Convert PDF File to PNG Format using pdftoppm.exe
Oct. 18, 2023
Basic usage of pdftoppm.exe
It is convenient to convert PDF file to PNG (Portable Network Graphics) file using pdftoppm.exe, all we need is to use the following command in the command prompt [1]:
Pdftoppm converts Portable Document Format (PDF) files to color image files in Portable Pixmap (PPM) format, grayscale image files in Portable Graymap (PGM) format, or monochrome image files in Portable Bitmap (PBM) format. Pdftoppm reads the PDF file, PDF-file, and writes one PPM file for each page,
PPM-root-nnnnnn.ppm, wherennnnnnis the page number. If PPM-root is ‘-‘, the image is sent to stdout (this is probably only useful when converting a single page) [1].
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pdftoppm -png "pdfname" "pngname"
For example, if we want to convert a PDF file document.pdf to .png format, we could use:
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pdftoppm -png "document.pdf" "png"
N.B., The command prompt should be started in the folder where document.pdf is put.
A series of .png files will turn up in the current folder, named png-01.png, png-02.png, png-03.png … The number of .png files is the same as the number of document.pdf pages, that is each page in document.pdf is converted to one .png file.
Actually pdftoppm.exe provides more available options, we could view help information of it by inputting command:
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pdftoppm -h
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pdftoppm version 22.02.0
Copyright 2005-2022 The Poppler Developers - http://poppler.freedesktop.org
Copyright 1996-2011 Glyph & Cog, LLC
Usage: pdftoppm [options] [PDF-file [PPM-file-prefix]]
-f <int> : first page to print
-l <int> : last page to print
-o : print only odd pages
-e : print only even pages
-singlefile : write only the first page and do not add digits
-scale-dimension-before-rotation : for rotated pdf, resize dimensions before the rotation
-r <fp> : resolution, in DPI (default is 150)
-rx <fp> : X resolution, in DPI (default is 150)
-ry <fp> : Y resolution, in DPI (default is 150)
-scale-to <int> : scales each page to fit within scale-to*scale-to pixel box
-scale-to-x <int> : scales each page horizontally to fit in scale-to-x pixels
-scale-to-y <int> : scales each page vertically to fit in scale-to-y pixels
-x <int> : x-coordinate of the crop area top left corner
-y <int> : y-coordinate of the crop area top left corner
-W <int> : width of crop area in pixels (default is 0)
-H <int> : height of crop area in pixels (default is 0)
-sz <int> : size of crop square in pixels (sets W and H)
-cropbox : use the crop box rather than media box
-hide-annotations : do not show annotations
-mono : generate a monochrome PBM file
-gray : generate a grayscale PGM file
-displayprofile <string> : ICC color profile to use as the display profile
-defaultgrayprofile <string> : ICC color profile to use as the DefaultGray color space
-defaultrgbprofile <string> : ICC color profile to use as the DefaultRGB color space
-defaultcmykprofile <string> : ICC color profile to use as the DefaultCMYK color space
-sep <string> : single character separator between name and page number, default -
-forcenum : force page number even if there is only one page
-png : generate a PNG file
-overprint : enable overprint
-freetype <string> : enable FreeType font rasterizer: yes, no
-thinlinemode <string> : set thin line mode: none, solid, shape. Default: none
-aa <string> : enable font anti-aliasing: yes, no
-aaVector <string> : enable vector anti-aliasing: yes, no
-opw <string> : owner password (for encrypted files)
-upw <string> : user password (for encrypted files)
-q : don't print any messages or errors
-progress : print progress info
-v : print copyright and version info
-h : print usage information
-help : print usage information
--help : print usage information
-? : print usage information
Among which, I think the -r <fp> option is the most commonly used, whose function is specifying the resolution of .png file (default resolution is 150 dpi). The complete command is:
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pdftoppm -png "document.pdf" "png" -r 600
In fact, pdftoppm.exe in my computer is downloaded with TeX Live, it is one of tools and located at the folder C:\texlive\2022\bin\win32. In this folder, there exist other numerous small-but-useful tools. We could list them using MATLAB code:
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% MATLAB script
dir(fullfile("C:\texlive\2022\bin\win32","*.exe"))
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a2ping.exe httexi.exe pltotf.exe
a5bookle.exe htxelatex.exe pmpost.exe
a5toa4.exe htxetex.exe pmxab.exe
afm2afm.exe hyperxmp-add-bytecount.exe pmxchords.exe
afm2pl.exe includeres.exe pn2pdf.exe
afm2tfm.exe inimf.exe png22pnm.exe
aftopl.exe initex.exe png2bmp.exe
albatross.exe installfont-tl.exe pooltype.exe
aleph.exe jadetex.exe ppltotf.exe
amstex.exe jamo-normalize.exe prepmx.exe
arara.exe jbig2.exe ps2ascii.exe
arlatex.exe jfmutil.exe ps2eps.exe
asy.exe kanji-config-updmap-sys.exe ps2pdf.exe
authorindex.exe kanji-config-updmap-user.exe ps2pdf12.exe
autoinst.exe kanji-config-updmap.exe ps2pdf13.exe
autosp.exe kanji-fontmap-creator.exe ps2pdf14.exe
axohelp.exe ketcindy.exe ps2pk.exe
bbl2bib.exe komkindex.exe ps2ps.exe
bbox.exe kpseaccess.exe ps4pdf.exe
bg5conv.exe kpsereadlink.exe psbook.exe
bg5latex.exe kpsestat.exe psjoin.exe
bg5pdflatex.exe kpsewhich.exe psnup.exe
bib2gls.exe l3build.exe psresize.exe
bibcop.exe lacheck.exe psselect.exe
bibdoiadd.exe latex-dev.exe pst2pdf.exe
biber-ms.exe latex-git-log.exe pstops.exe
biber.exe latex-papersize.exe psviewer.exe
bibmradd.exe latex.exe ptex.exe
bibtex.exe latex2man.exe ptex2pdf.exe
bibtex8.exe latex2nemeth.exe ptftopl.exe
biburl2doi.exe latexdef.exe purifyeps.exe
bibzbladd.exe latexdiff-vc.exe pygmentex.exe
bitmap2eps.exe latexdiff.exe pythontex.exe
bmeps.exe latexindent.exe r-mpost.exe
bmp2png.exe latexmk.exe r-pmpost.exe
bundledoc.exe latexpand.exe r-upmpost.exe
cachepic.exe latexrevise.exe repstopdf.exe
cef5conv.exe lily-glyph-commands.exe rpdfcrop.exe
cef5latex.exe lily-image-commands.exe rubikrotation.exe
cef5pdflatex.exe lily-rebuild-pdfs.exe rungs.exe
cefconv.exe listbib.exe runscript.exe
ceflatex.exe llmk.exe sam2p.exe
cefpdflatex.exe lollipop.exe scor2prt.exe
cefsconv.exe ltx2crossrefxml.exe sjisconv.exe
cefslatex.exe ltximg.exe sjislatex.exe
cefspdflatex.exe luacsplain.exe sjispdflatex.exe
cfftot1.exe luafindfont.exe spix.exe
checkcites.exe luahbtex.exe splitindex.exe
chkdvifont.exe luajithbtex.exe srcredact.exe
chklref.exe luajittex.exe sty2dtx.exe
chktex.exe lualatex-dev.exe svn-multi.exe
citeproc-lua.exe lualatex.exe synctex.exe
cjk-gs-integrate.exe luaotfload-tool.exe t1ascii.exe
cjpeg.exe luatex.exe t1asm.exe
cllualatex.exe luatools.exe t1binary.exe
cluttex.exe lwarpmk.exe t1disasm.exe
clxelatex.exe m-tx.exe t1dotlessj.exe
context.exe mag.exe t1lint.exe
contextjit.exe make4ht.exe t1mac.exe
convbkmk.exe makedtx.exe t1rawafm.exe
convertgls2bib.exe makeglossaries-lite.exe t1reencode.exe
cslatex.exe makeglossaries.exe t1testpage.exe
csplain.exe makeindex.exe t1unmac.exe
ctan-o-mat.exe makejvf.exe t4ht.exe
ctanbib.exe match_parens.exe tangle.exe
ctangle.exe mathspic.exe teckit_compile.exe
ctanify.exe mendex.exe tex.exe
ctanupload.exe mex.exe tex2aspc.exe
ctie.exe mf-nowin.exe tex2xindy.exe
ctwill-refsort.exe mf.exe tex4ebook.exe
ctwill-twinx.exe mf2pt1.exe tex4ht.exe
ctwill.exe mflua-nowin.exe texaccents.exe
cweave.exe mflua.exe texcount.exe
de-macro.exe mfluajit-nowin.exe texdef.exe
depythontex.exe mfluajit.exe texdiff.exe
detex.exe mfplain.exe texdirflatten.exe
devnag.exe mft.exe texdoc.exe
deweb.exe mk4ht.exe texdoctk.exe
diadia.exe mkgrkindex.exe texexec.exe
digestif.exe mkjobtexmf.exe texfot.exe
disdvi.exe mkocp.exe texhash.exe
djpeg.exe mkofm.exe texindy.exe
dosepsbin.exe mkpic.exe texliveonfly.exe
doubside.exe mkt1font.exe texloganalyser.exe
dt2dv.exe mktexfmt.exe texlogfilter.exe
dv2dt.exe mktexlsr.exe texlogsieve.exe
dvi2tty.exe mktexmf.exe texlua.exe
dviasm.exe mktexpk.exe texluac.exe
dvibook.exe mktextfm.exe texluajit.exe
dviconcat.exe mktexupd.exe texluajitc.exe
dvicopy.exe mllatex.exe texmfstart.exe
dvidvi.exe mltex.exe texosquery-jre5.exe
dvigif.exe mmafm.exe texosquery-jre8.exe
dvihp.exe mmpfb.exe texosquery.exe
dviinfox.exe mpost.exe texplate.exe
dvilj.exe mptopdf.exe texsis.exe
dvilj2p.exe msxlint.exe texview.exe
dvilj4.exe mtxrun.exe texworks.exe
dvilj4l.exe mtxrunjit.exe tftopl.exe
dvilj6.exe multibibliography.exe thumbpdf.exe
dvilualatex-dev.exe musixflx.exe tie.exe
dvilualatex.exe musixtex.exe tif22pnm.exe
dviluatex.exe odvicopy.exe tiff2png.exe
dviout.exe odvitype.exe tlaunch.exe
dvipdfm.exe ofm2opl.exe tlaunchmode.exe
dvipdfmx.exe omfonts.exe tlcockpit.exe
dvipng.exe opl2ofm.exe tlshell.exe
dvipos.exe optex.exe todos.exe
dvips.exe optexcount.exe tomac.exe
dviselect.exe ot2kpx.exe tounix.exe
dvispc.exe otangle.exe ttf2afm.exe
dvisvgm.exe otfinfo.exe ttf2kotexfont.exe
dvitodvi.exe otftotfm.exe ttf2pk.exe
dvitomp.exe otp2ocp.exe ttf2tfm.exe
dvitype.exe outocp.exe ttfdump.exe
e2pall.exe ovf2ovp.exe ttftotype42.exe
ebb.exe ovp2ovf.exe twill.exe
ebong.exe pamphletangler.exe type1afm.exe
eplain.exe patgen.exe ulqda.exe
eps2eps.exe pbibtex.exe unzip.exe
epsffit.exe pdf2dsc.exe upbibtex.exe
epspdf.exe pdf2ps.exe updmap-sys.exe
epspdftk.exe pdfannotextractor.exe updmap-user.exe
epstopdf.exe pdfatfi.exe updmap.exe
eptex.exe pdfattach.exe updvitomp.exe
etex.exe pdfclose.exe updvitype.exe
euptex.exe pdfcrop.exe uplatex-dev.exe
exceltex.exe pdfcslatex.exe uplatex.exe
extconv.exe pdfcsplain.exe upmendex.exe
extractbb.exe pdfdde.exe upmpost.exe
extractres.exe pdfdetach.exe uppltotf.exe
fc-cache.exe pdfetex.exe uptex.exe
fc-cat.exe pdffonts.exe uptftopl.exe
fc-list.exe pdfimages.exe urlbst.exe
fc-match.exe pdfinfo.exe utf8mex.exe
fc-pattern.exe pdfjadetex.exe vftovp.exe
fc-query.exe pdflatex-dev.exe vlna.exe
fc-scan.exe pdflatex.exe vpe.exe
fc-validate.exe pdflatexpicscale.exe vpl2ovp.exe
fig4latex.exe pdfmex.exe vpl2vpl.exe
findhyph.exe pdfopen.exe vptovf.exe
fmtutil-sys.exe pdfopt.exe weave.exe
fmtutil-user.exe pdfseparate.exe webquiz.exe
fmtutil.exe pdftex.exe wofm2opl.exe
fragmaster.exe pdftocairo.exe wopl2ofm.exe
gbklatex.exe pdftohtml.exe wovf2ovp.exe
gbkpdflatex.exe pdftoppm.exe wovp2ovf.exe
getmapdl.exe pdftops.exe wrunscript.exe
gftodvi.exe pdftosrc.exe xdvipdfmx.exe
gftopk.exe pdftotext.exe xelatex-dev.exe
gftype.exe pdfunite.exe xelatex-unsafe.exe
gregorio.exe pdfxmltex.exe xelatex.exe
gsftopk.exe pdvitomp.exe xetex-unsafe.exe
gunzip.exe pdvitype.exe xetex.exe
gzip.exe pedigree.exe xhlatex.exe
hbf2gf.exe perltex.exe xindex.exe
hilatex.exe pfarrei.exe xindy-lisp.exe
hishrink.exe pfb2pfa.exe xindy.exe
histretch.exe pk2bm.exe xml2pmx.exe
hitex.exe pkfix-helper.exe xmltex.exe
ht.exe pkfix.exe yplan.exe
htcontext.exe pktogf.exe zip.exe
htlatex.exe pktype.exe
htmex.exe platex-dev.exe
httex.exe platex.exe
Invoke pdftoppm.exe in MATLAB to batch convert PDF files
If we want to convert all .pdf files in the current folder to .png files, we could use MATLAB system function [2] to invoke pdftoppm.exe, realising batch conversion:
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clc,clear,close all
pdfFiles = dir("*.pdf");
for i = 1:numel(pdfFiles)
pdfName = pdfFiles(i).name;
disp(pdfName)
system(sprintf('pdftoppm -png -r 600 "%s" "%s"', ...
pdfName,pdfName(1:end-4)));
end
References
[2] system: Execute operating system command and return output - MathWorks.