.

Unembed base fonts Bool

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

Subset embedded fonts 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.

Optimize content Bool

Optimize page content streams in the PDF file.

Linearize Bool

Linearize PDF file and optimize for fast Web View.

Preserve PDF/A Bool

Preserve the PDF/A standard in the PDF file.

A detailed guide to PDF compression using Python

ConvertAPI provides a wide variety of converters suite. One of our popular converters is PDF Compression API. It can reduce a document's size by up to 99% while maintaining the same visual clarity. You can use Python programming language to compress PDF documents easily. We created an SDK library for Python to avoid any explicit HTTP calls - we handle it for you. In this tutorial, we will go through the steps needed to use Python for PDF compression.

PDF Document compression algorithm

Our PDF Compression API applies multiple techniques with configurable options to reduce the size of the PDF. These include PDF structure optimization, linearizing the document, and subsetting embedded fonts, so only the used characters are included in the PDF assets. It will also allow you to remove multiple objects from the final PDF, like alternative images, unused fonts, duplicate elements, annotations, bookmarks, etc. The PDF compressor can preserve the PDF/A format and handle the compression for password-protected documents using Python. It is achievable easier than it sounds using our ConvertAPI library for Python programming language.

How to use Python to compress a PDF document?

Compressing PDF documents using Python is super simple. Follow these steps to reduce the document's size programatically:

  1. Install ConvertAPI library
  2. Get your API secret key
  3. Set up the conversion parameters
  4. Copy-paste the code into your project

Install ConvertAPI library for Python

The first thing you want to do is to install our Python library into your project. Here you have two options. You can install it using pip:

pip install --upgrade convertapi

Or you can use our library's source code from GitHub by using:

python setup.py install

Sign up for a free account

Secondly, please sign up for a free account on the ConvertAPI website to retrieve your API secret key.

image

Set up PDF compression parameters

Once you have your library installed and found your API secret, using the Python library for PDF compression is super simple. You can set up all conversion parameters and test the compression result using our PDF Compression API interactive demo page.

Get your auto-generated code snippet

As soon as you are happy with the conversion result, please find an auto-generated code snippet at the bottom of the page. All parameters in the code snippet are generated dynamically based on your choices, so there is no more coding involved - copy-paste the code snippet into your project, and you are good to go!

Code example

An extended example of a PDF compression in Python programming language might look something like this:

convertapi.api_secret = 'your-api-secret'
convertapi.convert('compress', {
    'File': '/path/to/large.pdf',
    'ColorImageCompression': 'zip',
    'ColorImageQuality': '70',
    'ColorImageDownsample': 'true',
    'ColorImageThresholdDpi': '150',
    'ColorImageResampleDpi': '100',
    'RemoveBookmarks': 'true',
    'RemoveAnnotations': 'true',
    'RemoveForms': 'true',
    'RemovePageLabels': 'true',
    'RemoveLayers': 'true',
    'RemoveArticleThreads': 'true',
    'RemoveNamedDestinations': 'true',
    'RemoveEmbeddedFiles': 'false',
    'RemovePieceInformation': 'false',
    'UnembedBaseFonts': 'true',
    'SubsetEmbeddedFonts': 'true',
    'CreateObjectStreams': 'false',
    'Linearize': 'true'
}, from_format = 'pdf').save_files('/path/to/dir')

Advanced Python PDF compression options

You can convert local files from your disc drive as well as remote files accessible by a public URL, or even pass a file stream to gain all performance benefits using the ConvertAPI library for Python.

Compress a local PDF file

To compress a local PDF file stored on your machine, specify the path to the file and the destination folder where you want to store your result like so:

convertapi.api_secret = 'your-api-secret'
convertapi.convert('compress', {
    'File': '/path/to/sample.pdf'
}, from_format = 'pdf').save_files('/path/to/dir')

Compress a remote PDF accessible by a URL

If you want to compress a remote file hosted on a server, please ensure it is publicly accessible by a URL. The URL's response must be a PDF file with the appropriate "application/pdf" content type set in the header.

convertapi.api_secret = 'your-api-secret'
convertapi.convert('compress', {
    'File': 'https://cdn.convertapi.com/cara/testfiles/document-large.pdf'
}, from_format = 'pdf').save_files('/path/to/dir')

Compress a file stream

For large file processing, consider using file streams. It can increase performance significantly. Here is an example of how to pass a file stream to our converters:

import convertapi
import io
import tempfile

convertapi.api_secret = 'your-api-secret'

with io.FileIO("path\\to\\file", 'r') as file_stream:
    result = convertapi.convert('pdf', { 'File': file_stream })
    saved_files = result.save_files(tempfile.gettempdir())
    print("The PDF saved to %s" % saved_files)

You can find more examples of advanced file conversion techniques in our GitHub examples repo.

Conclusion

ConvertAPI makes your Python PDF compression easy. Simply install our library and use the auto-generated code snippets from our PDF Compression API page. You can set up a fully customizable PDF compression level and improve performance with significantly reduced PDF sizes. Check out our ConvertAPI Python library on GitHub, and feel free to contribute if you have an idea of how to make it even better!

Integrate within minutes

Our user-friendly interactive demo enables you to easily set up and test the conversion from your account dashboard with just a few simple clicks.

Set up Compress PDF parameters

Upload your PDF document that you wish to convert, and set up any additional conversion parameters using our intuitive and user-friendly interface. You can fine-tune and adjust the conversion parameters to suit your needs with no technical knowledge required.

Get Started for Free

Download the Conversion Result

When you have your conversion parameters set up, you can run the conversion and download the converted document to evaluate the Compress PDF conversion quality. You can further adjust the parameters if needed, until you are satisfied with the result.

Get Started for Free

Copy Auto-Generated Code Snippet

Once you are happy with the conversion result, you can copy the auto-generated code snippet to your project and use it to perform the conversion programmatically. This will save you time and effort, and you will be able to focus on your project development.

Get Started for Free

Businesses trust us

Highest rated File Conversion API on major B2B software listing platforms: Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot.

"ConvertAPI has been a game-changer for our document automation workflows. Their conversion accuracy and API reliability are unmatched in the industry for over 7 years."

"ConvertAPI is a reliable, cost-effective solution with a proven track record of stability. It has grown significantly in maturity, adopting enterprise-grade practices over the years."

"We've integrated ConvertAPI across our entire document processing platform. The performance is exceptional and the support team is always responsive. Highly recommended!"

Data security is our top priority

We ensure that all document processing is handled securely in the cloud, adhering to industry-leading standards like ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA. To enhance security even further, we can ensure that no files or data are stored on our servers and never leave your country.

Learn more about security

Ready to Streamline Your File Conversions?