Issue:
I am facing an issue with the PDF files that appear blurry after uploading them to the Degreed Catalog. I have tried removing and adding the PDF again, but it doesn't help.
Cause:
The issue is with the Safari/Chrome browser, as they use a different rendering tool than Firefox.
Resolution:
Export PDFs with vector text and high-resolution images, using Print or High Quality Print settings — not flattened or image-based formats.
You can validate if the PDFs are vector-based or rasterized/flattened by following these steps:
- Open the PDF in a viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat or a web browser. If you can’t highlight or copy text, it’s likely rasterized
- Zoom in to 400% or more. If the text becomes blurry or pixelated, it’s an image; if it remains crisp and clear, it’s vector-based
To avoid rendering issues in future PDFs, please keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Ensure that text remains selectable and vector-based. Avoid flattening or printing to image-based PDFs
- Use high-resolution images, ideally 300 DPI or higher, when screenshots or visuals are included
- Export your documents using Print or High Quality Print PDF settings rather than Standard or Web-optimized
- Avoid tools or workflows that convert slides or documents into images before exporting to PDF