Overview: This short guide shows practical steps to reduce PDF size to exact KB targets using LevoTools' PDF Compressor. Use the precision slider for custom targets (0 up to the file's original size) or pick a preset for quick results. Follow the checklist and tips below to keep files readable and portal-ready.
Quick checklist
- Keep a backup of the original file.
- Check the portal's required KB limit and any page/dimension rules before compressing.
- If the PDF is password-protected, have the password ready; the tool will prompt for it.
Upload (desktop & mobile)
On desktop: drag & drop or click Upload. On mobile: tap Upload and select the file. After upload confirm the filename and original size (KB) shown in the UI.
Slider vs Presets — when to use each
Slider (custom exact KB): Use the slider when you need a value not available in presets. The slider range is 0 up to the file's original size — it cannot exceed the original file size.
Presets (quick): Use presets for common portal limits: 20 KB, 50 KB, 100 KB, 300 KB, 500 KB, 1000 KB. Choose a preset and click Compress to Target for an exact-KB attempt.
Actions explained
- Compress to Target: Attempts to produce the selected exact KB output using content-aware techniques.
- Quick Compress: A faster, automatic pass that balances readability and size without strict KB guarantees.
Practical strategies by PDF type
- Scanned / image-heavy PDFs: These often need higher targets for readability. Try 2–3 nearby slider values and check at 100% zoom.
- Image-heavy documents: Remove extra margins, downscale large embedded images (if possible), then compress.
- Text-first PDFs: Prefer conservative targets to keep text crisp; use the slider to fine-tune.
Verify results
Open the downloaded PDF at 100% zoom and scan key pages. If the portal has a preview, upload the compressed file there first to confirm readability. If text or images look degraded, choose a higher target.
Password-protected PDFs
If a PDF is encrypted the tool will prompt for the password to decrypt and process the file. Passwords are used only for the active session to allow processing and are not stored.
Troubleshooting
- If text becomes unreadable, increase the target size or use Quick Compress for a less aggressive pass.
- Remove unnecessary pages or split very large documents when the portal allows it.
- If exact-KB targets are hard to reach, accept the nearest readable size or try a different preset.
Privacy & processing
Where possible processing runs in the browser (local). If server-side processing is required the UI will clearly indicate this; temporary files created for processing are deleted after the job completes.
Last updated: 2025-12-20 — LevoTools
FAQs
Can I choose any exact KB value with the slider?
Yes. The slider allows any value from 0 up to the file's original size (KB). It cannot be set higher than the original file size.
Which presets are available?
Common presets: 20 KB, 50 KB, 100 KB, 300 KB, 500 KB and 1000 KB. Use the slider when you need a value between presets.
What does Quick Compress do?
Quick Compress runs an automatic optimization that balances readability and size; it's faster but doesn't guarantee an exact KB result.