Portable Network Graphics (PNG) and Portable Document Format (PDF) are two popular file formats used for images and documents, respectively. There are many reasons why you may want to convert a PNG file to PDF format – whether for better security, more flexibility in editing and annotations, or wider device compatibility.
Fortunately, both Mac and Windows operating systems provide built-in tools that allow easy conversion of PNGs into PDF without requiring any additional software. This guide will walk through the step-by-step instructions for PNG to PDF conversion on both platforms.
Why Convert PNG to PDF?
Here are some of the benefits of converting PNG files into the PDF format:
Security – PDFs can be password protected and encrypted to prevent unauthorized access. PNG files lack these security features.
Compact Format – Converting multiple PNGs into a single PDF keeps everything neat and organized in one document.
Annotations – PDF files allow adding text notes, highlights, signatures directly onto the contained images.
Universal Compatibility – PDFs can be viewed on virtually any device using free PDF reader apps. Opening PNGs relies on image viewing apps that may not be available everywhere.
Web Use – PDFs work better for uploading and sharing online compared to individual PNG files.
Step-by-Step Guide: Windows
Windows 10 and 11 include Microsoft Print to PDF which can convert PNGs into PDFs with just a few clicks.
1. Locate the PNG File
Use the File Explorer to browse to the location of the PNG image you want to convert.
2. Open the PNG
Double click on the PNG file to open it in the default photo viewing app (usually Photos).
3. Click on Print
Go to the Print option in the Menu bar and select Microsoft Print to PDF from the printer drop-down.
4. Save the Output PDF
A save prompt will open. Choose location to save the PDF and click Save.
The PNG image has now been successfully converted into a PDF document!
Step-by-Step Guide: Mac
MacOS comes equipped with Preview app which includes handy tools for PDF conversion.
1. Locate the PNG using Finder
Browse to the location of the PNG file you want to convert.
2. Open PNG in Preview app
Double click the PNG file to open it in Preview app.
3. Go to Export as PDF
In Preview‘s menu bar, click File > Export as PDF.
4. Save the PDF
A save prompt will open. Choose save location and file name for the PDF.
That‘s all there is to it! The PNG is now converted to a high-quality PDF on your Mac.
Alternative Tools for Batch Conversion
The basic built-in conversion tools on Windows and Mac work for individual files. But for bulk PNG to PDF conversion, using these native apps can be slow and cumbersome.
Here are some alternative file conversion tools for batch processing multiple PNG images into PDF:
Adobe Acrobat Pro – Paid software with batch export features. Comes with additional PDF editing tools.
Smallpdf – Free online app supporting bulk conversion of multiple PNGs to PDF.
CloudConvert – Web and API platform for custom file conversion workflows.
When choosing any 3rd party conversion tools, carefully check their security practices regarding handling your uploaded files. Avoid tools that apply compression or quality loss to achieve smaller PDF sizes unless that is an acceptable trade-off for your use case.
Customizing the Output PDF
By default, the PDF created from a PNG image uses standard letter or A4 size pages with white backgrounds. You can customize the final PDF by adjusting print settings before conversion:
- Set specific page size like legal, tabloid, etc.
- Choose landscape or portrait page orientation.
- Add custom margins around the image.
- Enable/disable resizing to fit image into PDF page.
- Print multiple page PDFs from single or multiple PNGs.
Conclusion
I hope this guide gives you a good overview of how to easily convert PNG images into PDF documents using the built-in tools in Windows and Mac operating systems. While the basic methods work for one-off conversions, you can check out the alternative batch processing tools mentioned for handling multiple PNG to PDF conversions.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
