PaperKit

PDF to PNG

Turn each PDF page into a PNG image. PNG is lossless, so text and line art stay crisp with no JPEG smudging around the edges — the right choice for screenshots, diagrams and anything you plan to edit afterwards.

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Private: files never leave your device

Rendering each page to PNG produces a lossless image of the page, which is the right choice whenever the page contains text, tables, diagrams or line art. Lossless matters here for a specific reason: JPEG compression works by discarding fine detail around hard edges, and a page of text is nothing but hard edges, so a JPEG export shows faint grey halos around the characters. PNG has none of that — the exported image is exactly what was rendered, character edges included. The trade is file size, which is typically several times a JPEG of the same page. Choose the resolution to match what the image is for, because a rendered page is a fixed bitmap with no vectors left to redraw. Rendering runs in your browser through PDF.js; the document is never uploaded.

Why text pages need lossless

JPEG divides the image into blocks and discards high-frequency detail within each one. High-frequency detail is precisely what a letterform edge is, so the compressor spends its budget trying to approximate something it is structurally bad at, and the result is ringing — a faint halo around each character, most visible on small text.

PNG stores every pixel exactly, so a rendered page of text looks identical to the page. On a photographic page the difference is invisible and JPEG's much smaller file wins; on a text page PNG is the only sensible answer.

Picking a resolution

For on-screen use at roughly page size, the default is adequate. For anything projected, printed or zoomed, choose 2x or 3x: a three-times render of A4 is around 3500 pixels wide, which holds up to a full-screen presentation and to print at a reasonable size.

Enlarging afterwards does not work, because the vectors are gone — the render captured a fixed grid of pixels and interpolation cannot invent the missing detail. Choosing the resolution at export time is the only opportunity you get.

Transparency and what PNG carries

PNG supports an alpha channel and a rendered page uses it for the background, so a page can be exported with the paper transparent rather than white — useful when the image is being placed onto a coloured slide or composited into another design.

It does not carry a text layer of any kind. A PNG of a page is a picture, so the text in it is no longer searchable, selectable or accessible to a screen reader. If those properties matter to the destination, extract the text separately or keep the PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Are my PDF files uploaded to a server?

No — this tool runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly and JavaScript. Your files never leave your device, which also means there are no size limits and no queues.

Should I choose PNG or JPG?

PNG for pages with text, tables, charts or line art — it is lossless, so edges stay sharp. JPG for photo-heavy pages where a much smaller file matters more than perfect edges.

What resolution should I use?

2× is sharp enough for screens and most documents. Use 3× if you intend to print the image or zoom in on fine print; 1× matches the PDF's own page size and produces the smallest files.

Can I convert only some pages?

Yes — enter page ranges like “1-4, 9”. Leave the field blank to convert every page. Multiple pages download together as a ZIP.

PNG or JPG for exported pages?

PNG for anything with text, tables or line art — JPEG's compression puts visible halos around hard edges. JPG for photographic pages, where the artifacts are invisible and the file is several times smaller.

Can I get a transparent background?

Yes. PNG carries an alpha channel, so the page background can be exported transparent rather than white — handy when the page is going onto a coloured slide or into another design.

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