User Manual

2.2 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 a PDF file. Additionally, users can render individual pages of a PDF file as images and export them in 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 – Quickly saves the current version of the PDF file 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 opened PDF file – just as in other graphics programs. To do so, proceed as follows:

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

Each change made is added incrementally to the file structure. As a result, the PDF file may grow in size over time. However, this allows for faster saving – especially with large and complex documents. If you choose to save your file in an optimized way, all incremental changes are consolidated. The modifications are preserved, but the overall size is reduced.

  • Select the menu command File > Save As... or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or cmd + Shift + S (macOS). This opens the dialog Save As, where you can define the file's save location, filename, and choose the PDF version or PDF/X standard. If you enter a new filename, the original file will not be overwritten – the source file remains unchanged.

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

The following options are available when saving a PDF file:

  • PDF- | PDF/X-Version [1] – Use this setting to select the desired PDF version or PDF/X standard from the dropdown. The following options are available:
    • Unchanged – Retains the original PDF version. However, if new PDF constructs (e.g., layers, transparencies, or files larger than 5 meters) are created in the file, the PDF version may automatically adjust to meet the required specifications.
    • 1.3 – Creates a flattened PDF file consisting only of basic PDF constructs – text, images, and vector graphics. Transparencies and layers must be flattened, and the document size must remain under 5 meters.
    • 1.4 – Creates a PDF file that, in addition to text, images, and vectors, also retains transparencies. Layers are flattened, and the document must be smaller than 5 meters.
    • 1.5 – Creates a PDF file in which text, images, vectors, transparencies, and layers are retained. However, the document must not exceed 5 meters in size.
    • 1.7 – Similar to version 1.5, but documents may exceed 5 meters in size. Transparencies and layers are retained.
    • 2.0 – Creates a PDF file based on the latest PDF specifications. Note: Not all applications are compatible with PDF 2.0 files.
    • PDF/X-1a – Creates a PDF file that complies with the PDF/X-1a standard. Please note that this involves changes to the PDF to meet the standard, including:
      • RGB and Lab objects are converted to CMYK.
      • ICC source profiles on objects are removed.
      • Transparencies and layers are flattened.
      • Missing fonts are embedded (if available).
      • The selected ICC Profile is embedded as the Output Intent.
    • PDF/X-4 – Creates a PDF file that complies with the PDF/X-4 standard. This also involves changes to the file, including:
      • Missing fonts are embedded (if available).
      • Embedding the selected ICC Profile as the 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 choose the desired ICC Profile here, which will be embedded in the PDF/X file as the Output Intent.

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, we recommended selecting "Unchanged". This allows the application to automatically determine and apply the appropriate PDF version based on the file content. If you prefer to manually set a PDF version, we recommend choosing at least PDF 1.7. This version does not cause significant changes to the PDF file. All PDF objects remain in their original structure and therefore fully editable.

Which PDF/X standard should be used?

We always recommend choosing "PDF/X-4", as this standard does not introduce significant changes to the PDF file. All PDF objects remain in their original form and continue to be fully editable.

Saving as PDF/X-1a should only be done if explicitly required by the print service provider. Due to transparency flattening in PDF/X-1a, this can sometimes result in the creation of many small objects, which usually makes further editing of the PDF file in the PDF Editor impossible.

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

  • Select the menu command File > Save Optimized... to integrate the changes into the file structure and optimize its 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, making it particularly suitable for post-processing. The compression and decompression of TIFF files are typically lossless.
  • JPEG – Stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. Since the introduction of digital cameras, JPEG has become one of the most popular image formats. This file type supports the Color Spaces Grayscale, RGB, or CMYK. JPEG files are always compressed with loss, which can significantly reduce the file size.
  • PNG – Stands for Portable Network Graphics. PNG is often used for displaying high-quality images on websites and offers lossless compression. It also supports images 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.... This opens 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. Specify the desired Resolution [5] in dpi (dots per inch) for rendering the page.
  5. In the Color Space [6] dropdown menu, select the desired Color Space. Available options are Grayscale, RGB, and CMYK.
  6. If you have previously selected "RGB", you can additionally enable the option Alpha Channel [7]. Enabling this option preserves transparent areas in the TIFF file. You can identify transparent areas on the page by enabling the option Show Transparency Grid in 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. In the Format [10] dropdown menu, select PNG (*.png).
  4. Specify the desired Resolution [11] in dpi (dots per inch) at which the page should be rendered.
  5. In the Color Space [12] dropdown menu, select the desires Color Space. 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. Transparent areas can be identified by enabling the option Show Transparency Grid in the tab View > Analyze. If this 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. In the Format [16] dropdown menu, select JPEG (*.jpg).
  4. Specify the desired Resolution [17] in dpi (dots per inch) at which the page should be rendered.
  5. In the Color Space[18] dropdown menu, select the desired Color Space. 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 setting Quality [20], choose the desired compression level.
    • Low means smaller file size, lower image quality with high compression.
    • High means larger file size, higher image quality with low compression.
  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  – 07/2025

Previous Article 2.1 Open Files

Overview of the PDF Editor

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

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