5-part guide

Compress PDFs online: choose a quality preset or diagnose a large file

Short answer

In PrintxPDF, choose Light to keep text selectable. Medium and Strong turn pages into images and can reduce detail. The tool has no custom DPI or grayscale controls, so test on a copy and keep the original. Split the file or share a link if compression is not suitable.

PDFs can be large because of images, fonts, metadata or saved document structure. PrintxPDF offers three compression presets: Light keeps the text layer, while Medium and Strong turn pages into images. There is no custom DPI or grayscale control. These guides explain the trade-offs, how to diagnose a large file and when a scanner setting, page split or sharing link is a better fit.

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How to compress a PDF file for free
How-to7 min

How to compress a PDF file for free

Open the browser-based compressor and choose Light to keep text selectable, or test Medium or Strong on a copy if image-only pages are acceptable. Size reduction depends on the PDF. PrintxPDF does not offer custom DPI or grayscale settings.

How to reduce a PDF file size for email
How-to6 min

How to reduce a PDF file size for email

Check your mail provider's current limit first. PrintxPDF offers Light compression, which keeps text selectable, and Medium or Strong, which turn pages into images. The tool has no custom DPI or grayscale controls; split the file or use an approved sharing link if compression is not enough.

How to compress a PDF without losing quality
Comparison7 min

How to compress a PDF without losing quality

To preserve selectable text with PrintxPDF, choose Light. Medium and Strong render pages as images and may reduce detail. The compressor has no custom DPI control; change scan resolution in scanner or image software, keep the original, and compare the result.

Why is my PDF file so large? 8 reasons
Fix it8 min

Why is my PDF file so large? 8 reasons

A PDF is usually large for one of eight reasons: it is a scan stored as images, images are embedded at full resolution, fonts are embedded whole instead of subset, resources are duplicated per page, saves were incremental, images are cropped only visually, forms and attachments are attached, or colour profiles and transparency are heavy.

Gmail and Outlook PDF attachment limits: what to do
Fix it5 min

Gmail and Outlook PDF attachment limits: what to do

To email a PDF that is too large, first check your mail provider’s current attachment limit, then compress the PDF and inspect whether the text and images remain clear. If it is still too large, split it into smaller files or use the recipient-approved file-sharing service. Do not assume ZIP will shrink already-compressed images.

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