What is the difference between 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High' compression levels for a PDF?

Compression Level File Size Reduction Image Quality Best Use. Low (High Quality) Smallest reduction (10-30%) Almost no change (skips image re-compression) General use, when quality is important Medium Good reduction Some loss, usually acceptable Emailing, sharing online High Largest reduction Noticeable loss (images drop to 72-100 dpi) On-screen viewing, very small files needed

How do I use the Adobe PDF Services API to compress a PDF document?

First, you need to use the 'Compress PDF' operation. Send a POST request to the endpoint: 'https://pdf-services.adobe.io/operation/compresspdf'. In your request, you can set the compression level to 'LOW', 'MEDIUM', or 'HIGH' using the right parameters. Always check the OpenAPI specification for exact details on how to set these parameters correctly.

Bandwidth And Compression Drain in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Over months we've spent hours prepping large logs for archive because our process expects…+

Over months we've spent hours prepping large logs for archive because our process expects monolithic files. I want a smarter archive routine that reduces manual bundling and avoids redoing uploads. Propose a policy for chunking logs, a naming scheme, and a small automation or rule that would save the team at least two hours per week.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF you want to optimize in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Go to the File menu and select Save As Other, then choose Reduced Size PDF.
3
In the Reduce File Size dialog, review the optimization settings for compression and object removal.
NoteLinearization allows users to begin viewing the first pages of a PDF before the entire file is downloaded.
4
In the same dialog, adjust compression settings for images and discard unnecessary objects or data as needed to further reduce file size.
Best practiceReducing image resolution and removing embedded fonts can significantly decrease file size for web delivery.
5
Click OK to apply the optimization settings.
6
Save the optimized PDF with a new file name to preserve your original document.

In the appWith the API

Enabling 'Optimize for Fast Web View' ensures your PDF loads quickly when accessed online.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

CompressionMaking a file smaller by removing some data, often from images.ExampleApplying image compression reduced the photo's file size without losing too much quality.

DPI (Dots Per Inch)DPI tells you how clear a picture is, especially for printing.ExampleA photo with a higher DPI will look sharper and clearer when you print it out.

Original DocumentThe original document is the very first version of your file before any changes.ExampleKeep the original document safe, as it contains the initial design before client feedback.

Who does this

3 roles

Web Content ManagerDigital Marketing SpecialistDocument Publisher

FAQ

about this task

Reducing PDF file size does not make text quality worse. Text always stays clear. However, it can lower the quality of images. This happens because the process makes image files smaller, which can make them look less sharp, especially if printed. It's important to know that text is safe, but images might change.

You should always compress a PDF from its original file because each time you compress a file, its quality gets a little worse. If you compress a file that has already been compressed, you are making a copy of something that is already not perfect, and it will get even worse. Starting with the original helps keep the best possible quality.

Compression Level	File Size Reduction	Image Quality	Best Use
Low (High Quality)	Smallest reduction (10-30%)	Almost no change (skips image re-compression)	General use, when quality is important
Medium	Good reduction	Some loss, usually acceptable	Emailing, sharing online
High	Largest reduction	Noticeable loss (images drop to 72-100 dpi)	On-screen viewing, very small files needed

If your PDF has many photos and you need to email it, start by using 'Low (High Quality)' compression. This setting often reduces the file size by 10-30% without re-compressing images, so your photos will still look good. This is a safe first step to make the file smaller for email while keeping image quality high enough for viewing on a screen.

First, you need to use the 'Compress PDF' operation.
Send a POST request to the endpoint: 'https://pdf-services.adobe.io/operation/compresspdf'.
In your request, you can set the compression level to 'LOW', 'MEDIUM', or 'HIGH' using the right parameters.
Always check the OpenAPI specification for exact details on how to set these parameters correctly.

Bandwidth And Compression Drain

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help