The Complete Guide to PDF Creation & Compression (2026)

1. What is a PDF?

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file format that captures a document's appearance exactly as intended, regardless of what device, browser, or operating system opens it.

PDF vs Image File: What's the Difference?

• JPG/PNG Image: Single photo. Can only display one picture per file.
• PDF: Document container. Can hold multiple images, text, forms, signatures, bookmarks, etc. on multiple pages.

For exam portals asking you to upload "Marksheet, ID proof, and signature in a single file," PDF is perfect. JPG can't do multiple pages.

2. Why Government Forms Require PDFs

• Multi-page support: Upload 3-4 documents (certificates, ID, marksheets) as a single file
• Standardized appearance: PDF renders identically across all devices and operating systems
• Compression support: PDFs compress better than image formats, reducing file sizes
• Archive quality: PDFs maintain quality without degradation even after storage
• Security features: PDFs support encryption, digital signatures, and read-only restrictions

3. How to Create PDFs from Images

Method 1: JPG/PNG to PDF (Recommended for Government Forms)

The most common scenario: You have scanned images or photos (JPG/PNG files) and need to combine them into a single PDF.

Steps:

1. Open our PDF Converter tool
2. Select multiple images: Aadhar.jpg, PanCard.jpg, Marksheet.jpg
3. Tool automatically arranges them in order
4. Set target file size (e.g., "Under 2MB" = enter 2)
5. Download as single PDF file

Method 2: Using Desktop Software

For bulk document preparation or professional use:

• Adobe Acrobat: Industry standard, $20/month. Perfect but expensive.
• ILovePDF (online): Free, web-based. Supports batch processing.
• LibreOffice (free): Open-source. Can convert images to PDF.
• Microsoft Word: Insert images, save as PDF (works but quality varies)

4. PDF Compression Techniques

PDFs are already compressed, but you can reduce size further. Here's how:

Image Quality Reduction

PDFs store images inside them. Reducing image quality reduces overall PDF size:

Resolution Reduction

Scanning at 600 DPI creates unnecessarily large PDFs. Most government forms only need 150-300 DPI:

• 150 DPI: Web viewing, email. Suitable for most government portals. (300KB per page)
• 300 DPI: Good balance. Standard for exams. (600KB per page)
• 600 DPI: Professional/archive quality. Too large for most portals. (2-3 MB per page)

Pro tip: Scan at 300 DPI for government forms. This is sufficient for ID verification while keeping file size reasonable.

5. Government Exam Portal Requirements (2026)

6. Step-by-Step: Create PDF Under 2MB

For Exam Application

1. Scan/Photo Capture: Take photos of each document (Aadhar, PAN, Marksheets, Certificates)

   Tip: Scan at 300 DPI, good lighting, plain background

2. Organize Files: Name clearly: "aadhar.jpg", "marksheet.jpg", "certificate.jpg"

   Tip: Arrange in logical order (ID first, then marksheets)

3. Upload to our PDF Converter: Select all files at once

   Tip: The tool automatically detects landscape/portrait orientation

4. Set Size Limit: Type "2" for 2MB, "0.5" for 500KB, "1" for 1MB

   Tip: Be conservative—set 100KB below the actual limit

5. Download & Test: Check file size. Right-click → Properties

   Tip: Test upload to portal 24 hours before deadline

7. Troubleshooting PDF Issues

8. PDF Tools Comparison