How to Turn Images to PDF on Windows, Mac & Mobile

Why convert images to PDF?

Compatibility: PDFs open consistently across devices and operating systems.
Organization: Multiple images can be combined into a single file for easier sharing.
Security & Presentation: PDFs support password protection, annotations, and fixed layout for printing.
File integrity: Converting images to PDF keeps aspect ratio and embedded colors intact when done correctly.

Quick overview: Methods covered

Built-in OS tools (Windows Print to PDF, macOS Preview)
Mobile native tools (iPhone Photos/Files, Android Print to PDF or Files)
Free online converters (browser-based)
Free desktop apps (IrfanView, PDFCreator, ImageMagick)
Command-line for automation (ImageMagick, Ghostscript)

Windows — Fast & free methods

1) Microsoft Print to PDF (built-in)

Select one or multiple images in File Explorer.
Right-click → Print.
Choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer.
Pick paper size, quality, and layout (one image per page or multiple).
Click Print → save the PDF.

Pros: No downloads, quick.
Cons: Limited control over compression and image alignment.

2) Using free IrfanView (more control)

Download IrfanView and the plugins pack.
Open images (Batch Conversion/Multiple Files).
Choose output format PDF (requires plugin or save as PDF using the Print to PDF method).
Set resize/compression options for smaller files.

Pros: Batch processing, resizing, basic editing.
Cons: Extra install; interface is dated.

macOS — Fast & free methods

1) Preview (built-in)

Open images in Preview (select all and open together).
In the sidebar, arrange pages in desired order.
File → Export as PDF (or Print → Save as PDF).
Optionally use Quartz filters to reduce file size.

Pros: Native, easy, preserves order.
Cons: Limited compression tuning without third-party filters.

2) Automator (batch automation)

Create an Automator workflow: “Get Specified Finder Items” → “New PDF from Images.”
Save as an app or service for drag-and-drop conversions.

Pros: Automates repetitive tasks.
Cons: Requires setup once.

iPhone & iPad — Fast & free methods

1) Using the Photos or Files app

Photos: Select images → Share → Print → pinch-out on the print preview → Share → Save to Files or send as PDF.
Files: If images are in Files, open them, tap share → Create PDF (or use Print → Save as PDF).

Pros: No apps needed.
Cons: Interface steps aren’t obvious at first.

2) Shortcuts app (custom workflow)

Create a Shortcuts action: Select Photos → Make PDF → Save File.
Run from Share Sheet for quick conversions.

Pros: Customizable, supports batch.
Cons: Requires building the shortcut once.

Android — Fast & free methods

1) Print to PDF (system feature)

Open the image in Gallery or Files.
Tap Share → Print (or Print directly).
Select “Save as PDF” printer → Save.

Pros: Built-in, fast.
Cons: Varies by device/manufacturer.

2) Google Photos / Files method

Google Photos: Select images → Share → Print → Save as PDF (depends on device).
Files by Google: If available, use the print/save as PDF option.

Free online converters — When to use them

Online tools are handy when you can’t install software or need quick access from any device. Common features:

Drag-and-drop, merge multiple images, reorder pages, basic compression.
Examples: small web tools like “Image to PDF” converters (use any reputable tool).

Security note: Avoid uploading sensitive images to online services. For private or confidential images, prefer offline methods.

Free desktop tools for power users

ImageMagick (cross-platform, command-line)

Convert a set of images to a single PDF:

magick img1.jpg img2.png img3.tif output.pdf

Options let you control density, quality, and resizing.

Ghostscript (post-processing)

Reduce PDF size or optimize:

gs -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dCompatibilityLevel=1.4 -dPDFSETTINGS=/screen   -dNOPAUSE -dQUIET -dBATCH -sOutputFile=output_small.pdf input.pdf

PDFCreator / PDF24 (Windows)

Install and “print” images to a virtual PDF printer with options for merging and compression.

Tips to preserve image quality

Use lossless formats (PNG, TIFF) when possible, but PDFs with high-quality JPEG images are usually smaller.
Increase resolution only if needed — upscaling won’t add real detail.
For scanned documents, use 300 DPI for good readable text; 600 DPI only for high-detail needs.
On conversion tools, choose high-quality or maximum DPI settings if you need print-ready output.

Reduce PDF file size

Choose JPEG compression rather than embedding full-resolution PNG/TIFF if acceptable.
Use Ghostscript with -dPDFSETTINGS=/ebook or /screen for smaller files.
Resize images to target dimensions before conversion.
Remove unnecessary color profiles or metadata where possible.

Automation & batch workflows

Windows: PowerShell scripts that call ImageMagick or batch file to print multiple files.
macOS: Automator apps to drag-drop folders and produce PDFs.
Linux: Shell scripts using ImageMagick/ghostscript.
Cross-platform: Write a small Python script using Pillow and PyPDF2 to stitch images into PDFs.

Example Python snippet (Pillow + PyPDF2):

from PIL import Image images = [Image.open(f) for f in ["a.jpg","b.png","c.jpg"]] pdf_pages = [] for img in images:     if img.mode == "RGBA":         img = img.convert("RGB")     pdf_pages.append(img) pdf_pages[0].save("output.pdf", save_all=True, append_images=pdf_pages[1:])

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Wrong orientation: Rotate images before converting or use tools that auto-rotate.
Large resulting file: Resize or apply JPEG compression.
Color shifts: Embed sRGB profiles or convert images to sRGB before saving.
Order issues: Make sure files are selected in the correct order or reorder in the app before exporting.

Summary (fast reference)

Windows: Use Microsoft Print to PDF for quick jobs; IrfanView or ImageMagick for control.
macOS: Preview for most tasks; Automator for batch jobs.
iPhone/iPad: Photos → Print → Save as PDF or Shortcuts.
Android: Print → Save as PDF or use Files/Google Photos share.
Online: Convenient but avoid for sensitive images.
Power users: ImageMagick, Ghostscript, or small scripts for automation.

If you want, I can: convert a sample set of images for you (if you provide them), create an Automator or Shortcuts workflow, or produce a ready-to-run script for your OS.