delete_images

Delete images

Usage

pdftl <input> delete_images [[spec](params)...] output <output>

Details

The delete_images operation permanently overwrites images matching specific criteria with a 1x1 transparent pixel. This safely crushes large graphical bloat (like full-page ads) while maintaining strict PDF structural validity.

Global vs. Page-Based:

  • Global (Default): If you omit the page selector or use -, the operation scans the entire internal PDF object table. It will aggressively find and destroy matching images no matter where they hide (including inside annotations, patterns, and background forms).

  • Page-Based: If you provide a specific page range (e.g., 1-5), it will only scan those specific pages and the forms located on them. (Note: Because the underlying data is overwritten, if a deleted image on page 1 is also shared on page 10, it will visually disappear from page 10 as well).

The syntax is [selector](Key=Value, ...), where:

  • selector is an optional page range (1-5, odd, -). If omitted, acts globally.

  • Key=Value pairs define the filter criteria an image must meet to be deleted.

If you only have one such selector block, you can replace it with separate arguments without parentheses or commas, as a convenient shorthand.

Filter Parameters

Parameter

Description

Example

minbytes

Min stream size in bytes. Supports k, m, g suffixes.

100k, 2m

maxbytes

Max stream size in bytes. Supports k, m, g suffixes.

10000, 1.6m

minpixels

Min dimensions (WxH) OR min total area (single number).

20x400, 100k

maxpixels

Max dimensions (WxH) OR max total area (single number).

1000x1000, 10m

format

Substring match against the image filter.

dct (JPEG), flate (PNG)

Note: If multiple parameters are provided, an image must meet ALL criteria to be replaced.

Examples

Globally scan and destroy any image larger than 500KB anywhere in the document.

pdftl in.pdf delete_images minbytes=500k output out.pdf

On even pages from 1 to 10, destroy images > 100KB with a minimum dimension of 20x400.

pdftl in.pdf delete_images 1-10even minbytes=100k minpixels=20x400 output out.pdf

On pages 1 to 3, delete images > 100KB, and all images on remaining pages

pdftl in.pdf delete_images '1-3(minbytes=100k)' 4-end output out.pdf

Globally destroy all JPEG (DCTDecode) images.

pdftl in.pdf delete_images format=dct output out.pdf

Tags: in_place, images, optimization, delete

Source: pdftl.operations.delete_images

Read online: https://pdftl.readthedocs.io/en/latest/operations/delete_images.html

Type: Operation