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Convert Publisher (.pub) pages to PNG or JPG images

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To turn a .pub file into images without Publisher, open it in free LibreOffice Draw and export each page as PNG or JPG, or export a PDF and convert that to images. To do every page in one step, our converter makes one PNG and one JPG per page at 150 dpi, ready for Facebook, email or Canva.

On this page
  1. Save a .pub page as a PNG or JPG with LibreOffice Draw
  2. Which route fits?
  3. Free route 1: export pages from LibreOffice Draw
  4. Free route 2: LibreOffice to PDF, then PDF to images
  5. One step: PNG and JPG of every page with our converter
  6. PNG or JPG: which should you use?
  7. Using the images
  8. Related guides
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. Sources

Save a .pub page as a PNG or JPG with LibreOffice Draw

Time needed: about 10 minutes

  1. Install LibreOffice

    Download the free LibreOffice from libreoffice.org for Windows, Mac or Linux and install it.

  2. Open the .pub file

    In LibreOffice choose File > Open and pick the .pub file. It opens in LibreOffice Draw.

  3. Go to the page you want

    Click the page in the thumbnails on the left and check that it looks right.

  4. Export the page

    Choose File > Export, set the file type to PNG or JPEG, name the file and click Save. If an options box appears, the defaults are fine for sharing on screen.

  5. Repeat for other pages

    Select the next page and export again. For many pages, export a PDF instead and convert the PDF to images.

Which route fits?

You want… Best route Cost
One or two pages, nothing uploaded LibreOffice Draw, one page at a time Free
Every page of a few files LibreOffice to PDF, then a PDF-to-image tool Free
Every page of many files, no install Our converter (PNG and JPG of every page) Free preview, then one-time price
You still have Publisher File > Save As, picture format Free

A PNG or JPG is the easiest way to share a flyer on Facebook, drop a bulletin cover into an email, or bring a page into Canva or Google Slides as a picture. For printing or archiving, keep a PDF as well.

Free route 1: export pages from LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice is a free office suite, and its Draw app opens .pub files. The steps are above. In short: open the file, go to the page, then File > Export and pick PNG or JPEG (a LibreOffice community answer describes the same route).

Two things to know:

  • It’s one page at a time. Draw’s export saves the page you’re on (or just the objects you’ve selected, if you tick Selection). For a four-page newsletter, that’s four exports.
  • The command line won’t do every page. LibreOffice’s --convert-to png option saves only the first page, which surprises people converting in bulk.

Free route 2: LibreOffice to PDF, then PDF to images

For more than a page or two, it’s quicker to make a PDF first:

  1. Open the .pub file in LibreOffice Draw and check every page.
  2. Choose File > Export as > Export as PDF.
  3. Turn the PDF into images with any of these:
    • Adobe’s free online PDF to JPG tool converts each page to an image in your browser, and can also make PNGs. It uploads your PDF to Adobe.
    • Preview on a Mac: open the PDF, select a page, then File > Export and choose PNG or JPEG. Again, one page at a time.
    • For technical users, pdftoppm -r 150 -png file.pdf page makes an image of every page. Our bulk conversion guide shows it in context.

One step: PNG and JPG of every page with our converter

If you’d rather not juggle tools, our converter can convert a .pub file to PDF and images in one go:

  • Every page, both formats. Each page becomes one PNG and one JPG at 150 dpi. You also get a print-ready PDF, an editable ODG for LibreOffice Draw and a text-only Word file.
  • Whole folders. Drop in one file, a folder or a ZIP, and the download keeps your folders.
  • See it first. You get a free, watermarked preview of every page for the first 10 files in a batch, and one clean file is free per email address.
  • Pay once. $5 for up to 10 files, $15 for up to 60, $29 for up to 300 or $59 for up to 2,000. Only files that convert count. See pricing.
  • Short storage, no account. Files are deleted after 24 hours.

It uses the same open-source importer as LibreOffice, then fixes some of its common layout problems before making the images (details below).

PNG or JPG: which should you use?

Microsoft’s own advice on picture formats is a good rule of thumb: JPEG works best for pictures with many colors, such as photos, while PNG suits web graphics. In practice:

  • PNG for text-heavy pages: bulletins, schedules, sign-up sheets and flyers with small print. Text stays crisp.
  • JPG for photo-heavy pages, or when a website or email limits file size.

Using the images

  • Facebook and Instagram: post the cover or the main flyer page as an image, then link to the full PDF for people who want every page. Add a short text description, since screen readers can’t read words inside a picture.
  • Email: paste a JPG into the message so people see it without opening an attachment, and attach the PDF for printing.
  • Canva or Google Slides: upload the image as a background and add new text on top. If you want Canva to keep text editable, import the PDF instead.
  • Website: a PNG of the cover works well as a thumbnail that links to the PDF.

If you still have Publisher, it can also save a page as a picture: File > Save As, then choose PNG or JPEG (Microsoft).

Frequently asked questions

Should I use PNG or JPG?

PNG keeps text and sharp edges crisp, so it suits flyers and bulletins with lots of words. JPG makes smaller files and suits photo-heavy pages. Our converter gives you both, so you can choose later.

How big are the images?

Our converter makes images at 150 dpi. A letter-size page (8.5 by 11 inches) becomes 1275 by 1650 pixels, and a half-letter bulletin page becomes 825 by 1275 pixels. That's plenty for screens, social posts and email.

Can I print from the images?

For printing, use the PDF instead. A PDF keeps text sharp at any size, while a 150 dpi image can look soft when printed large.

Can I edit the words in the image?

No. Each image is a flat picture of the page. To change the words, edit the ODG copy in LibreOffice Draw, or rebuild the design, then make new images.

Why does LibreOffice give me only the first page?

LibreOffice's command-line PNG export saves only the first page, and Draw's File > Export saves one page at a time. For every page, export a PDF first and convert that, or use a converter that images every page.

Can Publisher itself save a page as a picture?

Yes, if you still have Publisher. Choose File > Save As and pick a picture format such as PNG or JPEG. Do it once for each page you need.

Sources

  1. LibreOffice download pagelibreoffice.org
  2. Ask LibreOffice: How to convert a Draw file to a JPGask.libreoffice.org
  3. LibreOffice bug 157425: PNG export only produces the first pagelibreoffice.org
  4. Adobe Acrobat online: Convert a PDF to JPGadobe.com
  5. Microsoft Support: Save a picture or other graphic as a separate filesupport.microsoft.com
  6. Microsoft Support: Save a publication as a Word document (includes saving a page as a picture)support.microsoft.com
  7. Canva Help: Import and edit PDFscanva.com

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