There are three things people typically mean by "PDF to image": rendering every page as one image (JPG or PNG), pulling out only the embedded photos and graphics from inside the PDF, or grabbing a single page as a thumbnail. PDFly's Convert tool covers all three from one place — same upload screen, three sub-options.
This pillar covers the differences: which sub-option to pick, when JPG beats PNG (and vice versa), and how the Premium "Extract images" mode differs from the page-render flow. Each section links to the deep-dive article for the path you need.
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Step 1 — Open the Convert tool
Open the Convert tool. You'll see the upload screen titled "Convert PDF" — this is the entry point for all three image conversions.
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Step 2 — Upload your PDF
Click "Choose Files" and pick the PDF you want as images — or drag it onto the page. Brochures, design exports, scanned documents, presentations all work as the source.
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Step 3 — See the three image options
After upload and clicking the Image format, the sidebar reveals three sub-options: "JPG Image" for one JPG per page, "PNG Image" for one PNG per page, and the Premium "Extract images only" mode that pulls only the embedded photos and graphics from inside the PDF.
Related guides
- Step-by-step guide: convert a PDF to JPGOne JPG per page — small files, ideal for chats, web posts, and bulk sharing.
- Step-by-step guide: convert a PDF to PNGLossless quality with transparency support — better for screenshots, logos, and crisp text.
- Step-by-step guide: extract images from a PDFPremium mode that pulls just the embedded photos and graphics — different from page-render.
- Going the other way? Combine images into a PDFStitch a folder of JPGs or PNGs into a single shareable PDF.
Pick the right image mode for the job
JPG is the right pick when you want one image per page and file size matters more than per-pixel fidelity. Best for sharing PDF pages in chats, embedding in slides, posting on websites — anywhere visual quality is fine but smaller files are better. Free in PDFly's Standard quality mode.
PNG is the right pick when image fidelity matters: pages with sharp text, screenshots, line art, or transparent regions. PDFly renders losslessly so text stays crisp at any zoom. Files are 2-3× larger than JPG, so use this when quality beats size. Also free in Standard mode.
Extract images only is a Premium mode for a different intent: when you want the embedded photos and graphics from inside the PDF (not page renders). A brochure with 12 photos gives you 12 image files; a scanned report becomes one image per scanned page. Useful when rebuilding a deck or pulling brand assets from a PDF mockup.
