Reduce a scan’s file size only after deciding which image, text, accessibility, search and record features the archive must preserve
Use an archive-requirement–source-master–inventory–audit-space–OCR-state–image-purpose–optimizer-panel–small-test–search–accessibility–metadata–integrity–repository-readback chain. Obtain the responsible archive rule, preserve the original scan, identify what the PDF contains, audit its size, optimise a copy conservatively, compare functions and record the exact deposited object.
Why this English matters now
Reading Acrobat’s Optimize PDF settings before archiving a scanned report is practical English for students and staff searching how to reduce PDF file size, compress a scanned PDF or optimise a PDF without losing quality.
Adobe’s current Acrobat guidance says Audit Space Usage reports how much space is used by elements such as text, images, fonts, forms and comments. PDF Optimizer can change image downsampling and compression, unembed fonts, flatten transparency, discard objects or user data and clean up document structures.
Those options do not all mean ‘make smaller’. Some permanently remove image data, tags, bookmarks, attachments, metadata or functionality. Strong readers preserve a source master, read every selected panel against the archive requirement and verify search, accessibility, legibility and integrity on the exact saved copy.
Checked against the linked first-party sources on 30 October 2026. Interfaces, managed-device rules and school procedures can change, so reopen the current source before a live assessment, disclosure or account decision.
The practical reading method
Use an archive-requirement–source-master–inventory–audit-space–OCR-state–image-purpose–optimizer-panel–small-test–search–accessibility–metadata–integrity–repository-readback chain. Obtain the responsible archive rule, preserve the original scan, identify what the PDF contains, audit its size, optimise a copy conservatively, compare functions and record the exact deposited object.
- Audit Space Usage diagnoses where bytes are used; it does not choose what the archive may discard.
- Downsampling reduces resolution and lossy compression permanently removes pixel data. File-size gain and evidential quality are separate results.
- Discard Objects and Discard User Data can remove forms, JavaScript, tags, bookmarks, attachments, comments, metadata or layers. Each checkbox names a consequence.
- An archival master, access copy and email copy can have different purposes. Do not let a small delivery copy silently replace the preserved source.
Official factual floor
- Adobe Acrobat: View storage space used by different elements in PDFs
- Adobe Acrobat: PDF Optimizer settings
- Adobe Acrobat: Reduce PDF file size
- MOE English Language Syllabus 2020
- IMDA Digital Skills for Life
- Adobe says Audit Space Usage lists the byte size and percentage used by PDF elements such as text, images, fonts, forms and comments.
- Adobe says image downsampling lowers resolution and JPEG or JPEG2000 optimisation can permanently remove pixel data, while ZIP is suited to illustrations with flat colour areas.
- Adobe’s optimizer panels include Images, Fonts, Transparency, Discard Objects, Discard User Data and Clean Up; Adobe warns that discarding document tags removes accessibility and reflow capabilities.
Did You Know?
A large scanned PDF may be dominated by image data rather than text. Removing document tags or bookmarks can save much less space than aggressive image changes while causing a much larger accessibility or navigation loss. Audit the composition before chasing the biggest-looking checkbox.
Full chapter index
- 1. Obtain the archive requirement and owner
- 2. Preserve the original scan and source context
- 3. Inventory pages, OCR, tags and attachments
- 4. Use Audit Space Usage before choosing settings
- 5. Separate downsampling from compression
- 6. Choose image settings by content type
- 7. Protect OCR and searchability
- 8. Read font unembedding as a substitution risk
- 9. Treat Discard Objects as destructive scope
- 10. Treat Discard User Data as a records decision
- 11. Use Clean Up conservatively
- 12. Compare an access copy with the archival master
- 13. Deposit and retrieve the exact approved object
The mechanism
The responsible institution should define master, access copy, accepted formats, retention, metadata and integrity evidence.
Audit Space Usage diagnoses where bytes are used; it does not choose what the archive may discard. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is obtain the archive requirement and owner. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: A student applies web-compression settings to the only scan of a signed research consent form.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. name the record owner
- 2. read the repository rule
- 3. separate master and access needs
- 4. record approval authority
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Records language supports administration. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Optimisation can permanently remove detail or features, so the untouched source needs controlled preservation.
Downsampling reduces resolution and lossy compression permanently removes pixel data. File-size gain and evidential quality are separate results. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is preserve the original scan and source context. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: The only PDF is overwritten after downsampling makes marginal notes unreadable.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. store the source read-only
- 2. create an optimisation copy
- 3. use revisioned names
- 4. protect chain-of-custody notes
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Source control supports archives. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Adobe’s audit reports bytes and percentages by element type.
An archival master, access copy and email copy can have different purposes. Do not let a small delivery copy silently replace the preserved source. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is use audit space usage before choosing settings. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: A user removes bookmarks to save space even though high-resolution images occupy nearly the whole file.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. open Optimized PDF
- 2. run Audit Space Usage
- 3. record dominant elements
- 4. target only justified components
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Diagnostic evidence supports technical work. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Downsampling reduces pixel resolution; compression encodes image data more compactly and can be lossy or lossless.
Audit Space Usage diagnoses where bytes are used; it does not choose what the archive may discard. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is separate downsampling from compression. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: The phrase ‘compress images’ is used without noticing that the selected settings also lower resolution.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. read resolution threshold
- 2. read compression method
- 3. read quality level
- 4. test representative pages
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Process vocabulary supports imaging. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Adobe distinguishes continuous-tone images from flat-colour illustrations and monochrome material.
Downsampling reduces resolution and lossy compression permanently removes pixel data. File-size gain and evidential quality are separate results. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is choose image settings by content type. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: A diagram with thin labels receives aggressive photographic compression and develops artefacts.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. classify photographs diagrams and line art
- 2. preserve fine edges
- 3. test colour and monochrome separately
- 4. compare at intended zoom
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Content-aware decisions support design. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
The searchable text layer can be vital even when the visible page is an image.
Discard Objects and Discard User Data can remove forms, JavaScript, tags, bookmarks, attachments, comments, metadata or layers. Each checkbox names a consequence. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is protect ocr and searchability. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: The optimised PDF looks identical but known names can no longer be found.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. search known phrases before
- 2. repeat after optimisation
- 3. compare copy output
- 4. record OCR limitations
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Searchable records support scholarship. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Adobe says unembedded fonts can be replaced on systems without those fonts.
An archival master, access copy and email copy can have different purposes. Do not let a small delivery copy silently replace the preserved source. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is read font unembedding as a substitution risk. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: A specialised symbol font is unembedded and mathematical notation changes on another computer.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. inventory embedded fonts
- 2. identify unusual scripts and symbols
- 3. preserve required fonts
- 4. test on an approved second system
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Typography language supports publishing. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Adobe lists options that can remove actions, alternate images, thumbnails, tags, bookmarks and other objects.
Audit Space Usage diagnoses where bytes are used; it does not choose what the archive may discard. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is treat discard objects as destructive scope. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: Discard document tags is selected as harmless clean-up and accessibility reflow is lost.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. expand every selected option
- 2. state what it removes
- 3. clear unjustified choices
- 4. test affected functions
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Destructive-scope reading supports safety. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
This panel can remove comments, forms, metadata, attachments, layers and other information.
Downsampling reduces resolution and lossy compression permanently removes pixel data. File-size gain and evidential quality are separate results. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is treat discard user data as a records decision. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: Reviewer comments required for an audit trail are deleted as ‘user data’.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. classify required and prohibited data
- 2. follow the owner’s instruction
- 3. remove sensitive data through an approved process
- 4. document every intentional removal
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Governance language supports compliance. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
Adobe says default selections focus on elements that do not affect functionality and warns users to understand other choices.
Discard Objects and Discard User Data can remove forms, JavaScript, tags, bookmarks, attachments, comments, metadata or layers. Each checkbox names a consequence. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is use clean up conservatively. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: An unreferenced destination used by an external link is removed because the file itself has no internal reference.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. start from documented defaults
- 2. read each nondefault option
- 3. test external dependencies
- 4. save a separate output
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Dependency reasoning supports systems work. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
A smaller access copy can help routine viewing while the approved master preserves maximum evidence.
An archival master, access copy and email copy can have different purposes. Do not let a small delivery copy silently replace the preserved source. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is compare an access copy with the archival master. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: The compressed email copy is later mistaken for the authoritative archive record.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. label master and access copy
- 2. record intended use
- 3. store in distinct locations
- 4. prevent accidental replacement
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Record-class language supports archives. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
The mechanism
The local optimised copy and repository object are different states.
Audit Space Usage diagnoses where bytes are used; it does not choose what the archive may discard. In this chapter, the decisive phrase is deposit and retrieve the exact approved object. It identifies the state or boundary to check before a click, upload, disclosure or connection turns an assumption into a real consequence.
A practical school or study situation
Example: The checked file remains on the desktop while an earlier version is deposited.
PDF Optimizer reports and applies file-structure changes. It does not decide which content has archival value, prove OCR accuracy, remove confidentiality obligations, certify a standard or guarantee that the optimised copy is an acceptable master.
- 1. record filename size and hash
- 2. deposit once
- 3. read the receipt
- 4. retrieve and rerun key tests
Compare page count and dimensions; inspect fine text, signatures, diagrams and marginal notes at high zoom; search known phrases; test copy and paste where permitted; inspect bookmarks, tags, forms and attachments; compare metadata under policy; calculate and record a hash if required; reopen the exact repository object and test retrieval. Then name the remaining uncertainty. A successful click is evidence about one operation at one time; it is not an unlimited promise about safety, authorship, privacy, delivery or future behaviour.
Build a reproducible note
Record source and working-copy filenames, owner, repository requirement and date, page count, original size and hash if required, Audit Space Usage result, OCR and tag state, selected panels and settings, output size, legibility and search tests, removed features, final hash, repository receipt and approver. Do not expose sensitive report content.
Transfer: Handoff verification supports institutional work. The transferable habit is to preserve exact nouns and verbs, match them to authority and test the resulting state. That is a career skill as much as an English skill.
Four useful discoveries
Obtain the archive requirement and owner
The responsible institution should define master, access copy, accepted formats, retention, metadata and integrity evidence.
Boundary: Common PDF/A advice cannot replace a repository’s current specification.
Preserve the original scan and source context
Optimisation can permanently remove detail or features, so the untouched source needs controlled preservation.
Boundary: Retention and duplication must still follow privacy rules.
Inventory pages, OCR, tags and attachments
A scanned report may contain image-only pages, text layers, bookmarks, forms, comments or embedded files.
Boundary: Presence does not prove accuracy or authorisation to retain.
Use Audit Space Usage before choosing settings
Adobe’s audit reports bytes and percentages by element type.
Boundary: The largest component may still be essential evidence.
Practice with realistic decisions
Separate downsampling from compression
The phrase ‘compress images’ is used without noticing that the selected settings also lower resolution.
- read resolution threshold
- read compression method
- read quality level
- test representative pages
Choose image settings by content type
A diagram with thin labels receives aggressive photographic compression and develops artefacts.
- classify photographs diagrams and line art
- preserve fine edges
- test colour and monochrome separately
- compare at intended zoom
Protect OCR and searchability
The optimised PDF looks identical but known names can no longer be found.
- search known phrases before
- repeat after optimisation
- compare copy output
- record OCR limitations
Advice for students, families and educators
For students
- Never optimise the only copy of a scanned report.
- Test fine text and search, not just overall appearance.
For families
- Help preserve the source and distinguish an access copy from the master.
- Avoid uploading sensitive scans to unapproved compression sites.
For educators
- Provide a safe synthetic scan and a stated archive requirement.
- Assess audit evidence, chosen losses and readback verification together.
Frequently asked questions
What does Audit Space Usage show?
Bytes and percentages used by element types.
Is downsampling the same as compression?
No.
Can optimisation remove pixel data permanently?
Yes, under lossy image settings.
Can it remove tags?
Yes; Adobe warns this removes accessibility and reflow capabilities.
Can it remove bookmarks or attachments?
Yes, if those options are selected.
Does smaller mean archive-ready?
No.
Should I overwrite the original?
No; preserve the authorised source.
Does optimisation certify PDF/A?
No.
What should I test?
Legibility, search, tags, bookmarks, forms, attachments, metadata, integrity and repository retrieval.
Why English?
Because audit, downsample, compress, discard, clean up, master, access copy and archive describe different actions and purposes.
Useful next reading
- Acrobat Page Boxes — read page boundaries before production
- PDF Preflight Result — inspect a different evidence layer
- Why English Matters in Singapore — connect precise records language to education and careers
Closing thought
A smaller archive file is successful only when it remains the right record. Preserve the master, audit before changing, name every loss, test search and legibility, and deposit only the copy approved for that archival purpose.