Maximum vs Balanced vs High Quality Compression

Every compression mode trades file size against visual quality differently. Understanding the tradeoff helps you pick the right mode on the first try.

Maximum Compression

Prioritizes the smallest possible file. Image quality and fine detail may be visibly reduced. Choose it when size is the hard constraint — uploads with strict limits, email attachments, or archiving large scans.

Balanced

Aims for strong size reduction while keeping text readable and graphics acceptable. It is the default because it is right most of the time: job applications, forms, reports, and everyday sharing.

High Quality

Prioritizes sharpness and visual clarity, accepting a larger output file. Use it for portfolios, presentations, or anything where image fidelity matters more than a few extra megabytes.

Smart Auto and Custom

Smart Auto inspects the PDF — text-heavy, scanned, image-heavy, or already optimized — and selects a suitable strategy for you. Custom exposes the underlying controls (image quality, DPI caps, grayscale, metadata) for cases where no preset fits.

A practical workflow: start with Balanced, check the report and the output, then go stronger (Maximum or “Try stronger”) or gentler (High Quality) based on what you see.