How to save an image as a PDF
Sometimes you may want to save an image (often a document image) as a PDF to your device. Fortunately, Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, and iPad offer the ability to download images from the Internet in PDF format. We'll show you how to use these options.
On Windows, Mac, and Android, use your device's built-in PDF printer to save photos as PDFs. On an iPhone and iPad, create a shortcut with the free Shortcuts app to turn your photos into PDFs.
In this section:
Save a Photo as a PDF in Windows
On your Windows machine, first launch a web browser and open the web page containing your photo. You can use Chrome, Firefox, Edge or any other browser of your choice.
We'll be using Chrome in the following steps, so if you're using another browser, the option names will vary slightly.
When your webpage loads, right-click on your image and choose "Open image in new tab".
Switch to the new tab containing your image. Then press Ctrl+P on your keyboard. You can also select the following option in your browser:
- Chrome: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and choose "Print".
- Firefox: Select the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner and click "Print".
- Tables: Select the three dots in the upper right corner and click "Print".
In the "Print" window, click on the "Destination" drop-down menu and choose "Save as PDF". If desired, customize other options, such as layout and paper size.
When you're done, at the bottom of the "Print" window, click "Save."
In the "Save As" window of your PC, select the folder in which to save your PDF. If you wish, enter the name of your PDF in the "File name" field, then click "Save".
The PDF version of your selected photo is now available in the folder of your choice, and you are ready to go.
Turn a photo on a website into a PDF on Mac
Like Windows, on your Mac you can use any web browser to save images as PDFs. We will use Safari here.
Launch Safari on your Mac and open the web page containing your photo. Then right-click on that photo and choose "Open image in new tab".
Access the print menu by pressing Command + P on your keyboard. Alternatively, from the Safari menu bar, select File > Print.
In the print window, in the lower left corner, click the drop-down menu and choose "Save as PDF". Then select the folder in which to save your PDF and click "Save".
You now have the PDF version of your image available in the selected folder. Enjoy!
Download an image in PDF format on Android
On Android, you can use Chrome or Edge browser to save photos in PDF format. Unfortunately, Firefox does not offer the possibility to save images in PDF format.
To get started, launch Chrome or Edge on your phone. We will use Chrome.
Navigate to the web page that contains your image. Long press on this image and select "Open image in new tab".
Switch to the newly launched tab. Then, in the upper right corner of Chrome, tap on the three dots and choose "Share".
In the share menu, select "Print".
On the Print screen, at the top, tap the drop-down menu and choose "Save as PDF". Optionally, adjust other options, such as number of copies and paper size. Then tap the PDF icon.
On the file manager screen that opens, select the folder in which to save your PDF. At the bottom of your screen, type a name for your PDF, then hit "Save."
Your phone has successfully saved your photo as a PDF file to your storage. You have finished.
Convert image to PDF file on iPhone and iPad
To turn a photo into a PDF on an iPhone or iPad, you first need to save the image to Photos, then use a Shortcuts shortcut to turn that image into a PDF. This may sound a bit complicated, but it's not.
Start by opening Safari and navigating to the page containing your photo. Long press the photo and choose "Save Image". This will save your photo to the Photos app.
Now launch the App Store on your iPhone and download and install the free Apple Shortcuts app. When the app is installed, launch it.
In Shortcuts, create a new shortcut by tapping the “+” (plus) sign in the upper right corner.
Tap the “Search” box and type “Select Photos”. Then choose the entry with that name from the search results.
Select the "Search" box again and type "Create PDF". Then select that item from the search results.
Tap the "Search" box again and type "Share." Then choose "Share" from the results.
Your shortcut is now ready. To give it a descriptive name, in the top-right corner, tap the "Settings" icon (under the "Done" option).
On the “Settings” page, tap the “Name” field. Then type in a descriptive name, like "Create PDF" and select "Done" in the top right corner.
Back on the “Settings” page, in the upper right corner, tap “Done”.
On your shortcut screen, in the upper right corner, choose "Done".
On the “Library” screen, you will now see your newly created shortcut. Run it by tapping on its name.
The shortcut will open your Photos app. Here, select the image you want to turn into PDF.
The shortcut will create a PDF from your selected photo. Then you will see your phone's sharing menu. Here, choose how you want to share your PDF file.
If you want to save the file in the Files app, choose "Save to Files".
You have finished.
And that's how you turn your images into PDFs on your desktop and portable devices. Extremely helpful!
Need to convert a downloaded PNG image to PDF on Windows? If so, there is also a way to do that.
