How to Convert PDF to JPG on Mac, Windows and Web

When it comes to cross-platform files, two of the most used image formats are PDF and JPG. The portable document format (PDF) was launched by Adobe in 1992, while the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG) was unveiled the same year and was developed by its titular organization, in collaboration with IBM, Mitsubishi, AT&T and Canon.

Both of these files are easy to share with other users and can be understood by almost all PCs and mobile devices. But in case you need to convert PDF to JPG, you will be happy to know that it is quite simple and there are several ways to perform the transformation.

Use a conversion site

The advantage of using an online tool is that it can be used from any computer or mobile device anywhere in the world (and it won’t take up space on your computer). The only downside is that they tend to be a bit limited in the amount of data you can convert in one go, making them difficult to use for larger PDF files. However, it’s incredibly simple.

There are all sorts of different converter sites on the internet, but we like Zamzar’s trusty converter tool, which has a clean interface and avoids annoying ads.

Step 1: Access Zamzar’s PDF to JPG converter tool in your web browser and follow the on-screen instructions. Zamzar includes descriptions of all file formats if you’re not sure if JPG is what you need or if you prefer a different format.

2nd step: You can drag and drop files to instantly upload them to the site’s converter. There are also two other easy ways to download your files. First, you can select green Add files… button. This will open a file search window so you can select your file from your computer. Second, you can choose the Select the link option under the Add files… button. This will take you to another page where you can download your file by entering a URL.

Step 3: For the second step, you can choose the format you want to convert the file to. Select the drop-down menu under the second green checkmark and find the JPG option under image formats. To make it easier for you, the link we’ve included at the top will automatically set the format to JPG, but if you start on the Zamzar homepage, you’ll need to complete this step as well.

Step 4: The last Zamzar button is Convert now. However, before you select this option, take a look below to see the Send an email when finished? option. If you prefer to receive your JPG by email, check this box, which will bring up an email form just below. Fill this out, then choose Convert now to start.

Step 5: When you are ready to finish, click the Convert now button to start the conversion process. Converting your file will take several seconds to a few minutes (Zamzar promises faster conversions if you create an account with them, but this is absolutely useless for most projects). When everything is finished, select Download to download the file to your local hard drive. Select Convert more files to continue with other PDFs. Zamzar will retain the files for 24 hours, after which they will be securely destroyed, usually within seven days.

Zamzar can convert just about anything to PDF, so if you want to convert your files to other formats your project might need, you can. Just make your choice from the drop-down menu we mentioned in step 3.

Windows alternative: any PDF to JPG

If you prefer to have a dedicated desktop application for converting PDF files to JPG files, look no further than Any PDF to JPG. It’s free and easy to use. Simply download the app from the Microsoft Store.

Once the download and installation is complete, you can open the application. Select the Load PDF button at the top left. This will open your PDF file, and you can then click on the Save image button to start the conversion. The next screen will allow you to choose your output folder and page ranges. Then you can select the drop-down menu to choose JPG like your format. Then select Continue.

Once the conversion is complete, you will be able to see the saved location of your JPG. Just click Open file do this.

macOS Alternative: PDF Preview

macOS is probably the simplest and most straightforward choice for converting PDFs natively across all available platforms. You don’t need to download any additional tools to get the job done. Here’s what to do.

Step 1: PDF files should open in Preview mode by default. If you have changed your default action for PDFs, you can adjust your default action for this file type by right-clicking the file or opening it manually.

If you choose to use the manual method, locate the PDF file using Finder and right-click to open it in Preview mode. You can also open Preview from the Launcher icon, located in your Dock at the bottom of the screen.

2nd step: Once you have opened your file in Preview, you are ready to export. Click it Deposit in the menu bar, then click Export.

Step 3: To select an export type, such as JPG, click the button Blue arrows next to Format. Additionally, the slider next to Quality will adjust the output from least to best, and the text field next to Resolution can make the image smaller or larger. Finally, change the file name and save the location if necessary.

To complete the process, click on the To safeguard button.

If you want to save only part of the PDF, click See on the menu bar. To light up Thumbnails to allow you to select particular pages via the thumbnail sidebar. Additionally, if you want to edit images and text in PDF files, take a look at our guide to the best PDF editors. This will help you choose the right editor for your needs.

Which is better: PDF or JPG?

Generally speaking, PDF is better than JPG for several reasons. For starters, PDFs compress images in a way that doesn’t affect the quality of your original file. Every time you save a JPG, you lose a bit of digital information with each new save, thanks to something called lossy compression (this is also how JPG files manage to be so small).

Then there’s the ease of editing offered by a PDF. This is because PDFs are saved in a way that allows certain programs to access individual layers of your PDF file. JPG images are saved as a single static layer.

What other image files can a PDF be converted to?

There are many different types of image files and you will be able to convert your PDF to most of them. Options include TIFF, PNG, GIF, PSD, RAW and several others.

What is the difference between JPG and JPEG?

The name. JPG and JPEG, named after the Joint Photographic Experts Group, developed these two image file standards. In terms of compression and overall size, they are exactly the same. The extension was originally called JPG because older PC file systems were limited to three characters. Once this number of characters was increased, the “E” for Experts was added.

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