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PDF to images

How to convert PDF pages to PNG

By DeckleUpdated

To convert PDF pages to PNG, open PDF to PNG, choose a Resolution, keep All pages or pick Choose pages, then choose Export images. Each page becomes a lossless PNG, which keeps text edges, thin lines and chart labels free of JPEG blur. Your PDF is not changed.

PDF to PNG

Selected pages become image files

PDF page 2

First selected page image

PDF page 5

Second selected page image

2 selected pages → 2 planned images, or one ZIP

Example export plan · the ZIP contains separate images. Image output does not retain PDF text selection or links.

How to convert PDF pages to PNG with Deckle

  1. Open PDF to PNG and choose your PDF, or drop it onto the page.
  2. Under Resolution, choose Screen (72 DPI), Standard (150 DPI) or Print (300 DPI).
  3. Under Pages, keep All pages, or choose Choose pages and type page numbers and ranges, such as 2, 6-8.
  4. Check the summary at the top of the settings, for example "4 images · 150 DPI · PNG".
  5. Choose Export images.
  6. Download the PNGs one at a time, or choose Download all to save them as a ZIP. A single page gives one Download image button instead.
  7. Open one image at the size you will use it and check that the smallest label is readable.

The result screen shows how many images were made and a Verified: line with the count. Before it appears, Deckle checks that every PNG opens and has the pixel size expected for its page.

Why PNG suits text and diagrams

PNG compresses without throwing pixels away. A JPG saves space by smoothing fine detail, and that shows up as faint smudges around black text on white and along the thin lines of a chart. PNG has none of that, so it is the better choice for:

  • slides and presentation handouts
  • charts, graphs and technical drawings
  • spreadsheets and tables exported to PDF
  • screenshots of software and forms

There is no quality setting in PDF to PNG, because there is nothing to trade. Resolution is the only control that changes the file size.

PNG is the wrong choice for pages that are mostly photographs. A photo-heavy page can be several times larger as PNG than as a JPG that looks the same. For brochures, catalogues and scanned photos, use PDF to JPG. PDF to PNG or JPG compares the two side by side.

Pick the resolution for where the image is going

Destination Resolution Letter page in pixels
Wiki, chat, quick reference Screen about 612 × 792
Slides, documentation, web pages Standard about 1275 × 1650
Print, or cropping a detail out of the page Print about 2550 × 3300

Example: an engineering report has a wiring diagram on page 9 with 7-point labels. At Standard the labels are readable when the image fills a laptop screen. If you plan to crop just one corner of the diagram and show it large, export at Print so the crop still has enough pixels.

Doubling the DPI gives four times the pixels, and the PNG grows with it. Each image is limited to 16 megapixels on most computers and Android devices, and 4 megapixels on an iPhone, an iPad or a device with little memory; the note under the options shows your device's limit. If a page is too large at the chosen resolution, Deckle stops before it writes anything; choose a lower resolution and try again. For other page sizes, see how to calculate pixel size from DPI.

What the PNG does not keep

Every page is drawn on a white background, so a PNG from Deckle has no transparent areas; why PNG exports have a white background explains why. Text becomes pixels, and links, bookmarks and form fields are not carried over. Keep the PDF if anyone needs to search or select the text.

Tips

  • Export one page when you only need one chart. Choose Choose pages and type a single number, such as 9.
  • Check labels at the display size. A diagram that looks sharp zoomed in can be unreadable when shrunk into a narrow column.
  • Rename the file after download. report-009.png is clear to you; wiring-diagram.png is clearer to a reader.
  • Crop in an image editor afterwards. Deckle exports whole pages. For a single chart on a web page, see exporting a PDF chart for the web.

Other ways to convert PDF pages to PNG

  • Preview on a Mac. Open the PDF, choose File > Export and pick PNG from the Format menu.
  • Adobe Acrobat. Select Convert, choose Image format, pick PNG and select Convert to PNG. In the free Acrobat Reader, conversion needs a paid Adobe subscription.
  • A screenshot tool. Fine for a quick share, but the pixel size depends on your screen and zoom level.

Frequently asked questions

Is PNG better quality than JPG?

For text and line art, yes: PNG keeps every pixel, while JPG softens edges. For photographs the difference is hard to see and the JPG is much smaller.

Can I make a PNG with a transparent background?

No. Deckle draws every page on white, because a PDF page has no background of its own and many pages would be unreadable without one.

How do I convert just one page to PNG?

Choose Choose pages, type the page number, and choose Export images. You get a single PNG.

Why is my PNG file so big?

The page is probably photo-heavy, or the resolution is Print. Try Standard, or use PDF to JPG for pages that are mostly pictures.

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