Extract Text and Images from a PDF

Two jobs in one tool. Text mode copies the text of selected pages in reading order and saves it as TXT. Image mode finds the photos and graphics stored inside the PDF and saves them at their own resolution, with JPEGs kept byte-for-byte. It does not take screenshots of pages.

Drag & drop a PDF here

or choose a file from your device

PDF

Overview

What is the PDF Text and Image Extractor?

This tool pulls content out of a PDF in two ways. Text mode reads the text of the pages you choose, in reading order, so you can copy it or save it as a .txt file. Image mode finds the pictures stored inside the PDF and saves them as image files.

Image mode is not a screenshot tool. A PDF page is built from text, vector drawings and embedded images. This tool saves only the embedded images: photos, scanned pictures and logos, each at the resolution it was stored at, which is often higher than it appears on the page. To get a picture of an entire page, including its text and drawings, use PDF to Image instead.

How it works

How to extract text or images from a PDF

  1. Open the PDF

    The text of all pages is extracted straight away.

  2. Choose a mode and pages

    Stay on Text, or switch to Embedded images. Type a range like 2-5, 9 to limit the pages.

  3. Review

    Read the text in the panel, or browse the image grid with each image's size, format and page.

  4. Save

    Copy or download the TXT, or save images one at a time or all together as a ZIP.

Examples

Examples: how images come out

Image in the PDFSaved asNotes
Photo stored as JPEG.jpg, original bytesNo re-compression, so there is no quality loss
Logo with transparency.png with alphaTransparent areas stay transparent
Scanned page (JBIG2, CCITT, JPEG 2000).pngDecoded first, then saved losslessly
CMYK print image.png (RGB)Converted for screen use
Same logo on every pageOne fileListed with all the pages it appears on
Chart drawn with vector linesNot extractedIt is not an image; use PDF to Image

Text extraction

Reading order and layout

A PDF stores text as positioned pieces, not as flowing paragraphs. The extractor sorts the pieces into lines from top to bottom and joins them with the right spacing. It starts a new paragraph where the gap between lines is larger than usual.

On simple two-column pages, it finds the empty gutter between the columns and reads the left column before the right. Very complex layouts, such as magazines, forms and text in rotated boxes, may still come out in an unexpected order.

Kept
Line breaks, paragraph gaps, page separators (optional).
Not kept
Fonts, bold/italic, table cell boundaries.
Need structure?
PDF to Markdown keeps headings and lists; PDF to Excel keeps tables.

Use cases

Use cases

Product catalogues

Save the product photos from a supplier PDF to use in your own listings, at full resolution.

catalog.pdfcatalog-images.zip

Lost originals

Recover the photos from a brochure or report when the original image files are gone.

JPEG inside PDFidentical .jpg

Plain text for notes or translation

Copy the text of a contract or paper into a notes app, translation tool or search index.

report.pdfreport.txt

Tips

Tips for clean results

  • Use the size filter to skip bullets, separators and tiny icons. "200 px" keeps only real photos.
  • Check each image's pixel size in the grid. A picture shown small on the page is often stored much larger.
  • Limit the page range in long brochures to get only the section you need.
  • Turn off page separators in text mode when you plan to paste the text into another document.
  • For text that keeps its headings and lists, use PDF to Markdown. For tables in columns, use PDF to Excel.

Limitations

Limitations

Scanned PDFs

A scan is one image per page, so text mode finds nothing. Run OCR PDF first, or use image mode to save the page images.

Images cut into tiles

Some programs split one picture into many small strips. They are extracted as separate images.

Masks and effects

Clipping paths, blend modes and colour adjustments applied on the page are not baked into the extracted image.

Rights

Extracted pictures keep their original copyright. Use them only where you are allowed to.

Privacy

Privacy

Text and images are extracted in your browser. The PDF is not uploaded to TryFormatter, and the ZIP is built on your device.

Related tools

Related tools

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between this and PDF to Image?

PDF to Image renders each whole page, including its text and drawings, into a picture. This tool saves only the images embedded inside the PDF, at their own resolution, and saves nothing for pages that contain only text or vector graphics.

Are the extracted images lower quality?

No. JPEG images are saved with their original bytes, so they are identical to what was embedded. Other formats are decoded and saved as lossless PNG.

Why are some images missing?

Charts, diagrams and icons are often drawn with vector shapes, not stored as images, so there is nothing to extract. Very small images below the size filter are also skipped. Choose "Keep all" to include them.

Why does text mode show nothing for my PDF?

The PDF probably has no text layer because it is a scan or a photo. Run it through OCR PDF to recognize the text, then extract it.

Related Tools

PDF to Image

Convert PDF pages to JPEG or PNG images online for free. No upload needed, runs in your browser, download as ZIP.

PDF to Markdown

Convert PDF text to Markdown with detected headings, paragraphs, lists, tables and code, with a live preview and editable output.

OCR PDF

Recognize text in scanned PDFs with Tesseract OCR, add a searchable text layer, preview the text and export TXT.

PDF to Word

Convert PDF documents to editable Microsoft Word (.docx) files online for free. No upload, and the conversion runs entirely in your browser.

PDF to Excel

Detect tables in PDF files and export them to Excel XLSX with typed numbers, preserved identifiers and a preview of every table.

PDF Splitter

Split PDF files online for free. Extract specific pages or split all pages into individual files. No upload, runs in your browser.

Image to PDF

Convert images to PDF online for free. Combine JPG and PNG files into one PDF document. No upload, runs in your browser.

PDF Compressor

Reduce PDF file size using simple quality presets and optional advanced controls. Balance document clarity and size reduction directly in your browser.

Expert Guides & Tutorials

The End of Cloud-Based PDF Editors: Security Risks of Server-Side Document Processing

The End of Cloud-Based PDF Editors: Security Risks of Server-Side Document Processing

Cloud-based PDF editors expose your sensitive business documents to unnecessary risks. Learn how browser-native WebAssembly tools are replacing legacy server-side PDF processing in 2026.

Read Guide →