Compress PDF files to the size an upload form or email allows
The job portal says "maximum 2 MB" and your PDF is 14 MB because of scanned pages and big photos. Tell your todo.is agent the target size: it shrinks the images inside the PDF step by step, keeps the text crisp, checks that the pages are still readable and tells you how small it got.
The prompt
- Compress the attached PDF: [ATTACH THE PDF]. It must be under [TARGET SIZE]. It will be used for [USE]. Shrink images and scans first, remove unused data and duplicate fonts, but keep all text sharp and selectable. Do not change the page count or layout. If you cannot reach the target without making it hard to read, tell me and suggest options, such as greyscale scans or splitting the file. Send me the compressed PDF with the before and after size.
What to change
- [ATTACH THE PDF]: Attach the PDF (up to 50 MB). Several files are fine: each gets compressed separately.
- [TARGET SIZE]: E.g. "2 MB", "500 KB", "10 MB for email" or "as small as possible while readable".
- [USE]: E.g. "uploading to a job portal", "printing" (keeps higher quality) or "reading on screen only".
Example result
- Compression report: Application_Documents.pdf
- Before: 14.2 MB · After: 1.8 MB · 87% smaller · 24 pages
- What made the file big
- • 22 scanned pages saved at 600 dpi in full color: 12.9 MB
- • 3 embedded copies of the same font: 0.6 MB
- • Hidden thumbnails and editing data from the scanner app: 0.4 MB
- What your agent did
- • Downsampled scans from 600 to 150 dpi, which is plenty for reading on screen and printing a form
- • Converted the black-and-white scans (pages 4 to 19) to greyscale, which looks the same but weighs much less
- • Kept the 2 color pages (ID card and stamp) in color at JPG quality 75
- • Merged the duplicate fonts and removed the hidden data
- • Left the typed pages untouched: their text was already small and vector-sharp
- Readability check
- • Zoomed to 100% on every page: small print on the bank statement is still readable
- • The signature on page 24 is clear
- • Text is still selectable and searchable
- Size by setting (for reference)
- • Screen (72-96 dpi): smallest, fine for viewing, blurry when printed
- • Ebook / standard (150 dpi): the best balance for uploads and email
- • Print (300 dpi): larger, for documents you will print in high quality
- If you need it even smaller
- • Pages 20-23 are photos of receipts. Removing them or making them greyscale would get the file near 1.2 MB
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and write the maximum size you are allowed.
- Attach the PDF in todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp or Telegram with the prompt.
- Your agent finds what makes the file heavy and shrinks it until it fits.
- Download the smaller PDF, or reply "keep page 2 in higher quality" or "go smaller" to fine-tune it.
Tips for a better result
- Always give the exact limit ("under 2 MB"). Compressing more than needed only costs quality.
- Scans of black text on white paper compress best in greyscale. Color is only worth keeping for stamps, photos and ID cards.
- If the PDF came from Word, ask your agent to export it again from the Word file. A fresh export is often smaller than a compressed copy.
- Very long scans may still be too big. Splitting into two files is sometimes the only way to stay under a strict portal limit.
compress PDF: FAQ
- How do I compress a PDF to under 1 MB? Give "under 1 MB" as the target. Your agent lowers image resolution step by step and stops as soon as the file fits, checking that text stays readable.
- Does compressing a PDF reduce quality? Only the images inside it. Typed text stays sharp, but scans and photos get slightly softer the more you compress.
- Why is my PDF so large? Usually because of scanned pages or photos saved at high resolution. Embedded fonts and hidden editing data add a bit more.
- Is my file safe? Your PDF and the compressed copy stay in your own agent workspace, and only your agent uses them.
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