A portfolio sent as a PDF attachment has problems. The file may be too big for the email, people download it and forget it, and you cannot tell if it was opened. A page-turning online publication solves these: it opens from a link, it reads like a book and you can see how it is used.

Prepare the PDF first

  • Page size. Landscape A3 or A4 works well for architecture portfolios. Use the same size for all pages, so the book looks even when pages turn.
  • File size. Large renders make large PDFs. For reading on screen you do not need print resolution: about 150 dpi at the size shown is usually enough. Use Compress PDF, and the Image Compressor for individual renders, before you publish. The Digital Publisher accepts a PDF of up to 50 MB and 50 pages.
  • Page order. The first page is the cover. Check the order of the pages, and use Reorder PDF Pages or Merge PDF to fix it.
  • Text. Keep text large enough to read on a phone. Small notes on A3 sheets become unreadable on a small screen.
  • Rights. Only publish drawings, photographs and renders that you are allowed to share. Client confidentiality and photographers’ rights still apply online.

Publish it

  1. Open the Digital Publisher and sign in or create a free account.
  2. Upload the PDF. It is converted to page images in a few moments.
  3. Set the title, the description and the cover. The cover comes from the first page by default.
  4. Choose who can see it: public, unlisted (only people with the link) or private, and add a password if you want one.
  5. Share the link, print the QR code for a business card or a poster, or embed the publication on your own website.

What is stored

Unlike the other tools on this site, the Digital Publisher stores what you publish: your PDF is sent to the site’s file storage and kept until you delete it. Public and unlisted publications can be read by anyone who has the link, so do not publish anything confidential. Deleting a publication removes its files. The privacy policy explains the details.

Check how it reads

  • Open the link on a phone and on a computer. Check that images are sharp and the text is readable.
  • Try the page-turning view, the single-page view and the scrolling view.
  • Test the contents and the links in the publication if you added any.

Use the numbers

The statistics of a publication show how many times it was opened and which pages were viewed. If readers rarely get past page four, look at pages four and five before you send the link to another practice. A portfolio is easier to improve when you can see where readers lose interest.

A well-prepared portfolio is a short, consistent set of pages, fast to load, with your best work first. The online format helps people to see it; the content still has to earn their attention.