The WhatTheFile field guide
Less file frustration.
More getting it done.
Clear steps for photos, PDFs and documents. Find your task, understand the trade-offs, and make a copy you can trust.
A good place to start
The form has rules.
Here’s how to read them.
File size, dimensions, format, framing. Separate what the tool can check from what you need to look at yourself.
Prepare an application photo
A real requirement, understood before you prepare.Private redaction
Practical review for medical, legal and access-request records. Your files stay on your device.
How to Redact a PDF or Photo Without Uploading It
Permanently cover private details with local keyword search and manual boxes. Learn what redaction removes, what OCR can miss, and how to check the download.
6 minute read Healthcare privacyRedact Personal Details from Medical Records and Lab Reports
A privacy-first workflow for redacting patient details from PDF reports and photos, with checks for repeated identifiers and the limits of de-identification.
5 minute read Legal documentsRedact Legal Documents and PDF Exhibits Privately
Prepare a limited-sharing copy of a legal PDF, review repeated identifiers, and understand when image-only redaction is unsuitable for court filing.
5 minute read HR and access requestsRedact Third-Party Details in a Subject Access Response
A practical PDF review workflow for HR and small organisations handling subject access requests, with third-party review and local redaction limitations.
5 minute readPhotos & signatures
The right size, format and framing.
Reduce a Photo to Under 100 KB for an Online Form
A calm, private way to shrink a photo for an application form without guessing at compression settings.
5 minute read Photos & signaturesResize a photo without cutting off what matters
Understand the difference between resizing and cropping, and review the frame before preparing your file.
3 minute read SignaturesCompress a Signature Image for an Online Form
Prepare a clean, smaller signature file while protecting the original scan and avoiding accidental cropping.
5 minute read Photos & signaturesGet an iPhone HEIC photo ready for a JPG upload
Convert a phone photo locally, then check its size and clarity before submitting.
3 minute read File formatsConvert PNG to JPG for an Online Form
What changes during conversion, why forms often ask for JPG, and what to check before uploading the result.
4 minute read File formatsJPG vs JPEG: Which One Should You Upload?
The short answer, the practical portal problem, and the safest way to handle a form that insists on one extension.
4 minute readPDFs & documents
Convert, compress and know what changes.
From Markdown notes to an editable Word document
Turn a .md file into a Word handoff with headings, tables and code that people can edit.
3 minute read PDFs & documentsMake a PDF smaller without losing sight of the details
A practical way to reduce a scanned PDF, with a clear explanation of what compression removes.
3 minute read PDFs & documentsTurn a Word document into a PDF you can check
Convert a DOCX locally and understand when an image-based PDF is the wrong choice.
3 minute read PDFs & documentsMake a one-page PDF from a photo or scan
Prepare a receipt, scan or document photo when the upload box only accepts PDF.
3 minute readBefore you submit
A little care before the final upload.
Prepare a Photo for an Exam, Job or Government Form
A practical checklist for reading upload requirements, making a safe copy and checking it before submission.
7 minute read TroubleshootingWhy Is My Photo Still Being Rejected After Resizing?
A clear checklist for the frustrating moment when the numbers look right but the portal still refuses the file.
7 minute read PrivacyPrepare a Personal Photo Without Uploading It to a Server
A private way to prepare passport, identity and application photos directly inside your browser.
5 minute read