**Function:** Converts selected files/folders of PDFs to JPEG and saves to the Desktop.
**Author**: [Automator World](http://www.automatorworld.com/)
**Notes**: This workflow demonstrates a few strange quirks with Automator; for some reason the Render PDF action saves the converted file to /tmp/ and doesn't pass on the original filename. Therefore, the additional step of sequentially renaming the files was added (as there seems no way to restore the original names). And, despite the "bad link" between the Render and Move actions, it still works, while the more logically sound additional step of "Get Selected Finder Items" doesn't. The workflow is an application, but can of course be modified to suit.
There is an issue in this workflow related to a bug in Automator. If you are using FileValue (Security Preference Pane) then the copy to Desktop does not work because the files will be misaliased.
Comment by terry chay — June 14, 2005 @ 10:43 pm
I’m trying to use the store original name and restore original name to get around the random numbering feature of the convert PDf to JPEG. it doesn’t seem to work. is there a better way
to do this?
Comment by tom — March 10, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
THANK YOU for posting this! I have been bashing my head in all morning trying to figure out why I couldn’t get this to work.
I’m glad too, as the folder ended up having several gigs of jpgs that would have just sat there forever taking up disk space.
THANKS!
Comment by Tim — April 7, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
This is great tools.
Is it possible to make 300dpi JPG?
Or atleast the same dpi with the original PDF.
I have file PDF with 150dpi then become JPG72dpi.
Comment by LutFi — November 21, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
is there a version of this script that works correctly.
i require the name to remain the same as the original file (filename_1.jpg filename_2.jpg ect.)
this one seems to randomly generate the file names.
Comment by michael — June 5, 2007 @ 1:12 am
Leopard appears to have broken this, as files converted to jpg are now 150dpi and not 300dpi, which is what I need. I can’t seem to find anywhere to change this. Preview seems to be broken here as well, since it also only save PDFs at 150dpi
Comment by alvise — January 29, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
is there any way to render a transparent background. I could not find this option anywhere with any of the file formats.
Comment by Andreas Fischer — August 4, 2008 @ 11:18 am
I note that in comment 5 michael is after much the same result that I am. I need the files converted with the same name. I see that this is quite an old listing, is/was anyone able to get the pdf to convert to jpeg with the same file name?
Comment by Carl — January 4, 2009 @ 5:15 am
Having a nightmare with the “New PDF from Images” action
It gives you the option to choose an output directory with the default set as “Desktop”
It lets me change it to have files save elsewhere, however, when I try to use the app, it reverts back, and saves files to my desktop again.
Is this option just make believe?
Has anyone else had this issue?
Comment by Chris Banakis — February 13, 2009 @ 8:36 pm
Convert PDF to JPEG works well on Leopard 10.5.6.
To change settings of the converted files, open the downloaded file with automator and change file format and resolution, save, and you are good to go. It worked well with multi-page PDFs.
Comment by Hernan — March 16, 2009 @ 4:06 pm
Essentially I would like to convert my PDF pages to a suffix of .JPG rather than what it is now on this app (.JPEG). The reason I want to use this great custom app is for my PDF to be read in my Comic application for the iPhone. Right now the Comic app cannot read .JPEG. Is there a way to change this to save the file to .JPG suffix naming? Thank you. You can email me direct on kidclam@gmail.com if its easier.
Comment by Calvin Ho — July 16, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Does anyone know how Automator does the Redner PDF step? I’ve tried using ImageEvents in Appescript to replicate the steps but can’t get it to maintain the same resolution that Automator does. Anyone have any idea what Automator uses to process the PDFs?
Comment by Kim — November 24, 2009 @ 9:42 pm
I notice when I use this on Aperture 2, when printing a photo book to jpg pages, that I get JPG’s in the “generic rgb profile”. This is insane. Anyway to get it to use a more appropriate color space, such as Adobe RGB or sRGB?
Comment by Bill Jurasz — April 16, 2010 @ 10:53 am
I am trying to run a script on about 30k EPS files. Automator tries to open all the files before funning the next action and my Illustrator crashes before the script is run. Does anyone know how to make automator open a specified number of files at a time, yet still process all 30k files through one automation? I would really appreciate any help here. Thank you.
Comment by PlushPrinting — May 18, 2010 @ 7:16 pm