PDF to Images Complete Guide: The Right Way to Export High-Quality JPG/PNG

Need to turn a PDF into images? Open PDF to Images, upload your file, choose format and clarity, then download.

But there are two completely different needs behind "PDF to images" - which one do you need?

10-Second Check: Do You Need "Convert" or "Extract"?

Turn every page into an image (screenshot-like result) -> choose "Convert All Pages" mode
Only need original embedded images in the PDF (photos, illustrations) -> choose "Extract Images" mode
Not sure? The default "Convert All Pages" works for most scenarios.

Two Modes, One Entry Point

Convert Pages vs Extract Images: Two Modes Comparison

PDF to Images offers two export modes:

Convert All Pages (Default)

Render each PDF page into one complete image. Text, tables, graphics, backgrounds - everything visible on the page is captured into the output image.

Best for: social sharing, embedding in PPT/web pages, poster printing, archival snapshots.

Extract Embedded Images

Export only the original embedded image files inside the PDF (photos, illustrations, logos, etc.) without rendering the page itself. The output keeps original image resolution and is not affected by DPI settings.

Best for: extracting product photos from manuals, exporting assets from design files.

Convert in 3 Steps

Open PDF to Images and upload your PDF
In the settings panel, choose:
- Mode: Convert All Pages / Extract Images
- Format: JPG (smaller size) or PNG (lossless, supports transparency)
- DPI: 100 (preview) / 200 (good for most use) / 300 (high-quality print)
Click Start, then download the image package when finished

JPG or PNG? One Table Explains It

Comparison	JPG	PNG
Compression	Lossy	Lossless
File size	Small (at the same DPI, typically about 1/3 to 1/5 of PNG)	Large
Transparent background	Not supported	Supported
Best use cases	Photo-heavy PDFs, social sharing, email attachments	Text/line-heavy PDFs, transparency needed, further editing
Repeated editing	Quality degrades on each save	No quality loss

Rule of Thumb

Not sure which to choose? Pick JPG for photo-heavy files, PNG for text-heavy files. If you need transparency in PPT or web pages, you must choose PNG.

If you only need JPG or only PNG, you can also use dedicated tools directly: PDF to JPG or PDF to PNG, with simpler settings.

How to Choose DPI? It Depends on Your Use Case

Image Resolution Comparison: 100 DPI vs 200 DPI vs 300 DPI

DPI (dots per inch) determines exported image clarity and file size.

DPI	Resolution (A4 page)	Size reference	Best for
100	~827 × 1169 px	Smallest	Web thumbnails, quick preview
200	~1654 × 2339 px	Medium	Screen reading, PPT embedding, social sharing (recommended)
300	~2481 × 3508 px	Larger	High-quality print, archiving, design assets

Higher DPI Is Not Always Better

A 300 DPI image is roughly 9x the size of a 100 DPI image. If you're only sharing via WeChat/email or embedding on the web, 200 DPI is fully sufficient - no need to waste storage or transfer time.

Common Scenario Quick Reference

Your need	Recommended settings	Notes
Send contract/report screenshots on WeChat	Convert mode + JPG + 200 DPI	Smaller files, faster loading, clear enough
Insert paper figures into Word/PPT	Convert mode + PNG + 300 DPI	Lossless scaling without blur
Extract product photos from a manual	Extract mode	Get original-resolution images directly
Long images for e-commerce detail pages	Convert mode + JPG + 200 DPI	Suitable for uploading to e-commerce platforms
Export assets from design files	Extract mode	Preserve original image quality
Print posters/stands	Convert mode + PNG + 300 DPI	High-quality printing without distortion

You Can Also Convert Encrypted or Corrupted PDFs

Like other tools, PDF to Images includes an automatic preprocessing pipeline:

Permission password (copy/print restricted): removed automatically, no manual steps
User password (password required to open): a password dialog appears after upload; enter the correct password to continue
Corrupted PDFs: the system automatically attempts repair, then continues conversion if successful

Practical Pairings Before and After Conversion

Before Conversion: Optimize the Source File

Only need a few pages: use Split PDF first to extract required pages and reduce processing
Wrong page orientation: use Rotate PDF first to fix direction
Extra white margins: use Crop PDF first for tighter composition in exported images

After Conversion: Further Image Processing

Images are too large: batch-compress them with your system's built-in image tools
Need to merge back into one PDF: use Images to PDF to combine multiple images into one PDF
Need watermark protection: use Add Watermark on the PDF first, then convert to images - the watermark will be rendered into the images

FAQ

What if exported images look blurry?

Check the DPI setting. The default 200 DPI looks clear on screens, but if you need printing or zoomed viewing, use 300 DPI. Also confirm the source PDF is not a low-resolution scan - source quality is the upper limit.

How many pages can I convert at once?

Free users can upload PDFs up to 100 MB, and Pro users up to 2 GB. There is no hard page-count limit, but more pages take longer to process.

Do exported images have watermarks?

No. Both free and paid users get watermark-free exported images.

Can I copy text after converting PDF to images?

No. After conversion, text becomes pixels and is no longer selectable or searchable. If you need editable text, use PDF to Word or PDF to Text.

Why does "Extract Images" mode fail to extract anything?

In some PDFs, what looks like an "image" is actually vector graphics or text layout effects, not embedded bitmap files. In that case, use "Convert All Pages" mode to render full pages into images.