How to Convert PDF to PNG
A PDF page becomes one PNG file per page — there is no single PNG for a whole document. The free offline way is one command: on a 3-page A4 test report, 150 DPI gave 1241×1754 PNGs of about 32 KB each, and 300 DPI gave 2481×3508 PNGs of about 68 KB each. PNG is lossless, so it keeps thin lines and text crisp where JPG softens them. Clioos does not offer a PDF-to-PNG tool — this guide teaches the free offline method.
At a glance
- Clioos has no PDF-to-PNG tool. The method below runs on your own computer with free, open-source poppler — no upload, no account.
- One PDF page = one PNG file. A 3-page PDF gives you 3 PNGs, named per page.
- PNGs carry no text layer — you can't select or search text inside them afterwards.
- 150 DPI is enough for screens and sharing (1241×1754 for A4); 300 DPI is the print choice (2481×3508).
- PNG is lossless and larger than JPG for photos — pick JPG for photos, PNG for text, diagrams and screenshots.
Steps
- Install poppler: on Linux it is usually already there (
pdftoppm -v); on macOSbrew install poppler. - Run it:
pdftoppm -png -r 150 report.pdf report— one PNG per page, named report-1.png, report-2.png, and so on. - Check the first output. On the test report, page 1 at 150 DPI came out 1241×1754 and 31,581 bytes.
- For print, re-run at 300 DPI:
pdftoppm -png -r 300 report.pdf report— page 1 becomes 2481×3508 and 67,822 bytes. - For a single page only, add
-f 2 -l 2to render page 2 alone.
Worked example (tested 2 November 2026)
Test file: a 3-page A4 text report (2,667 bytes). Both runs used poppler's pdftoppm on the same file.
| DPI | Page size | File sizes (pages 1–3) | Time (3 pages) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 1241×1754 | 31,581 / 31,869 / 31,898 bytes | 0.49 s |
| 300 | 2481×3508 | 67,822 / 68,471 / 67,655 bytes | 1.40 s |
Sizes depend on page content: a photo-heavy page at the same DPI will be several times larger than this text-only report. The 300 DPI files are roughly 2.1× the 150 DPI ones here because PNG compresses flat text areas very well; with photographic content the ratio is closer to 4×.
PNG or JPG?
- PNG: lossless — thin lines, small text and diagrams stay crisp. Larger files for photos. This is the right choice for screenshots, slides and documents.
- JPG: lossy but much smaller for photos and scanned pages. Thin lines and small type soften. See our guide to converting PDF to JPG for the same test at JPG sizes.
- Rule of thumb: if the page is mostly text or line art, PNG. If it is mostly a photo, JPG.
What it can't do
- No Clioos tool for this: Clioos does not offer PDF-to-PNG conversion. PDF Probe converts tables to Excel; it does not render pages to images. The method above is the free offline route.
- No text layer: a PNG is pixels only. If you need selectable or searchable text, keep the PDF or run OCR on the image afterwards.
- No multi-page PNG: PNG holds one image. For a whole document in one file, keep the PDF — or zip the PNGs.
- Scanned pages stay pictures: rendering a scan gives you a picture of the scan. It does not become searchable text.
- Locked PDFs: a password-protected PDF must be unlocked first; pdftoppm can't open it on its own.
Free alternatives, honestly compared
- Python + PyMuPDF (free, offline, documented): render each page with page.get_pixmap(dpi=150) and save as .png. Same output as pdftoppm, useful if you already work in Python.
- macOS Preview (documented): open the PDF, pick a page, File → Export, choose PNG. One page at a time — fine for a single page, tedious for a 50-page document.
- Browser tools (Smallpdf, iLovePDF, documented): upload the PDF, download a ZIP of images. No install, but your file leaves your machine and free tiers have a daily limit — fine for one-offs, not for sensitive documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to convert PDF to PNG?
Yes, with pdftoppm — free and open source, with no per-file charge. Browser tools are free up to a daily limit.
Can I get one PNG for the whole PDF?
No. PNG is a single-image format, so every converter gives you one file per page. If you need one file, keep the PDF or zip the PNGs.
What DPI should I use?
150 for screens, email and social posts; 300 for print. Above 300, files balloon with no visible gain on most printers.
PNG or JPG?
PNG for text, diagrams and screenshots of text (lossless, crisp). JPG for photos and scanned pages (much smaller files).
Will the PNG keep the PDF's text selectable?
No. A PNG is just pixels. If you need searchable text, keep the PDF or run OCR on the image afterwards.
Related guides: How to convert PDF to JPG · How to compress a PDF · How to split a PDF · All guides · Tool: PDF Probe