SlimMyFile Guides
Guides to smaller PDFs and images
Practical explanations of how file compression works, which settings to choose, and what to expect, including the cases where compression cannot help.
Shrinking documents for email, uploads and archiving.
- PDF
How to Compress a PDF Without Losing Too Much Quality
Learn what makes PDFs large, which settings keep text sharp and photos clear, and how to check a compressed PDF before you share it.
5 min readRead guide - PDF
How to Reduce PDF File Size for Email Attachments
Attachment limits, why encoded attachments grow in transit, and a step-by-step way to get a PDF small enough to send.
3 min readRead guide - PDF
How to Compress Scanned PDFs
Why scans produce huge PDFs, how resolution and image quality affect size, and when rasterising pages is the right trade-off.
4 min readRead guide - PDF
Why Some PDF Files Cannot Be Compressed Further
Already-optimised images, fonts, vector artwork and encryption: the real reasons a PDF refuses to shrink, and what you can still do.
3 min readRead guide
Images
Choosing formats, quality settings and dimensions.
- Images
JPG vs PNG vs WebP: Which Image Format Should You Use?
A practical comparison of JPEG, PNG and WebP: compression type, transparency, compatibility and the best format for photos, screenshots and logos.
4 min readRead guide - Images
How to Compress JPG Images Without Noticeable Quality Loss
How JPEG quality settings work, which values to choose for web, email and print, and the mistakes that make photos look blocky.
4 min readRead guide - Images
How to Reduce PNG File Size While Preserving Transparency
Lossless optimisation, colour reduction and conversion to WebP: three ways to shrink transparent PNGs without ugly edges.
3 min readRead guide - Images
How to Resize Images Without Distorting Them
Aspect ratios explained, how to pick target dimensions, and why shrinking an image is safe while enlarging it is not.
3 min readRead guide
Compression basics
How compression works and how local processing protects you.
- Compression basics
Lossy vs Lossless Compression Explained
What lossy and lossless compression actually do, which formats use each, and how to choose without damaging your files.
3 min readRead guide - Compression basics
How Browser-Based File Compression Protects Privacy
The difference between upload-based and local compression, what still travels over the network, and how to check a tool yourself.
3 min readRead guide