PDF to JPG Looks Blurry?
Here Are the Best Resolution Settings
I converted a PDF to JPG and the text looked like it was melting
Client sent a contract. Needed to turn it into an image for a presentation. Used a free converter. The text was fuzzy, edges were pixelated, looked unprofessional. I tried another tool. Same thing. Another. Slightly better but still blurry. Turns out it wasn't the tools - it was the settings. Every converter was defaulting to 72 DPI. That's the problem. Here's exactly what DPI means, which setting to use, and why 300 DPI is the magic number [citation:1][citation:4].
Why 72 DPI Is Ruining Your Images
Here's the problem nobody explains.
DPI means "dots per inch." When a PDF is converted to JPG, the converter decides how many pixels to put in each inch of the image. 72 DPI means 72 pixels per inch. That's fine for old computer monitors. But for sharp text and clear graphics? Not enough [citation:3][citation:9].
What different DPI looks like:
- 72 DPI: Blurry text, pixelated edges. Fine for web thumbnails only.
- 150 DPI: Acceptable for screen use. Text readable but not crisp.
- 300 DPI: Sharp text, clear graphics. Good for print and screen.
- 600 DPI: Overkill for most uses. Massive files, tiny visible improvement [citation:2][citation:5].
Most free converters default to 72 DPI to save processing power and keep files tiny. That's why your images look bad [citation:10].
The Exact Settings You Should Use
Web Use
150 DPI
Good for email, social media, quick sharing [citation:9]
Most Uses
300 DPI
Print, presentations, archiving. The sweet spot [citation:1]
Professional Print
600 DPI
Fine art, high-end publishing. Files are huge [citation:2]
Quick rule: 300 DPI + 85% quality. Works for 90% of what people need.
JPG vs PNG: Which One Should You Choose?
JPG
Smaller files, loses some detail
- Good for photos and gradients [citation:9]
- Small file sizes, easy to share
- Text can look blurry around edges
- No transparency support
PNG
Larger files, perfect quality
- Text stays razor sharp [citation:7]
- Supports transparent backgrounds
- Lossless - no compression artifacts
- Files can be 3-5x larger than JPG
My rule: If it has text or logos, use PNG. If it's photos, use JPG. If you're unsure, PNG is safer [citation:9].
How to Fix Blurry Conversions (Step by Step)
Find a converter with DPI settings
Not all tools let you change resolution. Use PDFSwift, Adobe Acrobat, PDF24, or XnConvert [citation:1][citation:10].
Set DPI to 300
Look for "Resolution," "DPI," or "Quality" settings. Change from default (usually 72) to 300 [citation:3].
Choose JPG quality at 85-90%
Don't max out at 100%. The file size doubles for no visible gain. 85-90% is perfect [citation:1].
Convert one page first
Test with a single page before doing 50. Check if text is sharp [citation:1].
Zoom to 100% and check
If text looks sharp at 100% zoom, you're good. If still blurry, increase DPI to 400 or try PNG [citation:4].
Real Example: The Contract That Looked Unprofessional
Sarah needed to send a signed contract as an image. Used a free converter. The signature looked pixelated. The text was fuzzy. The client asked if she'd sent a "draft version."
She checked the settings. The converter defaulted to 72 DPI. She switched to 300 DPI, set quality to 90%, converted again. The new image was sharp, professional, and the client approved [citation:1].
Lesson: Same file. Same tool. Different settings. The only difference was DPI.
Tools That Let You Control DPI
| Tool | Max DPI | Free? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDFSwift | 600 DPI | Yes | Browser-based, no upload |
| Adobe Acrobat | 9600 DPI | Paid | Professional, overkill for most [citation:1] |
| PDF24 | 300+ DPI | Yes | Open source, browser-based [citation:10] |
| XnConvert | 1200 DPI | Yes | Desktop app, batch processing [citation:1] |
| ImageMagick | Unlimited | Yes | Command line, for power users [citation:10] |
What About Compression Artifacts?
Even with high DPI, JPG can still look bad if compression is too aggressive.
JPG compression throws away detail to save space. At 60% quality, you'll see blocky artifacts around text. At 30%, it's a mess [citation:4].
The fix: Keep quality between 80-95%. Below 70% starts to show. Above 95% is usually wasted file size [citation:1].
Questions People Actually Ask
What DPI should I use for PDF to JPG conversion?
300 DPI is the sweet spot for almost everything. It gives you sharp text, clear images, and files that aren't huge. 150 DPI is fine for web use where file size matters more. 72 DPI (the default on many tools) is why your images look blurry - it's too low. 600 DPI exists but files get massive and you probably don't need it unless you're printing professionally [citation:1][citation:3][citation:9].
Why does my PDF to JPG conversion look pixelated?
Almost always because of low DPI. Most free converters default to 72 DPI to keep files small and processing fast. But 72 DPI means every inch of your image only has 72 pixels. When you have text or fine lines, there aren't enough pixels to make them sharp. The fix: use 300 DPI. Also check if you're compressing too much - JPG quality below 70% starts to show artifacts [citation:4][citation:10].
Is PNG better than JPG for PDF conversion?
For text and sharp graphics, yes. PNG is lossless - no compression artifacts. Text stays razor sharp. JPG is lossy - it throws away detail to save space. For photos, JPG is fine because the loss is hard to see. For documents with small text, diagrams, or logos, PNG is better. The tradeoff: PNG files are 3-5x larger [citation:7][citation:9].
Will 300 DPI always give perfect results?
No. 300 DPI is the right setting, but if your original PDF has low-quality images, no setting can fix that. Garbage in, garbage out. Also, if you set JPG quality to 100%, files get huge with almost no visible improvement over 90%. The best results come from a good source PDF + 300 DPI + 85-90% quality [citation:1][citation:10].
Do online PDF to JPG tools respect my privacy?
Some do, some don't. Tools that process in your browser (client-side) never upload your file anywhere - that's safest. Tools that upload to servers usually delete after an hour, but your file sat on their computer. For sensitive documents, use browser-based tools like PDFSwift or PDF24, or offline software like ImageMagick [citation:10].
Quick Reference Card
DPI by Use Case
- Email, social media: 150 DPI
- Presentations, archiving: 300 DPI
- Professional print: 600 DPI
JPG Quality
- 85-90%: Sweet spot
- Below 70%: Artifacts appear
- 100%: Overkill, huge files
Remember: Default settings are usually wrong. Always check DPI.
Convert PDF to JPG with the Right Settings
PDFSwift lets you choose DPI and quality. No blurry defaults. No watermarks. Files stay in your browser.
300 DPI • 85% quality • No uploads • Free forever