# PDF Compress Optimize

Smart PDF optimization: image downsampling, redundant object cleanup, stream compression

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-compress-optimize

- **Category:** PDF Tools

- **Keywords:** pdf, compress, optimize, ghostscript, qpdf, downsample

## Overview

Compress and optimize PDF size using Ghostscript and qpdf pipeline.

**Optimization steps:**
- Downsample color/gray/mono images
- Font subsetting and duplicate image detection
- Stream recompression and object stream optimization
- Optional linearization for web delivery

## Inputs

- **Source PDF File** (file): Upload one PDF
- **Compression Profile** (select)
- **Image DPI Override** (number)
- **Linearize for Web** (checkbox)

## When to use

- Preparing large documents for email attachments with strict size limits.
- Optimizing high-resolution PDFs for faster loading and smoother viewing on the web.
- Reducing storage footprint for document archives without sacrificing readability.

## How it works

- Upload your source PDF file to the tool.
- Select a compression profile ranging from Screen (maximum reduction) to Prepress (highest quality).
- Optionally set a custom DPI override for images or toggle web linearization.
- Process the file to generate an optimized version ready for download.

## Use cases

- Shrinking heavy reports containing high-resolution charts for quick email sharing.
- Optimizing digital portfolios for portfolio websites to ensure fast page load times.
- Converting bulky scanned documents into lightweight, web-ready files.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does compression reduce the quality of my PDF?

It depends on the profile chosen. Screen and eBook profiles reduce image resolution to save space, while Printer and Prepress profiles prioritize higher visual fidelity.

### What is web linearization?

Linearization reorganizes the PDF structure so that the first page can be displayed in a web browser before the entire file has finished downloading.

### Can I specify a custom image resolution?

Yes, you can use the Image DPI Override field to set a specific resolution, which is useful for fine-tuning the balance between file size and image sharpness.

### Is my data secure?

Your files are processed locally or in a secure temporary environment and are not stored permanently on our servers.

### What file formats are supported?

This tool is specifically designed for PDF documents.

## Related tools

- [PDF Optimize Advanced](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-optimize-advanced): Advanced PDF optimization: remove metadata, clean structure, and recompress content
- [PDF Batch Compress](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-batch-compress): Compress multiple PDF files with image downsampling and optimization, packaged as ZIP
- [PDF Denoise](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-denoise): Remove visual noise from scanned PDF pages — salt-and-pepper speckle, random grain, and faint background haze — using real image-processing algorithms. Text pages are preserved as searchable vector content.
- [Barcode Batch Generator](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/barcode-batch-generator): Batch generate Code 128, EAN-13, UPC-A, ITF-14, QR Code, and Data Matrix outputs from CSV or multiline text
- [Convert TIFF to PDF](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/tiff-to-pdf): Convert TIFF images to PDF format with customizable page size, orientation, and compression settings
- [PDF Clean (PDF清理工具)](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-clean): Remove metadata, annotations, bookmarks, and form fields from PDF files
- [PDF Crop Pages](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-crop-page): Crop PDF pages by removing margins from edges
- [PDF Delete Pages](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/pdf-delete-page): Delete specified pages from a PDF document

## Samples

- [PDF Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/pdf-samples): Generated PDF samples from tools dated 2026-02-01 to 2026-02-10
- [Markdown Slide Deck Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/md-slide-deck-to-pdf): Remark/Marp style Markdown slide decks for testing PDF export layouts
- [Time Zone Workflow Scheduler ICS Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/time-zone-workflow-scheduler-ics-samples): ICS files generated in the same structure returned by the Time Zone Workflow Scheduler, with multiple VEVENT meeting candidates exported from overlap windows
- [WebRTC Real-Time Communication Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/webrtc-samples): Comprehensive WebRTC samples for peer-to-peer audio/video communication, data channels, screen sharing, and signaling server implementation

## Related content

- [PDF Repair, Cleanup, and Slimming](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/pdf-repair-cleanup-and-slimming): Rescue a damaged PDF, strip what should not travel with it, and cut its weight — repair broken headers and cross-reference tables with diagnostics, export annotations before erasing them, remove metadata and form fields, then downsample and recompress to hit your size target.