By: Robert Soares | PDF Conversion: The Practical Guide
Here's the situation. You've got a document in one format, and you need it in another. Maybe it's a Word file that needs to be a PDF. Maybe it's a PDF you need to turn into images. Or maybe you want to transform that boring PDF into something people actually read, like an interactive flipbook.
Our full PDF tools guide covers everything you can do with PDFs. But right now, let's focus on conversion.
Want to know what the best PDF converters are for your use case in 2026? Check out our full round-up.
Why PDFs Still Run the Business World
According to Smallpdf's 2025 research, 98% of businesses use PDF as their default file type for external communication. Over 2.5 trillion PDFs exist worldwide, and we create 290 billion new ones every year. That's 12% growth, year over year.
Why? Three reasons:
- Consistency - A PDF looks the same on any device. Your carefully formatted proposal won't turn into a mess on your client's ancient laptop.
- Security - Password protection, encryption, digital signatures. PDFs have mature security features baked in.
- Universal compatibility - Every computer, phone, and tablet can open a PDF. No special software required.
The format Adobe introduced in 1993 isn't going anywhere. PDF is the web's second most common file type, right behind JPEG.
What Can You Turn Into a PDF?
Short answer: almost anything.
Text documents - Word files, plain text, RTF. The conversion is straightforward and preserves your formatting.
Spreadsheets - Excel files convert cleanly. Your tables stay tables.
Presentations - PowerPoint slides become PDF pages. Each slide, one page.
Images - JPG, PNG, TIFF, even screenshots. Multiple images can combine into a single PDF. Our free images to PDF tool handles this in seconds.
Web pages - HTML content converts to PDF while keeping the layout readable.
Scanned documents - Paper becomes digital. The result is an image-based PDF, though OCR can make the text searchable.
What Should You Convert Your PDF Into?
Depends what you need to do with it.
Microsoft Word (DOC/DOCX)
Convert to Word when you need to edit the text heavily. Good for repurposing content or making major revisions. The conversion isn't perfect though. Complex layouts sometimes need cleanup.
PNG or TIFF
High-quality image formats. PNG works best for graphics and screenshots. TIFF is the standard for print-quality images. Both preserve detail better than JPEG.
Use these when you need crisp, clean images from your PDF pages.
JPEG/JPG
Smaller file sizes than PNG or TIFF, but some quality loss. Good for web use, email attachments, or situations where file size matters more than pixel-perfect detail.
HTML
Converts your PDF into a web page. Useful for putting content online, though results vary based on the original PDF's complexity.
Interactive Flipbook
Here's where it gets interesting. Converting a PDF to a flipbook turns a static document into something people actually engage with.
A flipbook adds page-turn animations, clickable links, embedded videos, and most importantly, analytics. You can see who opened it, which pages they read, and how long they spent.
Regular PDF? You send it and hope. Flipbook? You send it and know.
How to Convert Documents to PDF
Option 1: Adobe Acrobat
Adobe created the format. Their tools handle it best.
To convert in Acrobat:
- Open Adobe Acrobat DC
- Select "Create PDF" from the tools menu
- Choose your source file
- Click Create
Adobe also offers a free online converter for basic conversions.
Option 2: Online Converters
No software to install. Upload your file, download the PDF. Done.
Good options:
- Smallpdf - Free for basic conversion. Clean interface.
- Nitro - Full document suite if you need more features.
Option 3: Desktop Software for Heavy Lifting
If you're converting hundreds of files, you need batch processing. Desktop software handles this better than web tools.
- PDFelement - Solid all-around PDF suite with batch conversion.
- UniPDF - Free option for Windows. Handles batch conversions well.
Option 4: Turn That PDF Into a Flipbook
This is the move when your PDF needs to actually get read.
Upload your PDF to Flipbooker. In about 15 seconds, you'll have an interactive flipbook with:
- Page-turn animations
- Embedded links and forms
- Reader analytics (who opened it, when, for how long)
- No downloads required for viewers
Plus, you can export as PNG, JPG, or an offline HTML5 flipbook if you need those formats too.
Quick Guide: Converting Between Common Formats
| Starting Format | Target Format | Best Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Word to PDF | Print to PDF (built into Word) | |
| Excel to PDF | Print to PDF or Adobe | |
| Images to PDF | Flipbooker or Smallpdf | |
| PDF to Word | DOC/DOCX | Adobe Acrobat or Nitro |
| PDF to Images | PNG/JPG | Flipbooker or image tools |
| PDF to Flipbook | Interactive web | Flipbooker |
Tips for Better Conversions
Check the output
After conversion, open the file. Look for:
- Missing images or graphics
- Broken layouts
- Text that's become an image (can't be edited)
- Font substitutions that look off
Fix issues before sending.
Watch your file size
PDFs can get bloated. If your file is too large for email (usually over 25MB), use a compression tool. You can often cut file size by 50-80% without visible quality loss.
Think about security
Sending something confidential? Use password protection. Most PDF tools offer this. For sensitive data, encryption is even better.
When using Flipbooker, your connection is encrypted automatically. You can also restrict access by email address or domain.
Consider the end goal
Converting a PDF just to have it in another format is extra work. Ask yourself what the document needs to do.
- Need people to edit it? → Word
- Need high-quality prints? → TIFF
- Need a small file for email? → Compressed PDF
- Need people to actually read it? → Flipbook
That last one is why we built Flipbooker. Static PDFs have a reading problem. People don't finish them. Interactive flipbooks change that equation.
When a PDF Isn't Enough
PDFs work great for preservation and printing. But for engagement? They fall short.
63% of PDF views now happen on mobile devices, according to Statista. Yet 72% of PDF edits still happen on desktop. There's a disconnect between how people view documents and how the format was designed to work.
Flipbooks bridge that gap. They're built for screens. They work on any device. And they give you something PDFs never could: data on whether anyone actually read the thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert a PDF back to the original format?
Sometimes. If the PDF was created from a Word document, conversion back to Word usually works well. But if the PDF was scanned or heavily formatted, you'll lose some fidelity. The conversion is never 100% perfect.
Which online converter is safest?
Stick with known names: Adobe, Smallpdf, Nitro. They have privacy policies and actually follow them. Random free tools? You don't know where your files end up.
For maximum privacy, use tools that process files locally, like our merge, compress, and split tools. Your files never leave your computer.
How do I combine multiple files into one PDF?
Use a merge tool. Upload your files, arrange the order, combine. Takes about 30 seconds.
What's the best format for sharing professionally?
PDF for simple documents that don't need tracking. Flipbook when you need to know if people read it and want to capture leads.
Next Steps
Got a PDF that needs more than just a format change? Try Flipbooker free. Upload any PDF and see the difference in 15 seconds.
Need to work with PDFs in other ways? Check out our free tools:
All free. All private. No signup required.