How to Make a PDF From Images Smaller (Under 1 MB or 2 MB)
Practical ways to reduce the size of a PDF made from photos so it fits email and upload limits.
Many email services and online forms limit uploads to a few megabytes. A PDF made from phone photos can easily be bigger than that, but a few changes usually fix it.
Use the Small file quality
In the image to PDF converter, set Quality to Small file. Images are saved at a lower JPEG quality and limited to 1600 pixels on the long edge, which cuts the size sharply while keeping text on documents readable.
Try Balanced first
The converter shows the finished size after each conversion. Start with Balanced, and only drop to Small file if the PDF is still too large. There is no exact size target, so check the number and adjust.
Crop and remove what you do not need
Crop away tables, floors and empty margins before converting, and leave out duplicate or blurry pages. Fewer pixels and fewer pages both reduce the size.
Take smaller photos in the first place
A page of text does not need a 12-megapixel camera. Lowering your camera resolution, or using a scanning app, gives files that are smaller before you start.
Avoid huge screenshots
Screenshots from a large monitor contain many pixels. Balanced quality is usually enough for readable text.
If it is still too large
Split the pages into two PDFs and send them separately, or check whether the portal accepts several files. See combining images into one PDF for ordering and page-size tips.