PDF to image: which resolution should you choose?
When you turn a PDF page into a picture, the resolution decides how sharp it looks and how big the file is. This guide explains the relationship between dpi and pixels, with the exact numbers for a US Letter page, so you can pick the right setting.
How a PDF page becomes pixels
A PDF page is measured in points, 72 to the inch. A US Letter page is 612 by 792 points, which is 8.5 by 11 inches. When the page is drawn as a picture, each point can be turned into one or more pixels, and the multiplier decides the resolution.
Sizes for a US Letter page
| Setting | Resolution | Pixels |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | about 108 dpi | 918 by 1188 |
| High | about 144 dpi | 1224 by 1584 |
| Maximum | about 216 dpi | 1836 by 2376 |
| Print quality | 300 dpi | 2550 by 3300 |
Which setting for which job
- Reading on a screen or sharing in chat: Standard or High.
- Putting a page into a slide or document: High.
- Zooming into small print or drawings: Maximum.
- Sending to a printer or archiving a page at print quality: Print quality, at 300 dpi.
JPG or PNG
PNG keeps text and line art crisp and is the better choice for pages with small type, charts or diagrams, at the cost of larger files. JPG is smaller and fine for pages with photographs. Pages are drawn on a white background, so transparent areas appear white.
Memory and speed
Higher resolution uses more memory and takes longer, especially on phones. For a long document, start with High and use Maximum or Print quality only for the pages that need it.
Frequently asked questions
Why not always choose the highest resolution?
Files become larger and conversion slower, and on small screens the extra detail is invisible. Pick the lowest setting that looks sharp for your use.
Is the text selectable afterwards?
No. The page becomes a picture, so the text is no longer selectable. To get the words, use Image to Text on the picture.
Can I convert only one page?
Convert the file and then download just the page you need from the list of single pages.
Try the converters
- PDF to JPG ConverterOpen a PDF to turn each page into a JPG image.
- PDF to PNG ConverterOpen a PDF and save each page as a PNG image.
- Image to Text Converter (OCR)Add a photo, screenshot or scanned PDF and get the words back as text you can copy.
Last reviewed October 2026. Steps on other systems can change between versions, so check the menu names on your own device. Convert In Place is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Microsoft or Adobe.