Compress PDF
Compare Standard, Condense and Photon compression. Choose image quality, check text and forms, and verify the actual download size.
Upload PDF Files
About This Tool
CommandPDF offers three compression paths. Standard first rewrites the PDF structure and can then optimize images. Condense combines image optimization with structural cleanup. Photon renders whole pages as images and rebuilds the PDF; it is a different tradeoff, not simply a stronger Standard setting.
The quality buttons describe output quality: Low sacrifices more image detail, while High and Maximum favor quality. Photon uses its own DPI setting. Avoid Photon when you need selectable text, editable form fields or other interactive content. No fixed percentage saving is promised, and an already compact PDF can grow.
Read the attachment-size walkthrough and the compression method guide before choosing a mode.
How to Use
Set a target
Check the recipient’s actual byte limit and keep the original. Add the PDF to see the compression controls.
Choose an algorithm
Try Standard for a general-purpose pass or Condense for a direct image-and-structure optimization pass. Use Photon only if image-only pages are acceptable.
Set quality and metadata options
In Standard, start with Medium or higher quality. In Photon, set the output DPI. Review the metadata-removal option deliberately.
Compare output with input
Check the byte size, zoom into small text, search for a known phrase and try any forms before sending the file.
Use Cases
Upload with a size limit
Compare the downloaded byte size with the portal’s limit and leave room for other attachments.
Image-only reference copy
Evaluate Photon for a copy that only needs to be viewed, while keeping the original searchable PDF.
Structural cleanup
Try Condense with a high quality preset and verify that images, fields and navigation still meet your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the output grow?
Rewriting overhead or rasterizing compact text into images can increase size. Keep whichever file meets your needs; repeated compression is not guaranteed to help.
Will text stay selectable?
Photon converts pages into images, so do not expect the original text layer or form fields. Check the output of every mode instead of assuming all content was preserved.
Do the quality buttons control Photon?
Photon uses its DPI control and separate image settings. The Low-to-Maximum quality selector should not be treated as a uniform strength control across all three algorithms.