Converting a PDF to PNG is one of the cleaner image exports you can make from a PDF — PNG's lossless compression keeps text crisp and graphics sharp, making it the preferred format over JPEG for document pages. Here's how to do it on Mac.
How to Convert PDF to PNG Using Preview on Mac
Open the PDF in Preview. Navigate to the page you want to export. Go to File > Export and choose PNG from the Format dropdown. Set the Resolution — 150 DPI for screen use, 300 DPI for print or design work. Click Save. Preview exports the currently visible page as a PNG file.
Preview exports one page at a time. For a multi-page PDF, repeat the export for each page or use a batch method. The filenames default to the PDF name with a page number appended, which helps keep them organized.
Batch Converting All PDF Pages to PNG on Mac
For a multi-page PDF, WukongPDF's PDF to Image tool converts all pages at once. Open the tool in Safari, upload your PDF, select PNG as the output format, and download the ZIP file containing one PNG per page. This saves considerable time compared to exporting page by page through Preview.
Mac users comfortable with the terminal can also use the sips command: sips -s format png input.pdf --out output_folder converts all pages to PNG files in one command. Combine it with a resolution flag for higher-quality output.
Using Automator for Repeat Conversions
If you convert PDFs to PNG regularly on Mac, an Automator workflow saves repetitive steps. Open Automator, create a Quick Action, add the Render PDF Pages as Images action, set the format to PNG and your preferred resolution, then add a Move Finder Items action to set the output folder. Save the workflow — it then appears in the right-click menu in Finder for any PDF file.
PNG vs JPEG for PDF Pages on Mac
PNG is the better choice for documents with text, charts, diagrams, and line art. JPEG compresses these elements and introduces subtle blurring around sharp edges — you won't notice it at small sizes but it becomes obvious when zoomed in or printed. PNG preserves every pixel exactly as rendered, which is why it's the standard for document page exports.
JPEG is a better choice when the PDF pages consist mainly of photographs and you need smaller file sizes. For anything that includes text or precise graphics, PNG is the right default. WukongPDF's PDF to Image tool supports both formats — you can switch between them depending on what your particular document contains.
What to Do With PNG Files After Converting
PNG exports from PDFs are commonly used as slide images (pasting a PDF page directly into a Keynote or PowerPoint slide), social media graphics, documentation screenshots, or assets for web pages. If you later need to combine multiple PNG files back into a single PDF, WukongPDF's Image to PDF tool accepts PNG files and merges them in any order you choose.