You are currently viewing 83% less estimated ink coverage: PrintLight before and after

83% less estimated ink coverage: PrintLight before and after

On the UNICEF handout below, PrintLight reduced estimated ink coverage by 83%. On the CDC poster, 76%. On the EPA cover, 83%. Those are results for the exact pages shown here, with the original and output side by side.

That visible difference is why we are proud of PrintLight. A useful handout should be practical to print. Heavy backgrounds and colored panels can use ink without helping someone read a paper copy. PrintLight prepares a lighter version of the PDF you already need.

Here are 10 complete-page comparisons from our October 2026 benchmark. Every image shows the original on the left and PrintLight on the right, at the same scale, without cropping. Click any comparison to enlarge it.

The percentages are digital estimates of combined cyan, magenta, yellow and black coverage, not physical cartridge tests or guaranteed ink savings. These examples were selected to show useful changes; they do not represent every PDF. Default processing can omit large pictures.

Download the 10-page comparison report (PDF)  |  Try PrintLight on your PDF

83% less estimated ink coverage

UNICEF: a colorful child-rights handout

PDF page 1. Colored panels become white while the icons and labels remain visible.

UNICEF: a colorful child-rights handout. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 83 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 1 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

76% less estimated ink coverage

CDC: a lighter handwashing poster

PDF page 1. Colored banners and the blue background clear; the five instructional illustrations remain.

CDC: a lighter handwashing poster. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 76 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 2 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

83% less estimated ink coverage

EPA: a dark cover becomes a white page

PDF page 1. The large dark background clears while the colored circles, lettering and EPA mark remain.

EPA: a dark cover becomes a white page. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 83 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 3 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

49% less estimated ink coverage

WHO: keep the instructions, lighten the framing

PDF page 1. Gray instruction panels and the colored footer clear around the handwashing illustrations.

WHO: keep the instructions, lighten the framing. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 49 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 4 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

48% less estimated ink coverage

Peace at the Heart: quotation panels without solid color

PDF page 6. Magenta panels become white; reversed lettering becomes dark text.

Peace at the Heart: quotation panels without solid color. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 48 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 5 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

50% less estimated ink coverage

Peace at the Heart: a blue callout becomes white

PDF page 9. The blue callout clears while its text remains in the original position.

Peace at the Heart: a blue callout becomes white. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 50 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 6 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

67% less estimated ink coverage

NGA: less color behind report text

PDF page 4. Orange callout backgrounds clear. Default processing also simplifies the decorative top strip.

NGA: less color behind report text. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 67 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 7 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

35% less estimated ink coverage

Duke: a table with lighter shading

PDF page 10. Header and cell shading lighten while the table structure and text remain.

Duke: a table with lighter shading. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 35 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 8 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

57% less estimated ink coverage

Lincoln letters: aged paper becomes white

PDF page 7. Yellow paper is whitened around the scanned printed text.

Lincoln letters: aged paper becomes white. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 57 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 9 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

97% less estimated ink coverage

NASA: a brochure with large pictures omitted

PDF page 1. Default picture omission removes the telescope photograph and much of the background. Choose Keep pictures when imagery matters.

NASA: a brochure with large pictures omitted. Complete original page on the left, PrintLight default output on the right. 97 percent less estimated CMYK coverage on this page.
Example 10 of 10. Page-specific digital coverage estimate, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Source credit and original-PDF link are in the downloadable report.

What the percentages measure

For each page, we add the estimated cyan, magenta, yellow and black coverage before and after processing. The reduction is (before minus after) / before. The figures are rounded to whole percentages. They describe these exact frozen benchmark pages, not the average for their entire documents.

The separate PrintLight benchmark and white paper explain the broader selected-document results, method, cost model and limitations. Page-specific figures here should not be substituted for the whole-document results there.

Preview, then print lighter

Pictures, pale text and colored labels can carry information. Keep your original, compare the preview, and choose Keep pictures when images matter. The NASA example deliberately shows picture omission; it is not a claim that every visual element is preserved. Check important diagrams, labels and tables before printing.

We are hopeful about the practical difference this can make for people printing teaching materials, community handouts and reports. The next useful test is a PDF you already plan to print.

Try PrintLight or download all 10 full-page comparisons.

Sources: UNICEF, CDC, EPA, WHO, Quakers in Britain, National Governors Association, Duke University, and the Lincoln/NASA publications identified in the report. Original publishers do not endorse PrintLight. Examples reuse the frozen October 23, 2026 benchmark outputs.