It’s no secret that scanned documents can quickly become large files, taking up valuable storage space and making it difficult to share them online.
Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce the size of your scanned documents and images, saving you time and hassle for future use.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 tips and teach you how to reduce image file size for scanned media without sacrificing too much quality.
1)Choose the Correct File Format:
Different file formats often produce different levels of compression.
Understanding which format is best suited for your needs will go a long way toward keeping file sizes small.
For example, if you need to scan a document in color, consider using the JPEG or PNG file format, as they are generally smaller than TIFF or BMP files that use more color detail.
2)Adjust Resolution Settings:
Many scanners offer adjustable resolution settings that enable you to determine how much information gets stored in each pixel during the image scan process.
Lower resolutions (150–300 dpi) are usually adequate for photos or text-based documents, while higher settings (600 dpi and above) should be used when capturing detailed graphics or artwork.
3)Clean Your Scanner Glass:
Dirt and debris on the scanner glass can cause blurry sections within an image that increase its overall file size unnecessarily.
Be sure to clean the scanner glass regularly with a lint-free cloth dampened with water or glass cleaner so that scans remain sharp and clear.
4)Use Auto Deskew Settings:
When scanning photos or documents from uneven surfaces (such as paper folded into books), employing an auto-deskew setting can help significantly reduce resulting file sizes by automatically straightening out skewed lines in an image prior to scanning it.
5)Crop the Unnecessary Sections:
Before scanning any document or photo, take a moment to remove any unnecessary sections that may contain irrelevant information, which would only add redundant bulk to the file size once saved in digital form.
To do this quickly and easily, use either a photo editing program such as Adobe Photoshop or an online cropping tool like Picresize before sending it through the scanner.
6)Lower JPEG Compression Level:
When scanning an image in JPEG format, select a lower compression level where appropriate, as this helps minimize lossy data compression – leading to better quality scans with smaller file sizes when compared against higher compression levels with larger files but poorer quality results overall.
7)Avoid Grayscale Scans Unless Necessary:
Avoid scanning images in grayscale mode unless absolutely necessary, as grayscale scans tend to produce larger amounts of data than those captured from color originals due to having fewer available colors per pixel compared to full-color output settings instead.
8)Scan Multiple Pages at Once:
Multi Page scans often require multiple passes through the scanner, which can consume time while also leading to larger file sizes overall.
This happens because the scanner is creating several individual files rather than one single multi page PDF document capable of being shared more easily online without needing further modifications afterward.
9)Combine Multiple Files Into One PDF:
Using software such as Adobe Acrobat Pro DC makes it possible to combine multiple images within one PDF document, which saves both space when saving locally as well as sharing online since only one single document needs to be uploaded instead of two separate ones containing identical content.
10)Optimize Files After Scanning Them:
Once scanned, utilize software that allows users to optimize already existing PDFs, which includes compressing any embedded text elements within them for even further reductions if needed.
11)Reduce Image Size Through Resampling & Sharpening Techniques:
To further optimize, prior to printing or sharing digitally, resampling techniques exist whereby images can be reduced in resolution without noticeably affecting quality levels via resampling algorithms like bicubic sharper, which attempt to balance clarity and detail with the number of pixels contained within them.
12)Check the associated file size:
Before finalizing output, always make sure to confirm the size of the associated file to ensure that everything is satisfactory from an end user’s perspective in terms of both visual fidelity and data footprint required to deliver an optimal experience for all parties involved.