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Convert PDF pages to JPG for an upload: choosing the DPI
Short answer
- DPI sets the pixel dimensions of each image. FileLivo offers 72, 96, 144 and 192 DPI, with 144 as the default.
- Select only the pages you need with a page range to save time and space.
- Once a page is an image, its text cannot be searched or selected and links no longer work. Keep the original PDF.
When a PDF needs to become an image
- An upload field accepts only JPG or PNG, as some application forms, listing sites and profile pages do.
- You want a flyer or notice to appear directly in a social post or chat instead of as an attachment.
- You want one page of a PDF as a picture in slides or another document.
How DPI turns into pixels
PDF pages are measured in points, 72 to the inch. Rendering at 72 DPI gives one pixel per point; 144 DPI doubles both width and height, which means four times as many pixels, and much larger files and memory use. Approximate widths for common page sizes:
| DPI | A4 width | US Letter width | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | about 595 px | 612 px | Thumbnails, quick previews in chat |
| 96 | about 794 px | 816 px | Small social or web images |
| 144 | about 1,191 px | 1,224 px | Uploads and reading on screen (default) |
| 192 | about 1,588 px | 1,632 px | Small print, tables and zooming in |
If a form states a pixel size, choose the lowest DPI that reaches it and resize afterwards if needed. If it states a file-size limit, a lower DPI is usually a better first step than lowering JPG quality.
Steps
- Add the PDF to PDF to Image and wait for the page analysis to finish.
- Choose all pages or a range such as 1-3,5. Then choose the format: JPG for photos and scans, PNG for crisp text and diagrams. WebP is offered where your browser supports it.
- Choose the DPI. If the tool reports that it lowered the DPI automatically, review that setting.
- Zoom in on the results to check the text, then download images one by one or together as a ZIP.
- If the image is still over the size limit, use Compress Image with a target size. To keep only part of a page, use Crop Image.
Phones and large pages
High DPI and unusually large pages need a lot of memory. On phones and other devices with limited memory, a lower DPI may be chosen automatically to keep the browser from crashing, and processing is blocked if even 72 DPI would exceed the safety limit. A DPI you choose yourself is not lowered again silently. If you are blocked, reduce the DPI or convert fewer pages at a time; lowering the quality slider does not reduce rendering memory.