PDF to JPG: which resolution to choose
· 4 min read
Converting pages to images renders each page onto a canvas and encodes it as a JPG, one image per page. The only decision that really matters is resolution.
Picking a number
Screen-oriented exports around 150 DPI keep files small and look crisp in a browser. Print-oriented exports need 300 DPI and grow accordingly. Going higher than the destination needs produces bytes nobody sees.
Where JPG struggles
JPG is a lossy format designed for photographs. It renders scanned and image-heavy pages beautifully, and hard black-on-white text at low resolution can show faint halos around the letters. If you notice them, raise the resolution one step rather than the quality.
Two things that surprise people
A multi-page PDF produces multiple images, because there is no such thing as a multi-page JPG. Expect a small pile of files, one per page. And JPG has no transparency, so anything transparent is flattened onto white, which is almost always what a page export should look like anyway.
When not to convert
If the recipient needs selectable text, rasterising destroys the text layer and you should send the PDF or extract the page instead. Converting is right for pasting a page into a deck, publishing a preview, or freezing a layout so it cannot be edited.
Frequently asked questions
What DPI should I use for printing?
300 DPI is the usual baseline for print. Screens need far less, and 150 is generally enough there.
Why is my text blurry?
Low resolution plus JPG compression. Hard edges are where JPG artefacts show most, so raise the resolution a step.
Can I get one JPG for the whole PDF?
Not as a single JPG, since the format has no concept of multiple pages. You get one image per page.