THE FILES.CO JOURNAL
Notes on PDFs, privacy, and standards.
How the tools work, why your files never leave the browser, and the technical detail that matters.
Vector vs raster: why some images stay sharp and others go blurry
Zoom into one logo and it's crisp; zoom into another and it's a blocky mess. That's vector vs raster. Here's the difference and what it means for your PDFs and images.
Aug 18, 2026 · 5 min readSecurityThe PDF that arrived by email, and what it might be carrying
A document can be told to run something the moment it opens, and nothing on the page changes. What that layer is, how to take it out, and what taking it out does not fix.
Aug 16, 2026 · 5 min readGuidesHow to Shrink a PDF to Send on WhatsApp
A PDF stuck on 'sending' in WhatsApp usually just needs to lose some weight. Here's how to shrink it on your phone before you hit send.
Aug 16, 2026 · 6 min readStandardsFillable PDF forms explained: AcroForm vs XFA
Some PDF forms you can fill anywhere; others demand special software and refuse to open. The difference is AcroForm vs XFA. Here's what that means and how to fill a form in your browser.
Aug 16, 2026 · 5 min readStandardsA PDF is a container, not a sheet of paper
PDFs can carry whole files inside them, in a name tree the page never shows. How embedded files work, why PDF/A-3 exists, and the bug that loses old attachments.
Aug 15, 2026 · 6 min readStandardsHow content stacks inside a PDF, and why 'behind' isn't a layer
A PDF page has no layers panel. It has a painting order, and whatever is drawn last wins. That single fact explains what overlaying one PDF on another can and can't do.
Aug 14, 2026 · 6 min readNo spam. Just PDF craft.
Once in a while, a useful note on PDFs and privacy.