How to Fix Blurry or Low-Quality PDFs

Why PDFs become blurry

• Low-resolution scanning (DPI too low).
• Aggressive PDF compression.
• Images stretched beyond their original size.
• Repeated PDF conversions.

Step 1 — Check if the PDF is image-based

Zoom into the PDF. If text pixels break when zoomed, it’s image-based. Scanned PDFs are essentially photos inside a PDF container.

Step 2 — Avoid over-compression

Compression saves size but can destroy clarity.

1. Open Compress PDF.
2. Select Balanced or High quality.
3. Avoid “strong” compression unless file size is critical.

Step 3 — Rebuild the PDF from high-quality images

This is the most effective fix for blurry scanned PDFs.

1. Convert the PDF using PDF → Images.
2. Use PNG format for better clarity.
3. Re-create the PDF using Image → PDF.
4. Choose proper page size (A4) and margins.

Step 4 — Crop extra space to improve perceived sharpness

Extra borders make text appear smaller and blurrier.

• Open Crop PDF.
• Remove unnecessary margins.
• Apply crop to all pages.

Step 5 — Avoid resizing PDFs after export

Stretching a PDF in viewers or editors degrades clarity. Always export at final size.

Best practices for clear PDFs

• Scan at 300 DPI or higher.
• Use PNG for scanned documents.
• Compress only once.
• Keep original files as backup.