Image resampling does the work — 150 DPI for Balanced, 96 DPI for Email & web — with re-encoded images kept only when they are at least 8% smaller than the originals. Both lossy levels also apply the lossless cleanup that Print uses alone: object streams, and duplicate resources such as a repeated logo or the same font subset from several merged files stored once. Text is never rasterized, links and bookmarks survive, and a searchable scan stays searchable. The file never leaves the browser tab, which matters when the document is a CV full of personal details or a client deliverable.
How it works
- Drop the PDF and open Compress
- Let the three real sizes appear on the cards
- Download the largest level under 2 MB — usually Balanced
Questions people ask
Will a recruiter see any difference in a compressed CV?
A CV is mostly text, and text is untouched by compression. The only change is to embedded images — a photo or a logo — which Balanced keeps at 150 DPI, more than enough for screens and ordinary printing. Formatting, fonts and links are exactly as they were.
Why does my PDF get smaller at Print, which is supposed to be lossless?
Print cleanup rewrites the file structure without touching pixels: it enables object streams and stores duplicated streams once. Merged files, files saved many times and word-processor exports often carry redundancy this removes. When there is none, Bindery says so instead of inventing a saving.
Is compression available without an account?
Yes. Compress, like every Bindery tool, works without signing in, and the free plan allows ten completed jobs per UTC day with no cap on file size. The only thing an account adds is Pro’s unlimited jobs and synced recipes.