PDF demo: compare page by page
Fullscreen
Why PDFs are often unnecessarily large
Step-by-step guide: optimize a PDF and check the difference
Upload your PDF in the demo
Let the PDF be processed
Scroll through the result page by page
Open fullscreen for pages with lots of detail
Compare the total file size
What gets optimized in a PDF
| Component | What happens | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded images | Are compressed, just like separate images in your media library. | Usually the biggest factor in a smaller PDF. |
| Resolution | Where applicable, adjusted for screen display instead of print quality. | Fewer data bytes with no visible loss on screen. |
| Structure and layout | Remains intact; only the image components are adjusted. | Layout, text, and page order do not change. |
Common mistakes in PDF optimization
- Optimizing a PDF without first checking whether the text needs to remain searchable.
- Using the same settings for a legal or archive document as for a marketing brochure.
- Confusing a scanned PDF with a PDF that contains embedded, searchable text.
- Only viewing the result on the first screen and not checking page by page.
- Forgetting that a password-protected PDF must be unlocked first before processing.
Frequently asked questions
Optimization focuses on the image components in the PDF; searchable text generally remains searchable text. If you're in doubt, always test this on a copy first before replacing the final file.
Yes, a scanned page is essentially an image and can be compressed like any other image. Keep in mind that a scan does not contain searchable text unless OCR has been applied to it.
No, the structure and formatting remain intact. Only the image components within the document are adjusted.
A password-protected PDF usually needs to be unlocked first before it can be processed. To be safe, test this on a copy.
This varies greatly depending on the document. A PDF full of high-resolution scans usually provides much more savings than a PDF with mostly text and a few small images. Use the demo to see the effect on your own file.
The demo on this page is designed to show the effect on a single file. For larger quantities of PDFs, you can apply the same approach using the plugin on your own site.