How to convert a PDF file to Image in Java

PDF files are not directly supported by Java. This tutorial shows you how to convert a PDF file to images in simple steps using JPedal PDF library.

Why use a third party library to handle PDF files?

PDF files are a very complex binary/text hybrid data structure which is a subset of the even more complicated Postscript format. The data needs to be parsed and assembled from many sources to create the pages displayed or extract images from a PDF file.  In this example, we will use our JPedal PDF library to make this task simple.

How to convert PDF to image in JPedal – simple example

Step 1 Create a File handle, InputStream or URL pointing to the PDF file

ConvertPagesToImages extract=new ConvertPagesToImages(path);

Step 2 Include a password if file password protected

extract.setPassword("password");

Step 3 Open the PDF file

if (extract.openPDFFile()) {

Step 4 Iterate over the pages

int pageCount=extract.getPageCount();
for (int page=1; page<=pageCount; page++) {
     BufferedImage image=extract.getPageAsImage(page, 
     isBackgroundTransparent);
}
}

Step 5 Close the PDF file

 extract.closePDFfile();

How to convert PDF to image in JPedal – with more control over extraction

Step 1 Create a File handle, InputStream or URL pointing to the PDF file

ConvertPagesToHiResImages extract=
new ConvertPagesToHiResImages(path);

Step 2 Include a password if file password protected

extract.setPassword("password");

Step 2 Set conversion options for output defined in JPedalSettings

HashMap options=new HashMap();

Step 3 Open the PDF file

if (extract.openPDFFile()) {

Step 4 Iterate over the pages

int pageCount=extract.getPageCount();
for (int page=1; page<=pageCount; page++) {
  BufferedImage image= extract.getPageAsHiResImage(page, 
  isBackgroundTransparent, options);
}
}

Step 6 Close the PDF file

 extract.closePDFfile();

Do you need to work with PDF files in Java?

Java PDF SDK for working with PDF files