PDF guides, without the fluff
How to get things done with a PDF — and the things about the format that trip people up. Written by the people who built the tools, which mostly means we will tell you where they stop working.
Get it done
Step-by-step guides for the jobs people actually need doing, each one wired to the tool that does it.
- 3 min read
How to merge PDF files
Combine several PDFs into one document, choose the page order, and keep the text selectable — without uploading anything.
Read - 4 min read
How to reduce PDF file size
What actually makes a PDF smaller, why some files barely shrink at all, and how to compress one without wrecking the text.
Read - 4 min read
How to password protect a PDF
Encrypt a PDF so it cannot be opened without a password — and understand exactly what that password does and does not protect.
Read - 3 min read
How to convert a PDF to JPG
Turn PDF pages into images, pick a resolution that suits the destination, and know when PNG is the better choice.
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How PDFs actually work
The parts that surprise people — why a crop is not a redaction, why your file is enormous, and what “runs in your browser” really means.
- 5 min read
Cropping a PDF does not remove anything
A crop hides content, it does not delete it. If you cropped something sensitive out before sharing, it is still in the file.
Read - 5 min read
What “runs in your browser” actually means
Most PDF sites upload your document to a server they own. Here is what the alternative is, and how to check the claim yourself.
Read - 4 min read
Why your PDF is 40MB
Almost always photographs. A look at what is actually inside a bloated PDF, and why a text-heavy file will not compress.
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