Why convert a PDF to images
Inserting a page into a presentation, publishing an excerpt on a website, sharing a universally readable preview, archiving a frozen rendering: the image is the universal format. Each page becomes a standalone image file.
Choosing the right format
- PNG: lossless, sharp text, transparency support. The best choice for text-heavy documents — heavier files.
- JPG: lossy, smaller size. Ideal for photo-dominated pages — text may degrade at low quality.
- TIFF: the format of archives and professional printing, very large but without quality compromise.
Resolution matters
DPI determines sharpness: 150 DPI suffices on screen, 300 DPI is the print standard. Beyond that, the file grows without benefit for common use. For later enlargement or cropping, go higher.
Common use cases
- Extracting a report’s cover for a publication.
- Turning each page of a scan into an image for retouching.
- Producing preview thumbnails for a catalog.
