Lossy vs Lossless PDF Compression
PDF compression is not magic — it re-encodes raster images embedded in the document. Understanding lossy vs lossless helps you pick the right settings.
Lossy compression
Discards some image data for smaller files. Ideal for email attachments and web downloads when slight quality loss is acceptable.
Lossless compression
Preserves every pixel. Best for archival scans you'll re-edit or print. File size savings are smaller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will text in my PDF get blurry?
No — text and vectors are not lossy-compressed the same way photos are. Only embedded images change.