How to Fix Jagged Text When Exporting PDFs as Images
Question details
Users experience pixelated or jagged text when rasterizing and exporting PDF pages into image formats like JPEG.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is trying to convert or export PDF pages into an image file for sharing, archiving, or presentations.
- Observed behavior
- Editable vector text in the PDF loses its visual quality, becoming heavily pixelated and jagged after being rasterized and compressed into an image file.
Determine whether you strictly need an image file or if an editable document would suffice, as exporting to high-resolution images will significantly increase your file size.
Change Export Resolution and Format to PNG or TIFF
Adjusting your PDF editor's export preferences to a higher resolution and selecting a lossless format prevents text from pixelating.
When you export a PDF as an image, text is rasterized into pixels. Lossy formats like JPEG compress these pixels and cause jagged artifacts. Switching to a lossless format like PNG or TIFF with a higher resolution preserves text clarity perfectly.
In Adobe Acrobat, go to Edit > Preferences from the top menu.
Select 'Convert from PDF' from the left-hand category menu.
Choose an image format like PNG or TIFF from the list, click 'Edit Settings', and select a higher resolution (such as 300 ppi or higher).
Go to File > Export To > Image, select your chosen lossless format (PNG or TIFF), and save your new high-quality image.
Export to Microsoft Word for Editable Text
If your primary goal is to reuse the text content, exporting the file to a Word document is a better alternative to rasterizing it into an image.
Export High-Resolution Images from PDFs Using WPS Office
WPS Office features a powerful built-in PDF converter that allows you to effortlessly export PDF pages into high-resolution images or transform them into fully editable Word documents without losing visual quality.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you wish to convert.
- 2. Access the Export Tool: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and select 'PDF to Picture'.
- 3. Configure Output Settings: In the export dialog box, select 'High Quality' or input a custom resolution, and choose PNG as the output format to avoid lossy compression.
- 4. Export and Save: Click 'Export' to save the crisp, clear image to your local drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does text look blurry when I save a PDF as a JPEG?
JPEG uses a lossy compression method that intentionally discards some visual data to keep the file size small. This process creates visual artifacts around sharp edges like text, making it appear blurry, blocky, or jagged.
What is the best image format for exporting PDFs that contain a lot of text?
PNG and TIFF are the absolute best formats for documents heavily reliant on text. They utilize lossless compression, which perfectly preserves sharp lines, crisp vector edges, and overall text clarity.
Can I keep the text editable when exporting a PDF to an image file?
No. Exporting a PDF to an image completely rasterizes the content, permanently turning vector text into a grid of flat pixels. If you need the text to remain selectable and editable, you should convert the PDF to a Word document instead.
