Q: pdf2image or pdf2picture?
I want to edit the PDF in my MS Office application. Do I need pdf2image or pdf2picture?
A:
pdf2picture would be the best choice in this case. It operates in both vector and image mode and you can choose which you want at the time of conversion. Vector mode explodes the file into all of the objects that make it up while image mode makes a sharp copy of the file in the MS Office friendly format BMP.
pdf2image only operates in image mode but offers more formats for web and print than pdf2picture. It is used when you need to produce high-fidelity images for websites or printed publications like newsletters, brochures and customer bulletins.
In both cases, to use the graphics produced by either pdf2image or pdf2picture in MS Office, you use Insert > Picture > From File… to open the converted graphics into your document. If you used vector mode, you can now edit text and graphic elements using the Office drawing tools.
Note: Neither pdf2image or pdf2picture are for converting Word documents heavy in text.
Q: Using the program
How do I use the program?
A:
The software has been designed to be very easy to use and involves four simple steps and sometimes less:
- Select the PDF file you want to convert
- Change or review settings by clicking on the Options button
- Change the name and location of the output file, if desired
- Convert!
Q: Starting the Program
How do I start the program?
A:
As with most other Windows application, there are several ways to start the software:
- By double-clicking on the product icon on your Windows desktop
- Via Start > Programs > Visual Integrity > pdf2image (or other product)
- Directly launch the program from the installation folder using Windows Explorer by finding and double-clicking on pdf2xxx.exe
- By dragging a PDF file onto the product icon on your desktop or in Windows Explorer
Q: Conversion Options
Where can I learn more about the using the different conversion options?
A:
In the Help file that is included with the software. Just click on the Help button found in the bottom right corner of the software dialog. A new screen will open, with a table of content for all the topics that the Help file contains. You can expand the outline to find the section on Conversion Options or search the index using the Find command.
Q: Converting Multiple Files
How do I select more than one file for conversion?
A:
Converting multiple files is also called batch mode and most of our products support it. To specify more than one file, use the "Add" button. Only pdf2picture does not support batch conversion. To convert several files with pdf2picture, when you finish the conversion, choose New Conversion to select another PDF file for conversion. If you want to regularly convert more than one file per run with pdf2picture, you may want to upgrade to PDF FLY which offers batch conversion and more conversion input and output formats.
Q: Will Visual Integrity software convert all my files?
Will the software convert any PDF file that I throw at it?
A:
All products from Visual Integrity are designed to convert all well-formed PDF files. If a PDF file was created in an application, it should convert successfully in either vector or image mode. However, if a PDF file was created by a scanner and has already been reduced in the process to a flat image, it will only convert in image mode.
Q: What are vector and image modes?
Can you explain what vector and image modes are and when I should use them?.
A:
There are two basic formats for graphics - vectors and images. Vector graphics are made up of lines, curves and text while images are made up of a collection of dots or pixels. Images are also referred to as bitmaps or rasters.
Visual Integrity can convert most PDF files into either vector or image formats. It's important to know which is best for the job you are doing.
If you need to break a PDF file down into objects and text for editing, then you want to choose a vector format. The vector formats supported in our software are PDF, PS, EPS, SVG, WMF, EMF, CGM, HPGL and MIF.
If you do not need to edit the file and simply want a sharp copy to insert into a document or to publish on a web-site, you'll want to go with image formats. The image formats that we support are TIFF, GIF, PNG, JPEG and BMP. If you will be printing the graphic on a laser or inkjey printer, convert at 150 dpi resolution. If publishing to a web-site, use 96 dpi for best screen dispaly.
Note! Scanned images can not be transformed with vector mode into lines, text and other vector objects because they re not vector source files. Instead, you will get an exact replica of the PDF as an image that can be used as a tracing layer which aids in the duplication effort. To convert scanned images into vector objects, you need a special class of software called "raster to vector".
Q: Conversion does not complete
The software shuts down, hangs or returns an error without completing my conversion. What’s the problem?
A:
We can not assess the problem without seeing your file. Your file could be corrupt or our conversion engine might not be able to digest it properly. Please send the file to support@visual-integrity.com for analysis, and let us know what product and version you are using.
Q: Why can't I find my files to convert?
I am sure that my files are PDF files but I can not find them to convert. Why not?
A:
pdf2image, pdf2picture and pdf2cad only display files with a .pdf extension. If the file you want to convert has a different extension, but you are sure that it is a PDF file, you should rename it to include a .pdf extension. Because PDF FLY also converts PostScript files, it expects files with a .pdf, .ps, .eps or .prn extension.
Q: Can't edit file after conversion
I've converted my file but I can not ungroup and edit it - why not?
A:
Most Visual Integrity products are designed to generate editable files (vector files). The success depends, however on the type of PDF input. There are two types of PDF file - vector and bitmap.
Vector PDF files contain all of the file information as algorithms and are scalable. No matter how large you maginfy them, they will look great. Our software will convert these files into editable vector files.Bitmap PDFs are usually created by scanners and all of the file information has be flattened into one image comprised of dots. When magnified, a bitmap PDF file looks very jagged. Our software will convert bitmap PDF's in image mode and you will get a high-fidelity reproduction which can be inserted into your document or presentation but which can not be edited.
Once you know what kind of PDF file you have, you will know whether it will convert into an editable vector file or not. If you are interested in converting a scanned drawing or bitmap PDF into vectors, you need to look for a different class of software. Try searching for "raster to vector" or raster2vector" in a search engine to find potential products.
Q: Can an Expired Eval be Extended?
Can an Expired Eval be Extended?
A:
Evaluation versions of all Visual Integrity products operate with full functionality for 30days, after which they time-out. It is not possible to extend them. They can however, be unlocked upon purchase. If you still need to test a product, we are happy to convert sample files for you and will send the results back to you by email.
Q: Don't see the answer you need? Ask it now!
Don't see the answer you need? Ask it now!
A:
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