Either way, text is never rasterized, and an image is re-encoded only if the result is at least 8% smaller, so nothing is degraded for a trivial gain and compressing a second time never makes the file worse. Masks, 1-bit scans and images the browser cannot decode are copied byte-for-byte. To judge the result the way a careful person would, open the first, middle and last pages at 200% and look at the smallest type and any photographs. The published benchmark at /compression-benchmark shows the measured effect of each level on the sample files. Everything happens in your browser.
How it works
- Drop the PDF and open Compress — Balanced is preselected
- Compare the Print (lossless) and Balanced sizes on the cards
- Download; check small text and photos at 200% zoom before you send
Questions people ask
Which level is truly lossless?
Print cleanup. It changes the file’s structure, not its content: object streams, duplicate streams stored once, unused redundancy removed. Images and text are untouched at the byte level. If it barely shrinks your file, the file had little redundancy, and Bindery says so rather than pretending.
Is Balanced good enough for printing?
For office printing, yes: 150 DPI images look the same at normal viewing distance, and text, which is what most printed documents are, is never touched. For a print shop, photo book or artwork, stay with Print cleanup and let the images keep their original resolution.
Can I compress a file twice without damage?
Yes. A re-encoded image replaces the original only when it is at least 8% smaller, so running Compress on an already-compressed file finds nothing to squeeze and leaves the images alone. There is no cumulative degradation the way repeated JPEG saves cause.