Bash Script to scale and/or resize PDFs from the command line.
Uses ghostscript (gs) to create a scaled and/or resized version of the pdf input.
In scaling mode, the PDF paper size does not change, just the elements are scaled.
In resize mode, the PDF paper will be changed and fit-to-page will be applied.
In mixed mode, the PDF will first be resized then scaled with two Ghostscript calls.
A temporary file is used in mixed mode, at the target location.
Better than explaining is showing it:
$ ./pdfScale.sh -i ../input-nup.pdf
pdfScale.sh v2.1.0 - Paper Sizes
------------+-----------------------------
File | input-nup.pdf
Paper Type | A4 Landscape
------------+-----------------------------
| WIDTH x HEIGHT
Points | 842 x 595
Milimeters | 297 x 210
Inches | 11.7 x 8.3
This also shows a very special case of a PDF file that has no /MediaBox defined.
It is a dumb container of n-up binary PDF pages. So, grep fails on this one.
$ pdfscale -v ../input-nup.pdf
pdfscale v2.1.0 - Verbose Execution
Single Task: Scale PDF Contents
Input File: ../input-nup.pdf
Output File: ../input-nup.SCALED.pdf
Get Page Size: Adaptive Enabled
Method: Grep
Failed
Method: Mac Quartz mdls
Source Width: 842 postscript-points
Source Height: 595 postscript-points
Scale Factor: 0.95 (auto)
Translation X: 22.157230
Translation Y: 15.657425
Run Scaling: -5 %
Final Status: File created successfully
$ pdfscale -v -r a0 -s 1.05 ../mixsync\ manual\ v1-2-3.pdf
pdfscale v2.1.0 - Verbose Execution
Mixed Tasks: Resize & Scale
Input File: ../mixsync manual v1-2-3.pdf
Output File: ../mixsync manual v1-2-3.A0.SCALED.pdf
Get Page Size: Adaptive Enabled
Method: Grep
Source Width: 842 postscript-points
Source Height: 595 postscript-points
Auto Rotate: PageByPage
Flip Detect: Wrong orientation detected!
Inverting Width <-> Height
Run Resizing: A0 ( 3370 x 2384 ) pts
New Width: 3370 postscript-points
New Height: 2384 postscript-points
Scale Factor: 1.05
Translation X: -80.236330
Translation Y: -56.760656
Run Scaling: 5 %
Final Status: File created successfully
$ pdfscale -v -r A2 -a none ../input.pdf
pdfscale v2.1.0 - Verbose Execution
Single Task: Resize PDF Paper
Input File: ../input.pdf
Output File: ../input.A2.pdf
Get Page Size: Adaptive Enabled
Method: Grep
Source Width: 595 postscript-points
Source Height: 842 postscript-points
Scale Factor: Disabled (resize only)
Auto Rotate: None
Flip Detect: No change needed
Run Resizing: A2 ( 1191 x 1684 ) pts
Final Status: File created successfully
$ pdfscale -v -v -r 'custom mm 200 300' -f disable -s 0.95 ../mixsync\ manual\ v1-2-3.pdf
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | pdfscale v2.1.0 - Verbose Execution
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Mixed Tasks: Resize & Scale
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Input File: ../mixsync manual v1-2-3.pdf
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Output File: ../mixsync manual v1-2-3.CUSTOM.SCALED.pdf
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Get Page Size: Adaptive Enabled
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Method: Grep
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Source Width: 842 postscript-points
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Source Height: 595 postscript-points
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Auto Rotate: PageByPage
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Flip Detect: Disabled
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Run Resizing: CUSTOM ( 567 x 850 ) pts
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | New Width: 567 postscript-points
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | New Height: 850 postscript-points
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Scale Factor: 0.95
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Translation X: 14.920605
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Translation Y: 22.367750
2017-05-19:08:07:14 | Run Scaling: -5 %
2017-05-19:08:07:15 | Final Status: File created successfully
$ pdfscale -h
pdfscale v2.1.2
Usage: pdfscale <inFile.pdf>
pdfscale -i <inFile.pdf>
pdfscale [-v] [-s <factor>] [-m <page-detection>] <inFile.pdf> [outfile.pdf]
pdfscale [-v] [-r <paper>] [-f <flip-detection>] [-a <auto-rotation>] <inFile.pdf> [outfile.pdf]
pdfscale -p
pdfscale -h
pdfscale -V
Parameters:
-v, --verbose
Verbose mode, prints extra information
Use twice for timestamp
-h, --help
Print this help to screen and exits
-V, --version
Prints version to screen and exits
-n, --no-overwrite
Aborts execution if the output PDF file already exists
By default, the output file will be overwritten
-m, --mode <mode>
Paper size detection mode
Modes: a, adaptive Default mode, tries all the methods below
g, grep Forces the use of Grep method
m, mdls Forces the use of MacOS Quartz mdls
p, pdfinfo Forces the use of PDFInfo
i, identify Forces the use of ImageMagick's Identify
-i, --info <file>
Prints <file> Paper Size information to screen and exits
-s, --scale <factor>
Changes the scaling factor or forces mixed mode
Defaults: 0.95 (scale mode) / Disabled (resize mode)
MUST be a number bigger than zero
Eg. -s 0.8 for 80% of the original size
-r, --resize <paper>
Triggers the Resize Paper Mode, disables auto-scaling of 0.95
Resize PDF and fit-to-page
<paper> can be: source, custom or a valid std paper name, read below
-f, --flip-detect <mode>
Flip Detection Mode, defaults to 'auto'
Inverts Width <-> Height of a Resized PDF
Modes: a, auto Keeps source orientation, default
f, force Forces flip W <-> H
d, disable Disables flipping
-a, --auto-rotate <mode>
Setting for GS -dAutoRotatePages, defaults to 'PageByPage'
Uses text-orientation detection to set Portrait/Landscape
Modes: p, pagebypage Auto-rotates pages individually
n, none Retains orientation of each page
a, all Rotates all pages (or none) depending
on a kind of "majority decision"
-p, --print-papers
Prints Standard Paper info tables to screen and exits
Scaling Mode:
- The default mode of operation is scaling mode with fixed paper
size and scaling pre-set to 0.95
- By not using the resize mode you are using scaling mode
- Flip-Detection and Auto-Rotation are disabled in Scaling mode,
you can use '-r source -s <scale>' to override.
Resize Paper Mode:
- Disables the default scaling factor! (0.95)
- Changes the PDF Paper Size in points. Will fit-to-page
Mixed Mode:
- In mixed mode both the -s option and -r option must be specified
- The PDF will be first resized then scaled
Output filename:
- Having the extension .pdf on the output file name is optional,
it will be added if not present.
- The output filename is optional. If no file name is passed
the output file will have the same name/destination of the
input file with added suffixes:
.SCALED.pdf is added to scaled files
.<PAPERSIZE>.pdf is added to resized files
.<PAPERSIZE>.SCALED.pdf is added in mixed mode
Standard Paper Names: (case-insensitive)
A0 A1 A2 A3 A4
A4SMALL A5 A6 A7 A8
A9 A10 ISOB0 ISOB1 ISOB2
ISOB3 ISOB4 ISOB5 ISOB6 C0
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
C6 11X17 LEDGER LEGAL LETTER
LETTERSMALL ARCHE ARCHD ARCHC ARCHB
ARCHA JISB0 JISB1 JISB2 JISB3
JISB4 JISB5 JISB6 FLSA FLSE
HALFLETTER HAGAKI
Custom Paper Size:
- Paper size can be set manually in Milimeters, Inches or Points
- Custom paper definition MUST be quoted into a single parameter
- Actual size is applied in points (mms and inches are transformed)
- Measurements: mm, mms, milimeters
pt, pts, points
in, inch, inches
Use: pdfscale -r 'custom <measurement> <width> <height>'
Ex: pdfscale -r 'custom mm 300 300'
Using Source Paper Size: (no-resizing)
- Wildcard 'source' is used used to keep paper size the same as the input
- Usefull to run Auto-Rotation without resizing
- Eg. pdfscale -r source ./input.dpf
Options and Parameters Parsing:
- From v2.1.0 (long-opts) there is no need to pass file names at the end
- Anything that is not a short-option is case-insensitive
- Short-options: case-sensitive Eg. -v for Verbose, -V for Version
- Long-options: case-insensitive Eg. --SCALE and --scale are the same
- Subparameters: case-insensitive Eg. -m PdFinFo is valid
- Grouping short-options is not supported Eg. -vv, or -vs 0.9
Additional Notes:
- File and folder names with spaces should be quoted or escaped
- The scaling is centered and using a scale bigger than 1.0 may
result on cropping parts of the PDF
- For detailed paper types information, use: pdfscale -p
Examples:
pdfscale myPdfFile.pdf
pdfscale -i '/home/My Folder/My PDF File.pdf'
pdfscale myPdfFile.pdf "My Scaled Pdf"
pdfscale -v -v myPdfFile.pdf
pdfscale -s 0.85 myPdfFile.pdf My\ Scaled\ Pdf.pdf
pdfscale -m pdfinfo -s 0.80 -v myPdfFile.pdf
pdfscale -v -v -m i -s 0.7 myPdfFile.pdf
pdfscale -r A4 myPdfFile.pdf
pdfscale -v -v -r "custom mm 252 356" -s 0.9 -f "../input file.pdf" "../my new pdf"
The -p parameter prints detailed paper types information
$ pdfscale -p
pdfscale v2.1.0
Paper Sizes Information
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ISO STANDARD |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Name | inchW | inchH | mm W | mm H | pts W | pts H |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| a0 | 33.1 | 46.8 | 841 | 1189 | 2384 | 3370 |
| a1 | 23.4 | 33.1 | 594 | 841 | 1684 | 2384 |
| a2 | 16.5 | 23.4 | 420 | 594 | 1191 | 1684 |
| a3 | 11.7 | 16.5 | 297 | 420 | 842 | 1191 |
| a4 | 8.3 | 11.7 | 210 | 297 | 595 | 842 |
| a4small | 8.3 | 11.7 | 210 | 297 | 595 | 842 |
| a5 | 5.8 | 8.3 | 148 | 210 | 420 | 595 |
| a6 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 105 | 148 | 297 | 420 |
| a7 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 74 | 105 | 210 | 297 |
| a8 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 52 | 74 | 148 | 210 |
| a9 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 37 | 52 | 105 | 148 |
| a10 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 26 | 37 | 73 | 105 |
| isob0 | 39.4 | 55.7 | 1000 | 1414 | 2835 | 4008 |
| isob1 | 27.8 | 39.4 | 707 | 1000 | 2004 | 2835 |
| isob2 | 19.7 | 27.8 | 500 | 707 | 1417 | 2004 |
| isob3 | 13.9 | 19.7 | 353 | 500 | 1001 | 1417 |
| isob4 | 9.8 | 13.9 | 250 | 353 | 709 | 1001 |
| isob5 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 176 | 250 | 499 | 709 |
| isob6 | 4.9 | 6.9 | 125 | 176 | 354 | 499 |
| c0 | 36.1 | 51.1 | 917 | 1297 | 2599 | 3677 |
| c1 | 25.5 | 36.1 | 648 | 917 | 1837 | 2599 |
| c2 | 18.0 | 25.5 | 458 | 648 | 1298 | 1837 |
| c3 | 12.8 | 18.0 | 324 | 458 | 918 | 1298 |
| c4 | 9.0 | 12.8 | 229 | 324 | 649 | 918 |
| c5 | 6.4 | 9.0 | 162 | 229 | 459 | 649 |
| c6 | 4.5 | 6.4 | 114 | 162 | 323 | 459 |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| US STANDARD |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Name | inchW | inchH | mm W | mm H | pts W | pts H |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| 11x17 | 11.0 | 17.0 | 279 | 432 | 792 | 1224 |
| ledger | 17.0 | 11.0 | 432 | 279 | 1224 | 792 |
| legal | 8.5 | 14.0 | 216 | 356 | 612 | 1008 |
| letter | 8.5 | 11.0 | 216 | 279 | 612 | 792 |
| lettersmall | 8.5 | 11.0 | 216 | 279 | 612 | 792 |
| archE | 36.0 | 48.0 | 914 | 1219 | 2592 | 3456 |
| archD | 24.0 | 36.0 | 610 | 914 | 1728 | 2592 |
| archC | 18.0 | 24.0 | 457 | 610 | 1296 | 1728 |
| archB | 12.0 | 18.0 | 305 | 457 | 864 | 1296 |
| archA | 9.0 | 12.0 | 229 | 305 | 648 | 864 |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| JIS STANDARD *Aproximated Points |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Name | inchW | inchH | mm W | mm H | pts W | pts H |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| jisb0 | NA | NA | 1030 | 1456 | 2920 | 4127 |
| jisb1 | NA | NA | 728 | 1030 | 2064 | 2920 |
| jisb2 | NA | NA | 515 | 728 | 1460 | 2064 |
| jisb3 | NA | NA | 364 | 515 | 1032 | 1460 |
| jisb4 | NA | NA | 257 | 364 | 729 | 1032 |
| jisb5 | NA | NA | 182 | 257 | 516 | 729 |
| jisb6 | NA | NA | 128 | 182 | 363 | 516 |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| OTHERS |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Name | inchW | inchH | mm W | mm H | pts W | pts H |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| flsa | 8.5 | 13.0 | 216 | 330 | 612 | 936 |
| flse | 8.5 | 13.0 | 216 | 330 | 612 | 936 |
| halfletter | 5.5 | 8.5 | 140 | 216 | 396 | 612 |
| hagaki | 3.9 | 5.8 | 100 | 148 | 283 | 420 |
+-----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
The script uses basename, grep, bc and gs (ghostscript).
You probably have everything installed already, except for ghostscript.
Optional dependencies are imagemagick, pdfinfo and mdls (Mac).
This app is focused in Bash, so it will probably not run in other shells.
The script will need to see the dependencies on your $PATH variable.
sudo apt-get install ghostscript bc
sudo yum install ghostscript bc
brew install ghostscript
Page Size detection is by default in Adaptive Mode.
It will try the following methods in sequence:
- Try to get
/MediaBoxwithgrep(fastest) - Failed AND MacOS ? Try
mdls - Failed ? Try
pdfinfo - Failed ? Try ImageMagick's
identify - Failed ?
Exitwith error message
The grep method will fail on PDFs without a /MediaBox.
You may install any of the optionals to be used in that case.
MacOS is fine using mdls if the metadata of the file is accurate.
The metadata is generated automatically by the OS (Spotlight)
sudo apt-get install imagemagick pdfinfo
sudo yum install imagemagick pdfinfo
brew install imagemagick xpdf
git clone https://github.com/tavinus/pdfScale.git
cd ./pdfScale
./pdfScale.sh --version
The installer will name the executable as pdfscale with no uppercase chars and without the .sh extension.
If you have make installed you can use it to install to /usr/local/bin/pdfscale with:
sudo make install
To remove the installation use:
sudo make uninstall