How to Copy Pictures from a PDF

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to copy pictures from a PDF. You can use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader program to copy the image if the PDF was created from a text document on a computer; if the PDF was scanned into the computer from a physical document or it has copy protection, however, you'll only be able to take a screenshot of the image.

Extracting Images from a PDF

To copy an image from a PDF, open a PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click the picture in the PDF, and then click Copy at the top. You can then paste it wherever you'd like.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Adobe Acrobat Reader

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bc\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-1.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is a free PDF viewer from Adobe. Depending on the type of PDF you downloaded, you may be able to select and copy the text in the PDF from here.
    • If you don't have Adobe Reader yet, you can download and install it for free from https://get.adobe.com/reader/ . This software works for both Mac and Windows computers.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5b\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-2.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can do this by clicking the File tab, then click Open in the drop-down menu.
    • If Adobe Reader is your default PDF program, just double-click the PDF file that you want to open to open it in Acrobat Reader.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5a\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-3.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    By default, the Selection tool should be active. If not, you can find this tool above the document page. It looks like a blue mouse cursor.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-4.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":541,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    The picture is copied to your clipboard and can be pasted anywhere, like in Microsoft Word.
    • You can also click Copy from the Edit tab. [1]
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Taking a Screenshot on Windows

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-5.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This method will take a screenshot of your PDF picture using the default screenshot tools on your Windows computer.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-6.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You can type "Snipping Tool" in the search bar in the task menu to find this app, or you can find it in the app list in the Start Menu.
    • Make sure you can easily see and select the corners of the PDF image in the background.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/45\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-7.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this in the top left of the application window. A menu will dropdown.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-8.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will let you select the outline of the picture and screenshot that instead of the entire screen.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4f\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-9.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your screen will grey out and your cursor will look like cross-hairs.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-10.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/8e\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-10.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-10.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/60\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-11.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":343,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":543,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This saves your screenshot as an image file..
    8. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Taking a Screenshot on Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-12.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This method will take a screenshot of your PDF picture using the default screenshot tools on your Mac computer.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-13.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":547,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find this in the Dock or by searching your Applications folder.
    • Make sure you can easily see and select the corners of the PDF image in the background.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-14.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this along the top of your screen.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-15.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-15.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2f\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-15.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-15.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":347,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":549,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    A menu will pop up to the right.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-16.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-16.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-16.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-16.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Your screen will grey out and your cursor will look like crosshairs.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-17.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-17.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-17.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-17.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-18.jpg\/v4-460px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-18.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-18.jpg\/aid11242974-v4-728px-Copy-Pictures-from-a-PDF-Step-18.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":346,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":548,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This saves your screenshot as an image file.
    8. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Reduce PDF File Size
      How to
      Scan Multiple Pages Into One PDF File
      3 Easy Ways to Insert a Picture Into a PDF File
      How to Compress a PDF File: 4 Easy Tricks on PC & Mac
      How to Convert a DWG File to a PDF
      4 Ways to Create PDF Files
      How to Copy a Table from a PDF to Excel
      3 Easy Ways to Attach a File to a PDF
      How to
      View a PDF Document in Full Screen View
      How to
      Unlock a Secure PDF File
      5 Easy Ways to Save and Download a PDF File
      How to
      Edit a PDF on an iPad
      3 Simple Ways to Save a Single Page of a PDF File
      How to
      Download PDFs
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.lifewire.com/copy-images-or-text-pdf-file-1699969

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
      2. Click to select the picture.
      3. Press Ctrl+C or Cmd+C .

      Did this summary help you?
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 60,852 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement