Pages creating larger PDF files than before update
Previously, I could reduce a Pages file size of around 80 MB (with a significant number of photos) down to around 10 MBs. Then I would convert the ~10 MB Page file to a PDF. The PDF file would be smaller than 10 MB. After updating to MacOS 15 and Pages to version 14.2, Pages will only reduce the files a few MBs of the original file size. When I convert the Pages file to PDF, the PDF is larger than the Pages file. If I reduced the PDF file using the Quartz feature in Preview, the pictures become extremely blurry. I have also noticed the pictures in the reduced Pages file are darker than the original, larger file. I have been using this technique every week for over a year and have never had problems with file size reduction or the pictures becoming darker.
My steps are:
- Write a report in Pages with pictures.
- Reduce the file size with Pages menu File → Reduced File Size.
- Close Pages and reopen the smaller file.
- Convert the new smaller Page file to PDF using the Pages menu File → Export To → PDF…
- Email the small PDF.
I am using an M3 MacBook Pro 14.
I had to switch to using Word to write and reduce the PDF file size this week.
Any help would be appreciated if I am missing settings in the updates, this is unique to my MacBook, or if this is an issue with one of the updates.
Thanks,
MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 2023)
