Prepare images and PDFs for email attachments
A simple workflow for reducing file size while keeping documents readable.
Check the attachment limit first
Email providers and receiving systems often limit individual attachments or the total message size. Leave room for email encoding overhead rather than targeting the exact published limit.
Resize camera photos
Modern phone photos are often much larger than needed for document review. Resize the longest side to a practical value, then save as JPG or WebP. Check names, dates and numbers before deleting the original.
Combine related pages
Recipients usually prefer one organized PDF instead of many separate photos. Put pages in reading order, select A4 or Letter, use fit rather than fill and add a small margin.
Compress after organizing
Merge, rotate and reorder first. Compress the final PDF last so you do not repeat lossy processing. Keep the uncompressed organized version in case the recipient requests better quality.
Use clear file names
Names such as application-documents.pdf or invoice-july-2026.pdf are easier to understand than camera-generated names. Avoid exposing unnecessary personal information in the file name.