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blurry pdf viewed from browser
I've had a pdf file stored on dropbox for years; it was perfectly clear, but now when viewed in the browser it is blurry, so much so that the text is not readable. It is clear when downloaded; the problem only occurs when viewed on dropbox in the browser. I found a similar thread from about 3 years ago (https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Dropbox-files-folders/Some-of-my-pdf-files-appear-blurry-when-I-m-viewing-those-on-my/m-p/355427) and it seems that no resolution has been found. Any chance of a way to fix this?
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- File Sizes range from 422-488KB, most around 460. Downloading files to device look normal in Adobe Acrobat. Also look normal if opened in new browser tab (right beside Dropbox browser tab), and in new tab using connected app from Dropbox (tested with smallpdf).
Only difference I can see is they were saved from a webpage and page breaks were not included, so whole multipage pdf shows as one page. Multiple files. Basically any file that includes drawings/graphics. I tested out a few text PDFs and didn't notice the same degree of blurriness. Maybe a teensy worse than viewing it from Adobe or Bluebeam, but nothing like the drawing files.
I'm experiencing the same issue. PDF looks clear and sharp when viewed locally in a PDF reader and if loaded locally into a browser from my PC. But if I preview it in Dropbox on the web, it's blurry. Not unreadable, but this PDF is a presentation document so any level of blurriness isn't acceptable. I decided to open an account on box.com to give it a try - I had no issues with blurriness there and everything works as expected.
Seems very much like a Dropbox problem.
- Megan
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi all, happy Friday!
Your comments on this have been quite helpful, and I will do everything I can to ensure that your voice is heard.
I'll forward your feedback to the appropriate areas so we can continue to improve.
Have a lovely weekend ahead,enjoy!
After many years of using Dropbox I too am suddenly confronted with blurry PDF's ( across all my computers and browsers.) This is a real nuisance and I hope it is fixed soon.
I'm having this same issue, and I'm a designer - this is my resume' and portfolio documents, and simply NOT acceptable, and none of the responses I'm hearing from Dropbox do anything other than delay and/or blame the user. We need this fixed, or it's off to Google Drive. In the case of my photo portfolio and drawing sheets, the files are big - 14-18 Mb, but my resume is 2 pages of neat text and all of 122Kb.
Downloads are fine, and, actually, if I go into DROPBOX's "Editor" - the documents show sharp...but not in the viewing pane. If I'm sending this to a prospective client or employer, the first impression matters, and this is simply unacceptable.
- Jay
Hi eddrop1, FWAtherton, could you try previewing the file while forcing it to render in the browser by changing dl=0 to raw=1 option in the shared link? Does this make a difference to the file?
@Jay
Hmm...where do I go to alter the settings referenced in this article:
https://help.dropbox.com/share/force-download
I don't see anyplace to make those editing changes in either my browser or my Dropbox setup - and it's MOST important that a random potential employer I send the links to can open it UNBLURRY without any fiddling. As it is, I'm going to have to explain in the short run that the preview is blurry and hope they can see beyond that....
This is a problem Dropbox has had before as a little Googling will show.
If I download the file I displays fine in the browser. This is strictly a view within dropbox on web issue.
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