How to Scan a Photo to PDF and Compress to 200KB on Your Phone

Applying for jobs or submitting official documents often requires you to upload a scanned copy of your ID, like your KTP (Kartu Tanda Penduduk) in Indonesia. These online portals, such as SSCASN for Indonesian civil servant applications, frequently have file size restrictions, commonly around 200KB. You might need to scan your KTP or other photos, convert them to PDF format, and then compress the file size to meet these requirements, all directly from your phone. This guide will walk you through several methods to scan a photo, convert it to PDF, and compress it to a 200KB file size using just your smartphone.

Scanning Your Photo to PDF on Mobile

Before compressing, you need to get your photo into a digital format, preferably PDF for document submissions. Here are a couple of ways to scan photos to PDF using your phone:

Using a Scanner App

The most efficient way to scan documents is by using a dedicated scanner application. Numerous free and paid scanner apps are available for both Android and iOS. These apps use your phone’s camera to capture the image of your document and offer features to optimize the scan, such as:

Automatic Edge Detection: The app automatically identifies the document’s edges, cropping out unnecessary background.
Perspective Correction: Corrects skewed images, making the scan appear straight even if the photo was taken at an angle.
Image Enhancement: Improves clarity and readability by adjusting brightness, contrast, and sharpness.
PDF Conversion: Directly saves the scanned document as a PDF file.

Popular scanner apps include Adobe Scan, CamScanner, Microsoft Lens, and Genius Scan. Simply download and install one of these apps, open it, and follow the in-app instructions to scan your photo or KTP. Ensure you select the option to save as PDF.

Taking a Clear Photo and Converting to PDF

If you prefer not to install a separate scanner app, you can also take a clear photo of your document using your phone’s camera and then convert it to PDF. Here’s how to ensure a good quality photo for scanning:

Good Lighting: Scan in a well-lit area to avoid shadows and blurriness. Natural daylight is ideal, but avoid direct sunlight, which can cause harsh shadows.
Stable Hands or Flat Surface: Hold your phone steady or place the document on a flat surface to prevent blurry images.
Focus: Ensure the camera is focused on the document before taking the picture. Tap on the screen where the document is to focus.
Straight Angle: Try to take the photo directly from above the document to minimize distortion.

Once you have a clear photo, you can use online converters to turn your JPG or PNG photo into a PDF. Search for “JPG to PDF converter online” or “PNG to PDF converter online” in your mobile browser. Several websites offer free conversion services. Simply upload your photo, and the website will convert it to a PDF file, which you can then download to your phone.

Compressing PDF to 200KB on Mobile

Now that you have your scanned document in PDF format, you might need to reduce its file size to meet the 200KB requirement. Here are several methods to compress your PDF file directly on your phone:

Online PDF Compressors

Online PDF compressors are a convenient way to reduce file size without installing any apps. These websites allow you to upload your PDF file and compress it to a smaller size. Here are a couple of reliable options:

iLovePDF: iLovePDF offers a range of PDF tools, including a robust PDF compressor. Visit iLovePDF on your mobile browser, upload your PDF file, choose the compression level (usually ‘Extreme Compression’ or similar for maximum reduction), and click “Compress PDF.” Once compressed, download the smaller PDF file.
Compress JPEG (compressjpeg.com): While the name suggests JPEG compression, Compress JPEG also effectively compresses PDF files. Go to Compress JPEG on your browser, upload your PDF, adjust the compression quality if needed, and click “Compress.” Download the compressed PDF afterward.

These online tools are generally user-friendly and effective for reducing PDF file sizes quickly.

Mobile Apps for PDF Compression

For offline compression or more frequent use, consider using a mobile app dedicated to PDF compression. Apps like “Compress PDF File” (available on Android Play Store) or “PDF Compressor” (on the iOS App Store) allow you to compress PDF files directly on your device.

These apps typically offer different compression levels, allowing you to balance file size reduction with image quality. Download and install a PDF compressor app, open it, select your PDF file, choose your desired compression level, and let the app process and save the compressed file.

Using Image Editing Apps (Less Recommended for PDF)

While primarily for image editing, some photo editing apps with file saving options might offer compression when saving as PDF. However, this method is less direct and might not be as effective as dedicated PDF compressors. It’s generally recommended to stick with online PDF compressors or dedicated mobile apps for PDF compression for better results.

Step-by-Step Guides for Key Methods

Let’s detail the steps for two popular and effective methods: using iLovePDF online and the Compress Image Size app (adapting it for PDF compression using online conversion if needed, as the original article mentions it for image resizing but the target is PDF).

Method 1: Compressing PDF using iLovePDF Online

Open your browser: Launch your mobile browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.).
Go to iLovePDF: Type and go to https://www.ilovepdf.com/compress_pdf.
Select PDF file: Tap the “Select PDF file” button.
Choose your PDF: Browse your phone’s storage and select the PDF file you want to compress.
Choose Compression Level: Select a compression level. “Extreme compression” is usually recommended to reach smaller file sizes, but it might slightly reduce image quality. “Recommended compression” is a good balance.
Compress PDF: Tap the “Compress PDF” button.
Download Compressed PDF: Once the compression is complete, tap “Download Compressed PDF” to save the smaller file to your phone.

Method 2: Using Compress Image Size App (and Online PDF Conversion if starting with a photo)

(Note: The original article mentioned “Compress Image Size” for image compression. To use this for PDF, you might need to take a photo, compress the image using the app if needed, and then convert the compressed image to PDF online. If you already have a PDF, online PDF compressors are more direct. However, if starting from a photo, this app can be part of the process.)

Download & Install: If you are starting with a photo, download and install “Compress Image Size” from the Google Play Store (for Android). (For iOS, similar image compression apps are available).
Open the App and Select Photo: Open the “Compress Image Size” app and select the photo you want to compress (your KTP photo, for example).
Adjust Quality/Size: Check the original size. Use the “Quality” slider or enter desired file size in KB to reduce the image size. Experiment to get close to 200KB for the image file (JPG/JPEG).
Compress: Tap “Compress” or a similar button to compress the image.
Save Compressed Image: Save the compressed image to your phone.
Convert Compressed Image to PDF (if needed): If you need a PDF, use an online “JPG to PDF” converter (search in your mobile browser). Upload the compressed image and convert it to PDF. The resulting PDF size will be close to the compressed image size.

Tips for Successful Scanning and Compression

Check File Size Regularly: After each compression step, check the file size of your PDF to see if it’s under 200KB. You might need to compress further if it’s still too large.
Balance Compression and Quality: Higher compression reduces file size but can also decrease image quality. Find a balance where the file size is under 200KB and the document is still clear and readable. For ID documents, readability is crucial.
Start with a Good Scan or Photo: A clear, well-lit scan or photo will result in a better quality compressed PDF.
Test Upload: Before submitting your final document, test upload it to the website (like SSCASN, if applicable) to ensure it meets all requirements and is legible.

By following these methods, you can easily scan your photos or documents to PDF and compress them to the required 200KB size using your phone, making document submission for online applications hassle-free.

Note: This article is for informational purposes and provides general guidance. Specific steps and app features may vary. Always refer to official guidelines for document submission requirements.