Compression guide
PDF compression guide.
PDF compression is a balance between file size, visual quality and what the original document contains.
Why some PDFs shrink easily
Text-based PDFs often contain fonts and page instructions rather than large photos. They may already be small, but they usually stay readable after moderate compression.
Why scanned PDFs are harder
Scanned documents are image-heavy. To make them much smaller, a compressor may need to reduce image resolution or quality, which can make text look softer.
Choosing the right target
Use 100KB or 200KB only when the upload portal has a strict limit. Use 500KB, 1MB or 2MB when you can, especially for multi-page or image-heavy files.
When compression is not enough
If the file cannot reach the target, remove unnecessary pages, export images at a lower resolution, split the PDF, or ask the receiving portal whether a larger file is acceptable.
Questions answered
Is smaller always better?
No. Smaller files can be easier to upload, but too much compression can reduce readability.
Can PDF compression change page order?
It should not, but always check the result before submitting important documents.