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PDF to images

PDF to image or screenshot: which should you use?

By DeckleUpdated

Export the page as an image when you need the whole page at a known size, several pages, or a result you can repeat. Take a screenshot when you need part of a page quickly and the size does not matter. PDF to PNG and PDF to JPG render each page at 72, 150 or 300 DPI, independent of your screen; a screenshot captures whatever your screen shows at the zoom you happen to be using.

PDF to PNG

Same physical page, more pixels

150 DPI

Letter: 1,275 × 1,650 pixels

300 DPI

Letter: 2,550 × 3,300 pixels

Double each dimension → four times the pixels

Example calculation · nominal sizes for an 8.5 × 11-inch page. Actual exports depend on page geometry and rounding.

Export vs screenshot at a glance

Page export in Deckle Screenshot
What it captures The whole page, edge to edge What is visible on screen, or the area you drag
Pixel size Set by Resolution: an A4 page is about 1240 × 1754 at Standard Set by your screen size and zoom
Sharpness of small text Up to 300 DPI with Print Limited to your screen's pixels
Several pages One image per page in one export One capture per page, by hand
Viewer toolbars, cursor, text selection Never included Easy to include by mistake
Repeatable Same settings give the same size Changes with window size and zoom
Speed for one small area Slower: export, then crop Faster

When to export the page

  • You need the full page. A screenshot of a tall page at readable zoom only shows part of it; zoomed out to fit, the text gets small.
  • You need several pages. Typing 1-10 in Choose pages gives ten images in one go, named in order.
  • You need print or close-up quality. Print gives an A4 page about 2480 × 3508 pixels, far more than most screens show.
  • You need the same result next time. A monthly report exported at Standard gives images of the same size every month.

How to export a page instead of screenshotting it

  1. Open PDF to PNG and choose your PDF, or drop it onto the page.
  2. Under Resolution, choose Standard for screens or Print for printing and cropping.
  3. Under Pages, choose Choose pages and type the page, such as 4.
  4. Choose Export images and download the PNG.
  5. Crop it in any image editor if you only need part of the page.

Use PDF to JPG instead when the page is mostly photographs and file size matters.

When a screenshot is enough

A screenshot is the quicker choice for one-off, informal jobs: pointing a colleague at a paragraph, showing a layout problem in a bug report, or grabbing a single figure for a chat message. It is also the only option when you want to show something outside the page, such as a viewer's comment panel.

  • On a Mac, press Shift-Command-4 and drag across the area you want. Shift-Command-3 captures the whole screen. Screenshots are saved to the desktop.
  • On Windows, press Windows logo key + Shift + S to open the Snipping Tool overlay, then choose Rectangle, Window, Full screen or Freeform. Snips are saved to your Screenshots folder.

Before you take it, zoom the PDF so the area fills as much of the screen as possible. A screenshot at 50% zoom has half the detail of the same area at 100%.

Example: a reviewer wants to see a typo in paragraph 3 of a contract. A screenshot of that paragraph, with the typo circled, does the job in seconds. The legal team wants pages 1–5 of the same contract as images for a slide deck; export those with Choose pages set to 1-5.

Tips

  • Export when it will be printed. Screen pixels are rarely enough for a sharp print.
  • Screenshot when you need context. Viewer panels, comment threads and your own on-screen selection appear only in a screenshot.
  • Zoom in before you capture. Bigger on screen means more pixels in the screenshot.
  • Check for private details. A screenshot can catch notifications, tabs and other files on your screen.

Frequently asked questions

Is a screenshot of a PDF lower quality than exporting it?

Usually. A screenshot is limited to your screen's pixels, while Print renders a page at 300 DPI.

Can I export just part of a page?

No. Deckle exports whole pages. Export the page, then crop it, or take a screenshot of the area.

Do comments and highlights appear in the export?

Comments and highlights saved in the PDF are drawn on the page in the export, as they look in a viewer. Viewer panels, cursors and text you have selected on screen never appear.

Which is faster for many pages?

Exporting. One export with All pages or a page range replaces a screenshot per page.

Related tools

Sources