PDF to JPG vs PDF to PNG - Which Format Should You Choose?

Picking the right image format when exporting a PDF determines how crisp your content looks and how quickly it loads. JPG delivers compact files that are ideal for photos and web sharing. PNG preserves sharp edges, supports transparency, and protects text and icons. Choosing wisely prevents blurry exports, oversized attachments, and last-minute rework.

This guide compares PDF to JPG and PDF to PNG, then walks through a clear, repeatable workflow for each using Dexify. You will learn when to choose each format, how to set DPI and quality, and how to avoid common pitfalls so your exports stay clean on every device.

Use these steps for course materials, marketing assets, social posts, product shots, or UI screenshots. Everything happens online?no installs?so you can move from decision to download in minutes.

Estimated time

6?10 minutes to choose a format, set resolution, export, and verify.

Why this matters

Match the format to the job: JPG for compact photo sharing, PNG for clarity and transparency.
Control quality and size without guessing at DPI or compression levels.
Export only the pages you need to speed up delivery on web and mobile.
Maintain brand fidelity across decks, social posts, and documentation.
Work online with Dexify?no desktop converters or plugins.

JPG vs PNG: quick decision guide

Use JPG when: You need small files for email or web, the content is photographic, and slight compression is acceptable.
Use PNG when: You need lossless clarity for text-heavy pages, diagrams, UI, or when you require transparency for overlays and logos.
Hybrid approach: Export photos as JPG and diagrams as PNG from the same source. Dexify lets you choose per export without changing tools.

Step-by-step: export PDF pages

Define the goal. Decide where the images will live?social, slides, product pages, or print?and whether size or fidelity matters more.
Open the right tool. Use Dexify PDF to JPG for compact, photo-friendly exports. Use PDF to PNG for sharp lines, text, and transparency.
Upload your PDF. Drag and drop the file. For large documents, select only the pages you need (hero page, chart, or cover) to keep the export lean.
Choose resolution. 150 DPI works well for screens; 200?300 DPI for print or detailed diagrams. Higher DPI increases size.
Set quality or compression. For JPG, start at 80?85% quality. For PNG, keep lossless; let the tool optimize file size.
Convert and download. Run the export. Dexify processes quickly online?download images individually or as a ZIP.
Verify output. View at 100?150% zoom. Check text sharpness, line edges, color accuracy, and transparency if used.

Use cases and recommendations

Presentations and slides: Export as PNG to keep text and icons crisp on large screens. Use 150?200 DPI for most decks.

Social media: Export as JPG at ~80% quality for fast load times. Resize to platform dimensions after export.

Product and UI mocks: Use PNG to preserve transparency and pixel-perfect edges. Keep consistent DPI across all screens.

Print inserts: Use PNG at 200?300 DPI for diagrams and charts; use JPG for photo sections to balance size.

Documentation and help centers: Use PNG for callouts and UI snippets so text stays legible when zoomed.

When in doubt, pick PNG for clarity. Switch to JPG only if file size or delivery speed becomes a blocker.

Tips and best practices

Keep the source PDF high quality; exports cannot fix low-resolution originals.
Export only the needed pages?one hero graphic is faster to share than an entire document.
For JPG, avoid quality below 70%?text artifacts become noticeable quickly.
For PNG, avoid very high DPI unless required; file sizes can balloon.
Maintain sRGB color for web to prevent shifts between devices.
Label exports clearly (e.g., feature-card-hero.png) to speed up reuse.

Common mistakes to avoid

Using JPG for transparency. JPG drops transparent backgrounds. Use PNG for overlays and logos.
Oversizing DPI for web. 300 DPI is unnecessary for screens; it only inflates files.
Low JPG quality for text. Text-heavy pages degrade fast below ~70% quality?choose PNG or increase quality.
Exporting the whole PDF. Export only the key pages you actually need.

Troubleshooting

Text looks soft (JPG): Increase quality to ~85% or switch that page to PNG.
File too large (PNG): Lower DPI slightly or export only essential pages. Consider JPG for photo-heavy pages.
Colors look off: Ensure the PDF is in sRGB and avoid multiple re-exports that alter profiles.
Transparency lost: Export as PNG; JPG does not support transparency.

Conclusion and next steps

Choose JPG when size and speed matter, and PNG when clarity or transparency is critical. Dexify lets you run both exports online, set the right DPI and quality, and deliver images that fit your channel without extra edits.

Save this decision guide for future campaigns and pair exports with Dexify compression or merge tools whenever you need to bundle assets for sharing.

FAQs

Which is smaller, JPG or PNG? JPG is typically smaller due to lossy compression; PNG is larger but lossless and supports transparency.
What DPI should I use? 150 DPI for on-screen, 200?300 DPI for print or detailed diagrams.
Can I export only one page? Yes. Select specific pages in Dexify to avoid exporting the whole PDF.
Do I need to install anything? No. Both PDF to JPG and PDF to PNG run in the browser.
Are outputs private? Dexify processes securely and removes files after processing. For sensitive content, download promptly and clear local copies when done.