5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Converting JPG to PDF

Converting JPG images to PDF is a daily task for millions. While it seems straightforward, a few common pitfalls can compromise the quality of your final document. By avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure your PDFs are professional, high-quality, and perfectly suited for their purpose. Here are the top five mistakes to watch out for.

1. Ignoring Image Resolution

The most common error is using low-resolution images. If your source JPG is blurry or pixelated, your PDF will be too. For documents that will be printed or viewed on high-resolution screens, aim for an image resolution of at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). For web-only viewing, 150 DPI is often sufficient. Always start with the highest quality source image you have.

2. Forgetting to Order Your Files

When combining multiple images into a single PDF, the order is crucial. It's easy to select files in the wrong sequence, leading to a disorganized document that needs to be redone. Before you click 'Convert,' take a moment to use the drag-and-drop feature to arrange your image thumbnails in the correct order. Numbering your files beforehand (e.g., 01_page.jpg, 02_page.jpg) can also save a lot of time.

3. Choosing the Wrong Page Size

A PDF has a defined page size, like A4 or US Letter. If you don't set this correctly, your images may be awkwardly stretched, shrunk, or have excessive white space around them. Our tool allows you to choose between standard sizes or 'Fit,' which matches the page size to your image. Think about the final use: if it's for a standard document, choose A4 or US Letter. If it's for preserving a photo, 'Fit' might be better.

4. Not Checking Page Orientation

Mixing landscape (wide) and portrait (tall) images is common, especially when scanning documents and photos. If you convert a wide image in a tall 'Portrait' layout, it will appear small. Conversely, a tall image in a 'Landscape' layout will be shrunk to fit. Use the rotate button on each thumbnail to ensure every image has the correct orientation before you convert, and select the matching page orientation in the settings.

5. Creating a Massive File Size

While quality is important, an unnecessarily large PDF file can be difficult to email, upload, or store. This often happens when using extremely high-resolution images that are not needed for the document's purpose. While our tool automatically optimizes for a good balance of quality and size, you can help by resizing your source images to a reasonable dimension before uploading if you know the final output doesn't require massive detail.

By keeping these five points in mind, you'll create professional, high-quality PDFs every time.