Journal

Notes on paper, pixels, and trust

Practical pieces for people who actually open PDFs for a living. For step-by-step walkthroughs, see How-to.

• Workflow · August 18, 2026 · 7 min

  How to compress a PDF without turning it into mush

  A practical guide to shrinking scans, exports, and slide decks — and when flattening is the wrong move.

• How-to · August 12, 2026 · 6 min

  How to sign a PDF on Windows, Mac, and iPhone

  Built-in options, when they fail, and a private in-browser method that works the same on every device.

• Privacy · August 4, 2026 · 8 min

  Why on-device PDF tools are safer than “free upload” sites

  Tax returns, offer letters, medical forms — the case for keeping the file in the tab you already have open.

• AI · July 28, 2026 · 6 min

  AI PDF summaries you can actually use in a meeting

  What to send the model, what to keep local, and how to turn a 40-page deck into five decisions.