The invention discloses a layout reduction method, comprising the following steps: an image file generation step which acquires the source text of a pending file and enables the source text to generate a source layout image file; a source object acquiring step which acquires coordinate information of the source object in the layout image file; a background file setting step which takes the source layout image file as the background file and introduces the source layout image file into a pending file layout; a reduction processing step which moves the object in the pending file to the coordinate position where the corresponding source object is, and enables the object to completely cover the corresponding source object in the background file; and a layout output step which outputs the adjusted file to be treated and the background file by using a virtual printer. The invention achieves very accurate layout reduction and greatly enhances the typesetting speed and the layout efficiency so as to save manpower and time costs.