Opening and importing PDF files

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a versatile file format that can represent both vector and bitmap data and can contain electronic document search and navigation features. PDF is the primary format for Adobe Acrobat.

Photoshop Elements recognizes two types of PDF files: Photoshop PDF files and Generic PDF files. You can open both types of PDF files; however, you can only save images to Photoshop PDF format.

Photoshop PDF files

Created using the Photoshop Elements Save As command, Photoshop PDF files can contain only a single image.

Photoshop PDF format supports all of the color modes and features that are supported in standard Photoshop format.

Generic PDF files

Created using applications other than Photoshop Elements, such as Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Illustrator®, Generic PDF files can contain multiple pages and images. When you open a Generic PDF file, Photoshop Elements rasterizes the image.

You can also bring PDF data into Photoshop Elements using the Place command, the Paste command, and the drag-and-drop feature. (See Placing files, Using drag-and-drop to copy between applications, and Using the Clipboard to copy between applications.)

To open a PDF file:

1. Choose File > Open.
2. Select the name of the file, and click Open. You can change which types of files are shown by selecting an option from the Files of Type (Windows) or Show (Mac OS) pop-up menu.
3. If you are opening a Generic PDF file, do the following:
• If the file contains multiple pages, select the page you want to open, and click OK.
• Indicate the desired dimensions, resolution, and mode. If the file has an embedded ICC profile, you can choose the profile from the mode pop-up menu.
• Select Constrain Proportions to maintain the same height-to-width ratio.
• Select Anti-aliased to minimize the jagged appearance of the artwork's edges as it is rasterized.
• Click OK.

To import images from a PDF file:

1. Choose File > Import > PDF Image, select the file from which you want to import images, and click Open.
2. Select the image you want to open:
• To open a specific image, select it and click OK. You can use the arrows to scroll through the images, or click Go to Image to enter an image number.
• To open each image as a separate file, click Import All Images.

Press Esc to cancel the import operation before all images are imported.

To create a new Photoshop file for each page of a multiple-page PDF file:

1. Choose File > Automation Tools > Multi-Page PDF to PSD.
2. Under Source PDF, click the Choose button, and select the file from which you want to import images.
3. Under Page Range, specify a range of pages to import.
4. Under Output Options, specify a resolution, choose a color mode, and set the Anti-alias option for rasterizing each page of the PDF file. (To blend edge pixels during rasterization, select the Antialias option. To produce a hard-edged transition between edge pixels during rasterization, deselect the Anti-alias option.)
5. Under Destination, enter a base name for the generated files. (When Photoshop creates the new files, the base name is appended with a number that corresponds to the page number of the PDF file.) Then click the Choose button, and select the location where you want to save the generated files.