Quick answer
Open the picture in Preview, choose File → Export, select PDF from the Format menu, choose a filename and location, and click Save. For several pictures, select them in Finder, Control-click, choose Quick Actions → Create PDF, and rename the combined file.
Convert one image with Preview
- Double-click the image. If another application opens, Control-click the file and choose Open With → Preview.
- In Preview, choose File → Export.
- Open the Format menu and select PDF.
- Choose the filename and save location.
- Optionally select an available Quartz filter or encryption option, then click Save.
Preview can convert HEIC, JPEG, JPEG-2000, OpenEXR, PNG, and TIFF images as well as export to PDF. Keep the source image until you have opened and checked the new document.
Combine several pictures into one PDF
Finder's Create PDF Quick Action is the simplest built-in batch method:
- Open Finder and place the images in the order you want to review them.
- Select every picture that should appear in the PDF.
- Control-click the selection and choose Quick Actions → Create PDF.
- Open the new PDF in Preview, inspect its page order, and rename it.
If the page order is wrong, show thumbnails in Preview and drag them into the correct sequence. Image orientation and dimensions affect how each PDF page looks, so rotate or crop the source files before combining them when practical.
Preview or Finder Quick Actions?
| Need | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Convert one image and choose export options | Preview → File → Export → PDF. |
| Combine several selected images quickly | Finder → Quick Actions → Create PDF. |
| Convert HEIC to JPEG instead of PDF | Preview Export or Finder's Convert Image Quick Action. |
| Extract the completed PDF back into images | Use the PDF to PNG Converter. |
How to keep the PDF readable and reasonably small
- Crop empty margins from source images before conversion.
- Use the original resolution when the PDF will be printed or contains small text.
- For screen-only sharing, reduce oversized source images before creating the PDF.
- Be careful with Preview's Reduce File Size filter: the resulting quality and size can vary.
- Open the final PDF at 100% zoom and verify every page before sending it.
What can you do with the finished PDF?
If you need images again, the PDF to PNG Converter renders each page locally in your browser. If the PDF has selectable text, the PDF to Text Converter can extract it. Image-only PDFs generally require OCR instead.
Sources and version notes
This guide was checked on August 23, 2026 against Apple's current Preview and Finder documentation.