PDF tools
Compress
POST /v1/pdf/compress — shrink files without losing quality.
POST /v1/pdf/compress optimizes a PDF's internal structure (object streams,
unused resources) and returns a lighter file.
Request
PDF=$(base64 -w0 heavy.pdf) # macOS: base64 -i heavy.pdf
curl -X POST https://api.pdf-forge.dev/v1/pdf/compress \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $PDFFORGE_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d "{\"pdf\": \"$PDF\"}" \
--output compressed.pdf| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
pdf | string | Required. The PDF, base64-encoded. |
Response
The compressed PDF binary. Two headers let you measure the gain without opening the file:
X-PDF-Original-Size: 4823041
X-PDF-Size: 1204523# Quick before/after check
curl -s -D - -o compressed.pdf ... | grep -i x-pdfLossless by design
Compression is structural: no image downsampling, no font subsetting that would alter rendering. A file that is already optimized may barely shrink.
Next steps
- Inspect — see what makes the file heavy (image DPI, embedded fonts) before compressing.
- Assemble & split — remove pages you don't need.
- Secure — protect the compressed file.