How to combine photos and a PDF into one file without uploading
· 6 min read
To put photos and a PDF into one file with AstralPDF, do it in two steps. First turn the photos into a PDF with the JPG to PDF tool. Then add that PDF and your existing PDF to the Merge PDF tool, put them in the order you want with the arrows, and merge. The Merge tool only accepts PDF files, which is why the photos must be converted first. Both steps run in your browser tab and nothing is uploaded.
TL;DR: JPG to PDF (outputs images-converted.pdf), then Merge PDF (outputs merged.pdf, needs at least two files). Photos become pages sized to their own pixel dimensions, so the merged file has mixed page sizes. Rename the intermediate file, check page orientation, and keep your originals.
Why can't I add photos straight into Merge PDF?
The Merge PDF tool's file picker accepts PDF files only, and the JPG to PDF tool's picker accepts JPEG and PNG images only. Neither does the other's job, so a mix of a signed form and three photos of a receipt has to pass through both. The extra step is small, and it gives you a useful check: the photos become a PDF you can open and inspect before they are merged into anything.
How do I combine them, step by step?
- Open JPG to PDF and add the photos. Use the up and down arrows next to each one to set their order. Each photo becomes one page, in the order shown.
- Convert. The file downloads as images-converted.pdf. Rename it straight away, for example to photos.pdf, so it cannot be confused with a later download.
- Open Merge PDF and add your existing PDF and photos.pdf. A merge needs at least two files, and the merge button stays disabled until there are two.
- Use the arrows to put the files in the sequence you want. They are combined exactly as listed, so photos after the form means the form's pages come first.
- Merge. The result downloads as merged.pdf.
Open the JPG to PDF tool: drop the photos in, order them, and download the photos-only PDF.
Open the Merge PDF tool: add the photos PDF and your document, order them and download one file.
What happens to page sizes?
Each photo becomes a page whose width and height equal the photo's pixel dimensions, read as PDF points. A 4000 by 3000 pixel photo therefore makes a page 4000 by 3000 points, while an A4 page is 595 by 842 points. The merge copies pages as they are, so the final file holds A4 pages and much larger photo pages side by side. On screen a viewer zooms each page to fit, and it usually looks fine. If the file is going to be printed, or a form portal is picky about page size, resize the photos before converting, because neither tool does it for you.
| Where the photos should go | What to do |
|---|---|
| After the document | Merge the document first in the list, then the photos PDF |
| Before the document (a cover photo) | Photos PDF first in the list |
| In the middle of the document | Split the document at that point, then merge the first part, the photos PDF and the second part |
| Photos in two separate places | Run JPG to PDF once for each group, then merge all the pieces |
What should I check before sending it?
- Page order. Scroll the merged file once from start to end.
- Orientation. If a phone photo shows up sideways, the Rotate PDF guide covers turning pages.
- File size. The photos are embedded as they are and the merge copies pages without redrawing them, so expect a size close to the inputs added together, and run the compress guide if an email limit is in the way.
- What is in the photos. A photographed ID or bank statement is now a page in a file that is easy to forward. Add a password if it should stay private.
- Your originals. The tools write new files and never change the ones you loaded.
See also: how to convert JPG to PDF: how photos become pages, and what the tool does with page size and order.
See also: how to merge PDFs without uploading them: what merging keeps and loses, and the password and memory limits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I merge photos and a PDF in one step?
No. Merge PDF accepts only PDF files and JPG to PDF accepts only JPG and PNG images. Convert the photos to a PDF first, then merge that PDF with your document.
Which image formats can I turn into pages?
JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) and PNG (.png). Other formats are not accepted by the picker.
Why is the merge button disabled?
Merge PDF needs at least two files in the list. Add the photos PDF alongside your document.
Will the photo pages be the same size as my document pages?
No. Each photo page takes its own pixel dimensions as its size, so photo pages are usually much larger than an A4 page. Viewers fit them to the screen, but resize the photos first if the file will be printed.
Are my photos or PDF uploaded?
No. Both tools run in your browser tab and build the files on your device. Your originals are not changed.