Guides, tips and comparisons on processing PDFs, images, audio and video.
Converting a PDF into an N-up file compared with using your printer driver's 'pages per sheet' setting. Differences in control, shareability and print quality.
8 min read
ComparisonWhich cleanup a PDF needs before you share it safely: removing metadata, redacting page content, and regenerating the file from scratch, compared.
7 min read
GuidePDF's xref structure, hint tables, byte-range requests, and how a linearized file structurally differs from a normal one — why the first page arrives faster.
7 min read
ComparisonThree ways to speed up the large PDFs on your site compared: linearization, compression and splitting the file into parts. How much each one actually gains you.
7 min read
GuideThe technical reason two pages end up on one sheet in scanned books, how crop boxes (MediaBox/CropBox) work, and what splitting actually changes inside the file.
7 min read
GuideMoving from a flowing web page to fixed pages: @media print rules, the @page box, the page-breaking algorithm, the physical meaning of CSS units, and the limits of dynamic content.
8 min read
ComparisonVideo containers compared by use case: which is right for web delivery, archiving, editing, mobile sharing and playback on a television.
7 min read
ComparisonAudio formats compared by use case: which one wins for archiving, listening, editing, web delivery and compatibility requirements.
6 min read
ComparisonThree ways to get images out of a PDF compared: raw extraction of embedded objects, rendering the page to PNG, and taking a screenshot. Differences in quality, scope and use.
7 min read
GuideMoving palette-based frames into a video codec: converting frame delays to a constant frame rate, chroma subsampling, the even-number constraint, and the loss of transparency.
7 min read
How-ToConverting an animated GIF to MP4 or WEBM: frame rate correction, the even-number resolution rule, loop behavior, and the page speed gain.
6 min read
ComparisonChoosing a target for GIF conversion: MP4/H.264, WEBM/VP9, animated WEBP and APNG compared. Deciding based on size, compatibility and transparency needs.
6 min read
ComparisonThe formats for sharing short looping animations compared: GIF, MP4/WEBM video, animated WEBP and APNG. Differences in size, quality and platform support.
6 min read
GuideThe technical limits of the GIF format: palette-based color, LZW compression, frame disposal optimization, dithering, and why it's about a tenth as efficient as modern video codecs.
7 min read
ComparisonThree ways to stop a filled-in PDF form from being changed, compared: flattening, printing and rescanning, and setting an editing password.
7 min read
ComparisonThree ways to fix scanned book PDFs compared: splitting in half with software, rescanning the book, and getting by with cropping alone. Differences in time, quality and outcome.
6 min read
ComparisonThe three ways to deliver subtitles compared: embedding into the video, burning into the picture, and a separate SRT/VTT file. Which one is right in terms of platform support, accessibility and SEO.
7 min read
GuideHow subtitle file formats are built: the simplicity of SRT, the web features of VTT, the styling power of ASS, the character encoding problem and frame rate related sync drift.
7 min read
GuideWhat is font embedding in a PDF, and why do some documents look broken on another computer? A technical guide to embedding, subsetting and substitution.
7 min read
ComparisonWord's own save feature, an online converter, or a virtual PDF printer — comparing three methods on quality, speed, privacy and batch work.
6 min read
How-ToHow do you convert a Word document to PDF without breaking the layout? Font embedding, page break control, batch conversion and a pre-send checklist.
7 min read
GuideWhy do Windows Media Video files not open on a Mac, on a phone or on a television? We explain the ASF container, the WMV3 and VC-1 codecs, and their incompatibility with MP4.
6 min read
ComparisonAn online tool, desktop software, Windows' built-in options, or not converting at all and changing player instead. We compare the four approaches realistically.
6 min read
How-ToMake your Windows Media files openable on a Mac, on a phone and on a television. Preparation, the process, and fixes for the problems you may run into afterwards.
6 min read