Why PNG instead of JPEG?

PNG is lossless, which means every pixel from the original PDF stays exactly the same. For presentations that contain text, line art, or vector graphics, PNG preserves crisp edges and transparent backgrounds-something JPEG can’t guarantee because it introduces compression artifacts.

1. Choose the right tool for the job

There are three broad categories of tools you can use:

  • Built-in OS utilities - Preview on macOS exports any PDF page as a PNG. Windows has no built-in PDF-to-PNG export, but the free Snipping Tool can capture a page on screen as a PNG.
  • Free online converters - Sites such as iLovePDF or Smallpdf let you upload a PDF and download PNGs instantly.
  • Open-source desktop apps - LibreOffice Draw, GIMP, and ImageMagick are powerful, scriptable options if you prefer to keep your files offline.

2. Using macOS Preview (the simplest on a Mac)

  1. Open the PDF in Preview.
  2. Select the page you want to convert in the sidebar.
  3. From the menu, choose File → Export….
  4. In the format dropdown, pick PNG.
  5. Set the resolution. For most presentations 300 dpi works well; if you need larger slides, go up to 600 dpi.
  6. Choose a destination folder and click Save.

Repeat the steps for each page you need. The PNGs are sharp at the resolution you chose, so pick one at least as large as the slide they will fill.

3. On Windows: a quick screenshot with Snipping Tool

  1. Open the PDF in Microsoft Edge or any PDF viewer and zoom in until the page fills the screen.
  2. Press Windows + Shift + S and drag over the page.
  3. Click the notification that appears, then save the capture as PNG.

The image is only as sharp as your screen, which is fine for a slide but not for print. For full-resolution PNGs on Windows, use an online converter or ImageMagick, below.

4. Converting with a free online service

When you need a quick conversion on any device, an online tool is handy. Here’s a safe workflow:

  1. Navigate to a trusted site such as iLovePDF - PDF to Image.
  2. Click Select PDF file and choose the document.
  3. Choose PNG as the output format.
  4. Set the DPI to 300 or higher if the option is available.
  5. Press Convert to PNG and wait a few seconds.
  6. Download the ZIP file (it will contain one PNG per page) and extract it.

Most reputable services delete your files within an hour. If privacy is a concern, read their privacy policy before uploading.

5. Using ImageMagick on the command line

ImageMagick is a free, open-source suite that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s perfect for developers or power users who want reproducible scripts.

convert -density 300 input.pdf -quality 100 output.png

Explanation:

  • -density 300 tells ImageMagick to rasterize each PDF page at 300 dpi.
  • -quality 100 preserves the maximum PNG quality.
  • The command creates output-0.png, output-1.png, etc., one per page.

Because the conversion happens locally, you keep full control over your data.

6. Optimizing PNGs for smaller file size

Presentations often have file-size limits, especially when shared via email. After conversion, you can shrink the PNG without losing visual fidelity:

  • Run optipng -o7 output.png on the command line for a lossless reduction.

7. Inserting PNGs into PowerPoint or Google Slides

Once you have the PNG files, adding them to a slide deck is straightforward:

  1. Open your presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote, etc.).
  2. Choose Insert → Image → From File.
  3. Select the PNG you created and position it as needed.
  4. If the slide size differs from the image dimensions, use the corner handles to resize while holding Shift to maintain aspect ratio.

PNGs are made of pixels, so they stay sharp up to the resolution you exported and blur if you enlarge them beyond it. Export at 300 dpi and you will have room to spare on a 1080p slide.

FAQ

Can I convert a password-protected PDF to PNG?

Most online converters will refuse a protected file. Use a desktop tool that can unlock the PDF first, or remove the password with a trusted PDF password-removal guide before conversion.

Do I need to convert every page, or can I pick just a few?

All methods described let you select individual pages. In Preview and Windows, you can open the page you need and export only that one. Online services usually have a “select pages” checkbox.

What resolution should I use for a 1080p slide deck?

A 1080p slide is 1920 × 1080 pixels. If your PDF page is designed at A4 size, 300 dpi will give roughly 2480 × 3508 pixels, which is more than enough. You can safely downscale in the presentation software if you need to save space.

Is there any advantage to using SVG instead of PNG?

SVG retains vector data, so it scales without loss. However, not all presentation platforms support SVG natively. PNG remains the safest universal format, especially when you need transparency or when the original PDF contains raster images.

George Smith
WRITTEN BY
George Smith
Founder, Klickify Agency — LinkedIn
George builds free web tools that respect user privacy. Creator of TrulyFreeTools.com — PDF utilities that process files locally in your browser, with no uploads, no accounts, and no paywalls.