User Manual

2.1 Save and Export

Updated on

In this article, you will learn

  • how to save PDF files, and
  • how to export individual pages from a PDF file.

1. Introduction

In the PDF Editor, various file formats can be opened or imported and then saved as PDF files. Additionally, users can render individual pages of a PDF as images and export them to the desired file format.

2. Save/export files

Documents can be saved or exported in various formats using the PDF Editor. The following options are available:

  • Save PDF file: Use the following menu commands:
    • File > Save – Saves the current version of the PDF file quickly and incrementally (Incremental Saving).
    • File > Save As... – Saves the current version of the PDF file under a different name (Optimized Saving).
    • File > Save Optimized... – Saves the current version of the PDF file in an optimized form (Optimized Saving).
    • File > Save All... – Saves the current version of all open PDF documents (Incremental Saving).
  • Export PDF file: Use the menu command File > Export File as Image…

2.1. Save Document

In the PDF Editor, you can save the currently open PDF file – just like in other graphics programs. Proceed as follows:

  • Select the menu command File > Save or use the shortcut Strg + S (Windows) or cmd + S (macOS) to save your document. Note: The original file will be overwritten — changes cannot be undone!

Each change made is added incrementally to the file structure. Over time, this may cause the PDF file to grow in size, but it allows for fast saving – especially useful forlarge and complex documents. If you choose to save the file in optimized form, all incremental changes are merged. The changes you have made are retained, but the file size is reduced.

  • Select the menu command File > Save As... or use the shortcut Strg + Shift + S (Windows) or cmd + Shift + S (macOS). This opens the dialog Save As, where you can specify the file location, filename, and the PDF version or PDF/X standard. If you enter a new filename, the fill will not overwrite the original upon saving – the original file remains unchanged.

Figure 1: The dialog Save As without changing the PDF version

The following options are available when saving the PDF file:

  • PDF-| PDF/X-Version [1] – Select the desired PDF version or PDF/X standard from this dropdown. The available options are:
    • Unchanged – Retains the original PDF version. However, if a PDF construct such as layers, transparencies, or files larger than 5 meters is used, the version may automatically upgrade to support the required features.
    • 1.3 – Creates a flattened PDF file containing only text, images, and vector graphics. Transparencies and layers must be flattened. Document dimensions must not exceed 5 meters.
    • 1.4 – Creates a PDF file that supports transparencies in addition to text, images, and vectors. Layers will be flattened. Document dimensions must not exceed 5 meters.
    • 1.5 – Creates a PDF file that retains transparencies and layers alongside text, images, and vectors. Document dimensions must not exceed 5 meters.
    • 1.7 – Creates a PDF file that retains transparencies and layers and supports document dimensions larger than 5 meters.
    • 2.0 – Creates a PDF file conforming to the latest PDF specification. Note: Not all applications may support PDF 2.0 files.
    • PDF/X-1a – Creates a PDF/X-1a-compliant PDF file. Note that modifications are applied to meet the PDF/X standard, including:
      • RGB and Lab objects are converted to CMYK.
      • ICC source profiles on objects are eliminated.
      • Transparencies and layers are flattened.
      • Missing fonts are embedded, if available.
      • Embedding the selected ICC profile as an Output Intent
    • PDF/X-4 – Creates a PDF/X-4-compliant PDF file. Note that modifications are applied to meet the PDF/X standard. These changes include:
      • Missing fonts are embedded, if available.
      • Embed the selected ICC profile as Output Intent.
      • Metadata of the PDF file is adjusted.
  • Output Input [2] – If a PDF/X standard is selected under PDF-Version [1], you can specify the desired ICC profile here, which will then be embedded as the output intent in the PDF/X file.

Which PDF version should you choose?

As long as you are not required to save the PDF file in a specific version for a print service provider, it is recommended to select «Unchanged». This allows the software to automatically determine the appropriate PDF version based on the features used in the document. If you do wish to set a specific version manually, we recommend selecting at least PDF 1.6. This version does not introduce significant changes to the PDF file. All PDF objects remain in their original form and therefore fully editable.

Which PDF/X standard should be used?

We generally recommend using «PDF/X-4», as this standard does not require significant modifications to the PDF file. All PDF objects remain in their original form and thus fully editable.

Saving as PDF/X-1a should only be done if explicitly requested by the print service provider. Due to the required transparency flattening in PDF/X-1a, this may result in the creation of a large number of small objects. As a consequence, the file is usually no longer fully editable in the PDF Editor.

To save the PDF file in an optimized form, proceed as follows:

  • Select the menu command File > Save Optimized... to integrate the applied changes into the file structure and optimize the overall file layout. Note: The original document will be overwritten, and changes cannot be undone.

2.2. Export single page

The current page of a PDF file can be exported as an image file in the PDF Editor. The following image formats are available for export:

  • TIFF – Stands for Tagged Image File Format. TIFF is a flexible raster image format that stores high-quality image data in the desired color space and resolution and is particularly suitable for post-processing. The compression and decompression of a TIFF file is usually lossless.
  • JPEG – Stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. Since the introduction of digital cameras, JPEG has been one of the most popular image formats. This file type supports the Color Spaces Grayscale, RGB, or CMYK. JPEG files are always compressed with some loss, which can significantly reduce the file size in some cases.
  • PNG – Stands for Portable Network Graphics. PNG is commonly used for displaying high-quality images on websites and offers lossless compression. Additionally, PNG supports graphics with transparent and semi-transparent backgrounds, making it ideal for web graphics.

2.2.1. Export as TIFF

To export the current page of the open document as a TIFF file, proceed as follows:

  1. Select the menu command File > Export File as Image... to open the dialog Save Image.
  2. In the field Save As [3], enter the desired name for the exported file.
  3. In the Format dropdown-menu [4], select TIFF (*.tif).
  4. Enter the desired Resolution [5] in dpi (dots per inch) at which the page should be rendered.
  5. Choose the desired Color Space [6] from the selection menu. Available options are Grayscale, RGB, and CMYK.
  6. If you have previously selected »RGB«, you can additionally enable the option Alpha Channel [7]. When selected, transparent areas in the page will remain transparent in the TIFF file. To identify transparent areas in advance, activate the option Show Transparency Grid under the tab View > Analyze. If the option Alpha Channel is disabled, transparent areas will be rendered as white.
  7. Select the option Simulate Overprint [8] if the exported image should simulate the Print Output.
  8. Click Save to start rendering the selected page.

Figure 2: The dialog Save Image for the TIFF file format

Rendering Times

Please note that the Rendering Time for exporting an image primarily depends on the selected Resolution. Higher Resolutions result in longer Rendering Times.

2.2.2. Export as PNG

To export the current page of a PDF file as a PNG image, proceed as follows:

  1. Select the menu command File > Export File as Image.... This opens the dialog Save Image.
  2. In the field Save As [9], enter the desired filename for the exported image.
  3. From the Format [10] dropdown menu, select PNG (*.png).
  4. Enter the desired Resolution [11] in dpi (dots per inch) at which the page should be rendered.
  5. Choose the desired Color Space [12] from the selection menu. Available options are Grayscale and RGB.
  6. Select the option Alpha Channel [13] if you want to preserve transparent areas of the page in the exported image. You can identify transparent areas in advance by enabling the option Show Transparency Grid under the tab View > Analyze. If the option is disabled, transparent areas will be rendered as white.
  7. Select the option Simulate Overprint [14] if the exported image should simulate the final Print Output.
  8. Click Save to start rendering the selected page.

Figure 3: The dialog Save Image for the PNG file format

2.2.3. Export as JPEG

To export the current page of a PDF file as a JPEG image (JFIF), proceed as follows:

  1. Select the menu command File > Export File as Image.... This opens the dialog Save Image.
  2. In the field Save As [15], enter the desired filename for the exported image.
  3. From the Format [16] dropdown menu, select JPEG (*.jpg).
  4. Enter the desired Resolution [17] in dpi (dots per inch) at which the page should be rendered.
  5. Choose the desired Color Space[18] from the selection menu. Available options are Grayscale, RGB and CMYK.
  6. Select the option Simulate Overprint [19] if the exported image should simulate the final Print Output.
  7. In the option Quality [20], select the desired compression level. Low means lower image quality with higher compression (resulting in a smaller file size). High means higher image quality with lower compression (resulting in a larger file size).
  8. Click Save to start rendering the selected page.

Figure 4: The dialog Save Image for the JPEG file format

Article Update: PDF Editor 1.12.13  – 06/2025

Previous Article 1.3 Keyboard Shortcuts
Next Article 2.2 Open Files

Overview of the PDF Editor

1. User interface and adjustments 3
2. Open, Save and Export Print Data 2

Other Resources
Print Article