How do I compress a PDF without making it blurry?

Use a tool that supports 'Vector Retention' like ClonyPDF. Avoid tools that convert your text pages into images (rasterization), as this causes blurriness.

What is the best DPI for screen viewing?

For viewing on screens (email/web), 72 DPI to 144 DPI is perfect. It keeps the file small while looking sharp. Standard printing requires 300 DPI.

Does reducing file size always lower quality?

Not always. If you strip metadata, font subsets, and hidden layers, you can reduce size significantly without touching the visual quality of the document.

Compress PDF No Quality Loss

Compress PDF Without Losing Quality

The biggest fear when compressing a PDF is that the text will become blurry or images will become pixelated. This usually happens when tools use "Rasterization" (turning text into images) to save space.

Keep Your Text Sharp
Reduce file size by removing invisible data, not by destroying your content.
Start High-Quality Compression

Why Do PDFs Get Blurry?

A blurry PDF is the result of Low DPI (Dots Per Inch). If a tool aggressively lowers the resolution to under 72 DPI, your document becomes unreadable.

How to Maintain Quality While Compressing

To ensure your document stays professional, you must use the right compression method for your file type:

File Type	Common Mistake	The Quality Fix (ClonyPDF)
Text Documents (Word to PDF)	Converting text to image	Vector Retention: We keep fonts as code, so they remain sharp at any zoom level.
Scanned Docs (Images)	Dropping DPI too low	Smart Downsampling: We reduce DPI to 144 (Screen Standard) which looks perfect on monitors but saves space.
Photos/Portfolios	High compression	Metadata Stripping: We remove camera data (EXIF) instead of pixelating the photo.

File Type

Common Mistake

The Quality Fix (ClonyPDF)

Text Documents
(Word to PDF)

Converting text to image

Vector Retention: We keep fonts as code, so they remain sharp at any zoom level.

Scanned Docs
(Images)

Dropping DPI too low

Smart Downsampling: We reduce DPI to 144 (Screen Standard) which looks perfect on monitors but saves space.

Photos/Portfolios

High compression

Metadata Stripping: We remove camera data (EXIF) instead of pixelating the photo.

What is "Lossless" vs "Lossy" Compression?

Warning: Never re-compress a file that is already blurry. Compression cannot fix bad quality; it can only maintain good quality. Always start with the original high-res file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my PDF look good on print?

For printing, select "Low Compression". This maintains 300 DPI, which is the standard for crisp paper printing.

Why did my signature become pixelated?

Signatures are often images. If the file size was drastically reduced, the image quality dropped. Try compressing the file before adding the signature for best results.

Can I compress vector graphics (Blueprints)?

Yes. Our tool respects vector paths. Architects and Engineers can use this to shrink CAD drawings without losing line precision.