Introduction to PDF Compression
Reducing the size of PDF documents is essential for easy sharing, faster email attachments, and web publishing. However, excessive compression can degrade image quality and render text unreadable.
Understanding Rasterization
Rasterization involves converting PDF pages into high-resolution images, compressing them as JPEGs, and re-assembling them into a new PDF. This technique is highly effective for scanned documents, keeping file sizes small while maintaining visual integrity.
Key Tips for Optimal PDF Compression
- Choose the Right DPI: A DPI of 100-150 is ideal for web distribution and printing, balancing size and legibility.
- Adjust Image Quality: Setting JPEG quality to 70-80% yields excellent size reductions with minimal visual changes.
- Use Vector Graphic Libraries: Whenever possible, keep vector paths intact instead of converting everything to image formats.