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File format options for PDF export

Last updated on Aug 12, 2024 | Also applies to Adobe Acrobat 2017, Adobe Acrobat 2020

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File format options for PDF export in Acrobat

To convert a PDF to different file formats, select Convert from the global bar. Each file format includes unique conversion settings. Alternatively, you can use the Export a PDF tool from the All tools menu.

Adobe PDF options (Acrobat Pro)

You can resave PDFs as optimized PDFs using settings in the PDF Optimizer dialog box. The PDF Optimizer lets you change the compatibility version of your PDFs so they can be viewed using older versions of Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. When you change the compatibility setting, newer features may be unavailable in the PDF. For an explanation of each compatibility setting, view PDF compatibility levels.

Note:

If you want to use the same settings every time you convert PDFs to a particular format, specify those settings in the Preferences dialog box. In the Convert From PDF panel, select a file format from the list and select Edit Settings. You can select the Defaults at the top of the Save as Settings dialog box to revert to the default settings.

Image conversion settings

JPEG and JPEG 2000 conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Image format. From the drop-down menu next to Image format, select the format you want your image to be. You get JPEG and JPEG 2000 options. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

File Settings

Grayscale/Color: Specifies a compression setting that balances file size with image quality. The smaller the file, the lesser the image quality.
Tile Size: Divides the image being compressed into tiles of the given size. (If the image height or width is not an even multiple of the tile size, partial tiles are used on the edges.) Image data for each tile is individually compressed and can be individually decompressed. The default value of 256 is recommended. This option is available only for JPEG 2000 format.
Format: Determines how the file is displayed. Available only in JPEG format. It provides the following options:
- Baseline (Standard): Displays the image when it has fully downloaded. This JPEG format is recognizable to most web browsers.
- Baseline (Optimized): Optimizes color quality of the image and produces smaller file sizes but is not supported by all web browsers.
- Progressive (3 scans-5 scans): Downloads the image first as a low-resolution image, with incremental quality improvements as downloading continues.

Color Management

RGB/CMYK/Grayscale

Specifies the type of color management to be applied to the output file and whether to embed an ICC profile.

Note:

If you use the Export To or Export All Images command on a PDF that contains JPEG and JPEG 2000 images, and export the content to JPEG or JPEG 2000 format, the resulting image may look different when opened in Acrobat. This can happen if the images have a color profile included at the page level but not inside the image data. In this case, Acrobat cannot bring the page-level color profile into the resulting saved image.

Conversion

Colorspace/Resolution

Specifies a color space and resolution for the output file. You can let Acrobat determine these settings automatically. To convert color images in the file to shades of gray, choose Grayscale.

Note:

Higher resolutions, such as 2400 pixels per inch (ppi), are suitable only for small page sizes (up to 6.826 inches or 173.380 millimeters).

PDF to PNG conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Image format. From the drop-down menu next to Image format, select PNG. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

PNG format is useful for images that are used on the web.

File Settings

Interlace

Specifies if the image is interlaced. None creates an image that displays in a web browser only after downloading is complete. Adam7 creates an image that displays low-resolution versions in a browser while the full image file is downloading. Adam7 can make downloading time seem shorter and assures viewers that downloading is in progress; however, it increases file size.

Filter: Lets you select a filtering algorithm.

None: Compresses the image without a filter. Recommended for indexed-color and Bitmap-mode images.
Sub: Optimizes the compression of images with even horizontal patterns or blends.
Up: Optimizes the compression of images with even vertical patterns.
Average: Optimizes the compression of low-level noise by averaging the color values of adjacent pixels.
Paeth: Optimizes the compression of low-level noise by reassigning adjacent color values.
Adaptive: Applies the filtering algorithm—Sub, Up, Average, or Paeth—best suited for the image. Select Adaptive if you are unsure of which filter to use.

Color Management

RGB/Grayscale

Specifies the type of color management for the output file and whether to embed an ICC profile.

Conversion

Colorspace/Resolution

Specifies a color space and resolution for the output file. You can let Acrobat determine these settings automatically. To convert color images in the file to shades of gray, choose Grayscale.

Note:

Higher resolutions, such as 2400 ppi, are suitable only for small page sizes (up to 6.826 inches or 173.380 millimeters).

PDF to TIFF conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Image format. From the drop-down menu next to Image format, select TIFF. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

TIFF is a flexible bitmap image format supported by virtually all paint, image-editing, and page-layout applications. Resolution is determined automatically.

File Settings

Monochrome

Specifies a compression format. CCITTG4 is the default and generally produces the smallest file size. ZIP compression also produces a small file.

Note:

Some applications cannot open TIFF files that are saved with JPEG or ZIP compression. In these cases, LZW compression is recommended.

Color Management

RGB/CMYK/Grayscale/Other

Specifies the type of color management for the output file.

Conversion

Colorspace/Resolution

Specifies a color space and resolution for the output file. You can let Acrobat determine these settings automatically. To convert color images in the file to shades of gray, choose Grayscale.

Note:

Higher resolutions, such as 2400 ppi, are suitable only for small page sizes (up to 6.826 inches or 173.380 millimeters).

PDF to Microsoft Word conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Microsoft Word. From the drop-down menu next to Microsoft Word, select the format you want your document to be in. You get DOC and DOCX options. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

Layout Settings

Retain Flowing Text: Specifies that text flow must be retained.
Retain Page Layout: Specifies that page layout must be retained.

Comments Settings

Include Comments: Exports comments to the output file.

Image Settings

Include Images: Exports images to the output file.

Text Recognition Settings

Recognize Text If Needed: Recognizes text if the PDF contains images that contain text.
Set Language: Specifies the language setting for OCR.

Convert PDF to RTF

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
From the global bar, select Convert.
Under EXPORT PDF TO, select the drop-down menu next to Other format. Then select RTF.
Select Convert to RTF.
In the Save as dialog, select a location where you want to save the file and then select Save.

PDF to RTF conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Other format. From the drop-down menu next to Other format, select RTF. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

Layout Settings

Retain Flowing Text: Specifies that text flow must be retained.
Retain Page Layout: Specifies that page layout must be retained.

Comments Settings

Include Comments: Exports comments to the output file.

Image Settings

Include Images: Exports images to the output file.

Text Recognition Settings

Recognize Text If Needed: Recognizes text if the PDF contains images that contain text.
Set Language: Specifies the language setting for OCR.

Convert PDF to HTML Web Page

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
From the global bar, select Convert.
Select the drop-down menu next to Other format, Select HTML.
Select Convert to HTML.
In the Save as dialog, select a location where you want to save the file and then select Save.

PDF to HTML conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Other format. From the drop-down menu next to Other format, select HTML. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

File and Navigation Pane Settings

Single HTML Page

Specifies that a single HTML file is created when you export to HTML. To add a navigation pane, enable the following:

Add Headings-based Navigation Frame
Add Bookmarks-based Navigation Frame

Multiple HTML Pages

Specifies that multiple HTML files are created when you export to HTML. Choose one of the criteria to split the document into multiple HTML files.

Split by Document Headings
Split by Document Bookmarks

Content Settings

Include Images

Specifies if images are exported when you export a PDF as HTML.

Detect and Remove Headers and Footers

Specifies if header and footer content in the PDF should be deleted and removed from the HTML files.

Text Recognition Settings

Recognize Text If Needed

Recognizes text if the PDF contains images that contain text.

Set Language

Specifies the language setting for OCR.

Convert PDF to Microsoft Excel

Convert PDF to Microsoft Excel (XLSX)

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
From the global bar, select Convert.
Select the drop-down menu next to Microsoft Excel, then select XLSX.
Select Convert to XLSX.
In the Save as dialog, select a location where you want to save the file and then select Save.

Convert PDF to XML

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
From the global bar, select Convert.
Select the drop-down menu next to Microsoft Excel, then select XML.
Select Convert to XML.
In the Save as dialog, select a location where you want to save the file and then select Save.

PDF to Microsoft Excel (XLSX or XML) conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Microsoft Excel. From the drop down menu next to Microsoft Excel, select the format you want your Excel to be. You get XLSX and XML options. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

Excel Workbook Settings

Specifies whether to create a Worksheet for each table or page, or the entire document.

Numeric Settings

Specifies the decimal and thousands separators for numeric data. Select one of the following:

Detect decimal and thousands separators using regional settings
Treat the following as decimal and thousands separators. Then enter or selecct separators in the respective fields.

Text Recognition Settings

Recognize Text If Needed

Recognizes text if the PDF contains images that contain text.

Set Language

Specifies the language setting for OCR.

Convert PDF to PostScript or Encapsulated PostScript (EPS)

You can export a PDF to PostScript for printing and prepress applications. The PostScript file includes full DSC (Document Structuring Conventions) comments and other advanced information preserved by Adobe Acrobat Distiller. You can also create an EPS file from any PDF for placement or opening in other applications. The options available depend on whether you're converting a document to PostScript or EPS. To convert PDF to PS or EPS format:

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
From the global bar, select Convert.
Select the drop-down menu next to Other format, as required, select EPS or PS.

Convert to PS

Convert to EPS
Select Convert to EPS or Convert to PS. The options will be displayed based on your choice in the previous step.
In the Save as dialog, select a location where you want to save the file and then select Save.

Note:

If you create EPS files for separations in Acrobat Pro, all image color spaces should be CMYK.

PDF to PS and EPS conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Other format. From the drop-down menu next to Other format, select PS or EPS. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

Printer Description File

The PostScript Printer Description (PPD) provides the necessary information to format a PostScript file correctly for a particular output device. Device Independent creates only composite (not color-separated) PostScript or EPS files. Acrobat Default provides a starting point and reference for creating all types of PostScript and restores all default settings for the conversion. Adobe PDF 7.0 is compatible with most devices. This option is available only in PostScript (PS) format.

ASCII or Binary

Specifies the output format of image data. Binary output yields smaller files, but not all workflows can accommodate binary output.

PostScript

Specifies the level of PostScript compatibility. Use Language Level 3 only if the target output device supports it. Language Level 2 is suitable for EPS files placed in another document and color-separated as part of that document. Use Language Level 2 for EPS files that you import into Microsoft applications.

Font Inclusion

Specifies the fonts to be included in the PostScript. Embedded fonts are taken from the PDF; the referenced fonts are taken from the computer.

Include Comments

Preserves the appearance of comments in the resulting PostScript file.

Convert True Type to Type 1

Converts TrueType fonts to Type 1 fonts in the resulting PostScript file.

Include Preview

Specifies if a TIFF preview is created for the resulting EPS file. This option isn't available when saving as PostScript.

Page Range

Specifies the pages you want to export. When you export files to EPS output, each page in the range is saved as a separate EPS file.

Convert PDF to Text and XML 1.0

Convert PDF to XML 1.0

To export a file in XML format, go to All Tools > Export a PDF. Select other format, then the drop-down next to other format, and then select XML 1.0.

Convert PDF to Text

To export a file in text format, go to All Tools > Export a PDF. Select other format, then the drop-down next to other format, and then select TXT.

The convert toolbar in Acrobat is shown and other option is highlighted

PDF to Text and XML 1.0 conversion settings

In Acrobat, select All tools > Export a PDF and select Other format. From the drop-down menu next to Other format, select TXT or XML 1.0. Select the settings icon to change the export preferences.

Output File Settings

Encoding

Refers to the binary values, based on international standards, used to represent the text characters. UTF-8 is a Unicode representation of characters using one or more 8-bit bytes per character. UTF-16 represents characters using 16-bit bytes. ISO-Latin-1 is an 8-bit representation of characters that is a superset of ASCII. UCS-4 is a Universal Character Set coded in four octets. HTML/ASCII is a 7-bit representation of characters developed by ANSI.

Use mapping table default uses the default character encoding defined in mapping tables, which appear in the Plug-ins/SaveAsXML/MappingTables folder. These mapping tables specify many characteristics of how the data is output, including the following default character encodings: UTF-8 (Save as XML or HTML 4.0.1) and HTML/ASCII (Save as HTML 3.2).

Generate Bookmarks

Generates bookmark links to content for HTML or XML documents. Links are placed at the beginning of the resulting HTML or XML document.

Generate Tags For Untagged Files

Generates tags for files not already tagged, such as PDFs created using Acrobat 4.0 or earlier. If this option isn't selected, untagged files are not converted.

Note:

Tags are applied only as part of the conversion process and are discarded after the conversion. This is not a method for creating tagged PDFs from legacy files

Image File Settings

Generate Images

Controls how images are converted. Converted image files are referenced from within XML and HTML documents.

Use Sub-Folder

Specifies the folder in which to store generated images. The default is Images.

Use Prefix

Specifies the prefix added to the image filenames if you have several versions of the same image file. Filenames assigned to images have the format filename_img_#.

Output Format

Specifies the final format of images. The default is JPG.

Downsample To

Downsamples image files to the specified resolution. If you don't select this option, image files have the same resolution as the source file. Image files are never upsampled.

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