Articles on: Uploading A New File

Which PDF Files Work Best with Simplebooklet?

Which PDF Files Work Best with Simplebooklet?


Simplebooklet is designed to handle any valid PDF file. That said, PDF files can vary significantly in quality — and our conversion engine can only work with the data it's given. Generally speaking, garbage in means garbage out.


If you have control over how your PDF is created, there are a few things you can do to get the best results and ensure your content converts cleanly every time.



1. Avoid Tools or Settings That Compress the PDF


Tools that compress PDF files are judged by how well they reduce file size — and they often achieve this by stripping out important information that causes problems down the line. A compressed PDF can look fine on screen but be a different story under the hood.


Problems we commonly see from compressed PDFs include:


  • Broken text extraction due to the removal of character mappings


  • Fractional white lines appearing in images due to image tiling


  • Fractured or jumbled text caused by the removal of font width data


  • Loss of image quality from overly aggressive image compression


Compressing your PDF rarely reduces the file size that Simplebooklet generates from it — so there's little benefit and real risk. Avoid compression tools and settings where possible.



2. Ensure Fonts Are Embedded


PDFs can be created to rely on fonts stored on the local file system rather than embedding them inside the PDF itself. When a font isn't embedded, Simplebooklet substitutes it with an open source fallback — which may not match your original design.


To ensure your typography comes through accurately, embed all fonts when exporting your PDF. Most design tools (InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat) have this as an export option.



3. Enable Marked / Tagged / Structured Content


Standard PDF files don't contain structural information like headings, paragraphs, or reading order. Marked content is an optional feature that tags your PDF with this kind of structural data — it's not common, but if you have control over how your PDF is created, enabling it is worthwhile.


Marked content improves accessibility and sets your document up well for future enhancements. Most PDF files don't include it, but if your tool supports it, turn it on.



4. Create the File as PDF/A


PDF is a powerful format, but not all PDF creation tools implement it equally. PDF/A is a stricter, more modern version of the specification that ensures content extraction, font embedding, and document accessibility information are all preserved correctly.


If the tool you're using has a PDF/A export option, we strongly recommend enabling it. It's the most reliable format for clean, accurate conversion.



Tips


  • When exporting from Adobe Illustrator, use the PDF/X-1a:2001 preset for best results with Simplebooklet.


  • When exporting from InDesign or Acrobat, look for the PDF/A option in export settings.


  • If you're seeing unexpected blank pages, blurry text, or layout issues after converting, a compressed or non-embedded-font PDF is often the cause.






Updated on: 07/05/2026

Was this article helpful?

Share your feedback

Cancel

Thank you!