# Architecture Portfolio PDF: Format, Size and Export Settings The PDF is the default format for architecture portfolio submissions. A portfolio that renders correctly and opens quickly gives you a head start; one that is 200 MB or blurs on a phone creates friction before anyone reads a word. ## Page size Common choices: - **A4 (210 × 297 mm)** — standard outside North America. - **Letter (8.5 × 11 in)** — common in North America and for applications there. - **Square (e.g. 11 × 11 in or A4-square)** — increasingly popular for design portfolios; reads well on screens. If the application specifies a size, use it exactly. If not, pick one size and stay consistent. ## Resolution and image quality - Export images at **150–200 DPI** for a print-quality PDF that stays small enough to email. - Do not scale low-resolution images up — blur is worse than a smaller layout. - Use a consistent colour profile and check that renders export without banding. ## File size Most application systems cap uploads at **10–25 MB**, and email attachments ideally stay under 15 MB. To keep the file lean: - Compress images to the resolution the layout actually needs - Avoid full-bleed high-res images on every page - Flatten or remove unnecessary layers before export Aim for under 10 MB for a standard portfolio. ## Export settings that matter - **Fonts embedded** — so text renders on any device. - **Page size fixed** — no mixed sizes. - **Bookmarks/links** — optional, but useful for a table of contents. - **No password** — recruiters should not have to hunt for the password. ## Print vs digital If you also print the portfolio, keep a print version with bleed and full resolution. The digital PDF for applications is the one to keep small and fast. Many portfolios now skip print entirely and use a [website](/architecture/architecture-portfolio-website/) as the primary format, with the PDF as the application copy. ## Check before you send - Open the PDF on a phone and a desktop — does it look right on both? - Check that every page exported (no missing images). - Confirm the file size is reasonable. - Send it to yourself and test the download. For the content behind the format, start with the [portfolio structure guide](/architecture/architecture-portfolio/). If you want tools that generate and size these PDFs for you, [join the Architecture beta](/architecture/#beta).