Minimal PDF Compress

Minimal PDF Compress is a user-friendly, graphical desktop application designed to simplify PDF compression and conversion tasks using Ghostscript on Windows. It allows users to compress PDF files or convert them to PDF/A format with customizable options, all through an intuitive GUI (Graphical User Interface). Built with Python and Tkinter, this tool eliminates the need for command-line interactions, making PDF processing accessible to everyone.

For many users, the command prompt can be intimidating due to its text-based nature, complex syntax, and lack of immediate feedback. Ghostscript, while powerful, typically requires command-line expertise to perform tasks like PDF compression or conversion to PDF/A.

Usage Guide

Launch the App:

Open the app via the .exe or by running the Python script. If Ghostscript is not installed, a popup will prompt you to download it with a clickable link.

Select Input: Click the "Input File or Folder" button. Select a folder to process all .pdf files in it (and its subfolders).

Set Output Location.

Select the operation from the dropdown: Compress PDF: Reduces file size using Ghostscript’s /screen settings. Convert to PDF/A: Converts the PDF to PDF/A-1b format for archival purposes.

Advanced Options (Optional): Check the "Advanced Options" box to reveal additional settings: Resolution (dpi): Choose 72, 150, or 300 dpi. Downscaling Factor: Set to 1, 2, or 3 to reduce image resolution. Color Conversion Strategy: Options include LeaveColorUnchanged, Gray, RGB, or CMYK. Downsample Method: Choose Subsample, Average, or Bicubic. Enable Fast Web View: Optimizes the PDF for faster online viewing. Subset Fonts: Embeds only used font subsets. Compress Fonts: Compresses embedded fonts. Compress PDF/A Output: (Available for PDF/A conversion) Applies compression to PDF/A output.

Note: Some options (e.g., downscaling factor, color strategy) are constrained for PDF/A to ensure compliance.

Process the PDF(s): Click the "Process" button.