Converting
How to Convert a PDF to an Image for Printing
Render PDF pages as print-ready images at the right resolution — and why sending the PDF itself is usually the better option.
Print shops sometimes ask for images rather than PDFs, and some large-format workflows only accept them. When that happens, resolution is the only setting that really matters.
Render pages at print resolution
- 1Open the PDF to JPG tool and add your document.
- 2Set 300 DPI for normal printing.
- 3Convert, and check one page at 100% zoom to confirm the text is crisp.
The resolution maths
DPI describes dots per printed inch, so the pixel size you need follows from the physical size of the output.
| Output | DPI | Pixels for A4 |
|---|---|---|
| Office document | 300 | 2480 × 3508 |
| High-quality brochure | 400–600 | 3300 × 4700 and up |
| Poster viewed at arm's length | 150–200 | Scaled to the poster size |
| Billboard viewed from far away | 30–72 | Much lower is genuinely fine |
Large-format work needs less DPI than people expect, because viewing distance grows with the print. A billboard at 300 DPI would be an unmanageable file for no visible gain.
Colour
PDFs for print are often authored in CMYK. Rendering to JPG or PNG converts to RGB, and saturated colours will shift — a deep print blue is the classic casualty. For colour-critical work, keep the PDF as a PDF and let the print shop handle the separation.
Why the PDF is usually better
PDF is the native format of professional printing. Text stays as vectors and prints at the device's full resolution rather than at whatever DPI you chose; fonts are embedded; colour profiles are preserved; trim and bleed boxes survive. Rendering to an image throws all of that away.
Convert when the workflow demands images. Otherwise send the PDF and let the RIP do its job.
Preparing the files for the print shop
- 1Ask what they want before you export — format, resolution, colour mode and bleed.
- 2Export one page first and send it for approval rather than the whole job.
- 3Name the files in page order with zero padding, so 10 does not sort before 2.
- 4Send them as a single archive rather than thirty attachments.
- 5Include a PDF of the document as well, in case they would rather use it.
That last point saves more jobs than anything else on the list. Print operators generally prefer a PDF, and a request for images is often a default rather than a requirement — asking takes one message and frequently removes the whole problem.
Do it now
PDF to JPG
Convert PDF pages to JPG images. It runs in this browser tab — your file is not uploaded anywhere.
Open PDF to JPGFrequently asked questions
What DPI does a print shop need?+
300 for ordinary print. Ask for large-format work — the answer is usually lower than you would guess.
JPG or PNG for print?+
PNG for pages with text or line art, since JPEG artefacts show around sharp edges. JPG is acceptable for photographic pages at high quality.
Why do my colours look different after converting?+
The document was CMYK and the image is RGB. Send the PDF instead if the colour matters.
Should I convert at 600 DPI to be safe?+
Only if the source has that detail. Otherwise you get a much larger file and no improvement.