Bloated pdf file sizes scanning with HP Scan on a Mac

[marcdanz]

Using HP Smart 17.30.1  under Mac OS Sonoma - 14.7 I'm getting immense 200dpi PDF scans - like 1.1Mb per page.

Firmware on MFP is updated.

Before I go look for other scanning software, are there any known fixes for this configuration?

[Raj2111]

Hi @marcdanz 

Welcome to the HP support community.
 

I understand you're experiencing an issue with your HP device, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I'm here to help you today.

Here’s a set of troubleshooting steps you can follow to reduce the file size and control the resolution:

1. Check Scan Settings in HP Smart App

The HP Smart app may be defaulting to a high resolution for scanning, leading to large PDF files.

• Open HP Smart and go to the Scan section.
• Look for settings related to Resolution or Quality. If the scan is set to a higher DPI (e.g., 200 DPI), try reducing it to 150 DPI or 100 DPI, which is sufficient for most text documents and will create smaller files.
• Also, check if the scan mode is set to Color or Grayscale. Scanning in Black & White or Grayscale can reduce the file size compared to Color scanning.
• After adjusting the DPI and color settings, perform a test scan to see if the file size is more reasonable.

2. Change PDF Compression Settings

• In the Scan section of HP Smart, look for a Format option.
• If the file is being saved as a PDF, there may be a compression or quality option available. Choose a lower quality or compression setting to reduce the file size.
• If there is no explicit compression setting in HP Smart, you can always manually compress the PDF after scanning using a PDF compression tool or a Preview app (more on that below).

3. Use Preview on MacOS for PDF Compression

• After scanning, open the scanned PDF in Preview (if it's not already opened).
• Go to File > Export.
• In the Export window, select PDF as the format, and under Quartz Filter, choose Reduce File Size.
• Save the file, and this should significantly reduce the file size while keeping the quality reasonably intact.

4. Consider Scanning in Other Formats

• In HP Smart, change the Scan Format to JPEG or TIFF and see if the file size is more manageable.
• You can always convert the image to PDF using macOS’s built-in tools or third-party converters.

5. Update HP Smart App

• Open the Mac App Store.
• Go to Updates and check if an update is available for HP Smart.
• Install any available updates and check if the issue persists.

6. Check Printer Driver and Firmware

• Go to HP’s Support Website and check for any available updates for your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw printer.
• Update the printer’s firmware and drivers if needed, and check the scanning settings again.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
 

-Regards
Raj-HP Support