Shard Tools

AI upload preparation

Prepare PDFs and images for AI chat upload limits

AI chats often have file-size, page-count, or image-count limits. Shard Tools helps prepare the file first: compress the PDF, split a long document, convert a PDF to Markdown, or resize images in the browser before you upload anything to an assistant.

Use these tools

Compress PDF to 300 KBMake PDF under 2 MBSplit PDF into partsConvert PDF to MarkdownCombine PNG images into PDFInstall Shard Tools MCP

Start with the limit that failed

If the assistant says the PDF is too large, use a PDF compressor and target a practical size such as 300 KB, 500 KB, 1 MB, 2 MB, or 5 MB. If the assistant stops after a number of pages, split the PDF into smaller batches instead of lowering quality until the document becomes hard to read.

If the problem is image count, combine related screenshots or photos into one PDF, or resize the images before upload. This keeps the assistant focused on fewer files while preserving the order of the material.

If the assistant mainly needs the text, convert the PDF to Markdown or plain text first. A clean text version is often easier for an AI chat to read than a large scanned or layout-heavy PDF.

Use the least destructive preparation step

Compression is useful when the file is just over a size limit. Splitting is safer when the PDF is long and every page matters. PDF to Markdown is best when structure and text matter more than exact visual layout.

For forms, contracts, statements, IDs, and private work documents, check the prepared file before uploading it to any AI assistant. Make sure signatures, stamps, tables, small text, and page order survived the change.

Do not use compression as a substitute for redaction. If the assistant should not see something, remove or redact it before upload.

Keep preparation browser-local

The file-preparation tools linked here run in the browser. The site sends the tool code, then your browser reads, rebuilds, and downloads the result locally.

That does not make the later AI upload private. It means the preparation step does not add another file-processing service between you and the assistant you already chose to use.

For agentic workflows, the Shard Tools MCP can route the assistant to the right browser-local preparation page. The public MCP does not receive the PDF or image bytes for these file workflows.

Common AI upload workflows

Claude PDF page limit: split the PDF into logical parts, such as chapters, statements by month, or batches of pages. Keep filenames numbered so the chat can follow the order.

ChatGPT or Gemini file-size limit: compress the PDF to a target size, then open the result once before uploading it. If it becomes blurry, split it instead.

Many screenshots or photos: resize them, combine them into a single PDF, or convert only the important pages. Fewer, clearer files usually produce better assistant answers.

When to use Markdown

Use PDF to Markdown when the assistant needs headings, paragraphs, bullet points, and extractable text. It is a good fit for reports, specs, instructions, notes, and documentation.

Avoid relying on Markdown conversion for scanned pages with no text layer. In that case, the assistant may need OCR from the AI platform, or you may need a different preparation workflow.

After converting, skim the Markdown for missing headings, broken tables, and page-order problems before pasting or uploading it.