is jpeg the same as pdf?
As many of us already know, there are many different formats or extensions of the files that we create and store in our computers. These extensions correspond to the various applications that can read and open the respective files. There are many different types of files, some of which are specific to the type of the file at hand. For example a .doc or .docx is a Microsoft word file whereas a .ppt is a Microsoft PowerPoint file. It is these extensions that enable the appropriate application to start up when we double click on the file to open it. In this article, we will differentiate two such formats which are known as PDF and JPEG.
PDF, which is short for Portable Document Format is a format that is used to present various types of documents in a readable or viewable manner. The PDF is more like a universal format that is independent of any hardware, operating system, software or application. A typical PDF file encapsulates the complete description of a flat document with a fixed layout. This includes the text, graphics, fonts as well as other information that is needed for the display of the contents of the file. The most common application that is used in computers and smartphones to open PDF files is Adobe Reader. PDF files are very useful; they can be used as an alternative to many different types of data; for storing documents as in Microsoft Word, slides as in PowerPoint, images as in JPEG and so on.
JPEG, on the other hand, is a method that is very commonly used and it actually compresses digital images in what is known as lossy compression. The extension of JPEG files is .jpg or .jpeg. It is especially used for compressing images that are produced by digital photography. The compression can be to varying extents. The two main options that need to be addressed for compression are the size of the file and image quality which are directly proportional. What is good about JPEG compression is that it achieves a 10 is to 1 ratio of compression and there is hardly any loss of quality in the compression.
JPEG is generally a graphic image file whereas a PDF is a document file. This is the main difference between the two formats. Both of these can be converted into the other but generally they are used for different purposes. Note that for the same file that is made available in the two formats, a JPEG image of a certain document will be of a smaller size than the same document as a PDF file. This is simply because JPEG is a compression method.
Moving on, a PDF file preserves the original layout of any document but also leaves the different parts of the document open to editing. JPEGs, however, compress various components of an image or document into one single file that cannot be separated into the original components.
Another difference is with respect to copying text. A PDF allows you to copy selected text from the file whereas a JPEG doesn’t allow you to copy selected text from the file although the whole image can be copied as it is.
As mentioned earlier, the two formats can be converted into each other. A JPEG to PDF conversion will protect the layout of the image whereas a conversion in the other direction produces a compressed image of the document.
Summary
- Open the JPG file you want to convert.
- Click Ctrl+P to bring up the Print dialog box.
- Click the Printer icon to open a dropdown list.
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Click Print.
JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. The JPEG file type is one of the world’s most widely used image file formats. Able to compress impressive detail into a shareable file size, JPEGs are most helpful in storing and sharing digital images. They’re ideal for social, email and blog content.
Learn more about JPEG files
A PDF (Portable Document Format) can display a wide range of documents — from bank statements to presentations to images and more. Its main strength is that it’s a universal format — meaning that a PDF’s content will always display consistently across any device. For this reason, printers prefer it because it keeps all page components intact and retains image quality when enlarged.
While you can use both JPEGs and PDFs to store and share data such as images and text, there are some fundamental differences between the two formats. Make the most of these file types by learning how to use them most effectively.
The primary use of JPEGs is for images, whereas PDFs can handle all sorts of text and image-based documents. Because JPEGs compress image data, its file sizes tend to be relatively small. This means that it’s a convenient way to share digital images over the web and email. But JPEGs use lossy compression, which means that each time you save your file, you lose a little bit of image data, which can affect quality.
Therefore, the multi-purpose PDF may well be your preferred file type for images because it offers a compression function, plus it won’t damage the original quality of the file you’re sharing. However, you may find PDFs difficult to integrate into a webpage if that’s its primary purpose.
The main advantage of PDF is that it preserves the layout of the content while leaving different parts of the document open to editing (with Acrobat Pro). Conversely, JPEGs can’t be separated into components because they compress all content into a single layer.
This means that out of the two formats, a PDF is the only one that lets users copy selected text they need to use elsewhere. But if you want to embed an image within a different document, the JPEG may be your preferred file type.
Due to the relatively small size of JPEGs, you might find them preferable to PDFs because they’re likely to take up less space on your hard-drive, portable disc or cloud. However, PDF files can be more reliable to store documents and images. With a Document Cloud subscription, you can easily upload, manage and share files via the cloud from your computer or mobile devices.
PDFs will often be higher quality than JPEGs. This is because JPEGs compress images, leading to a loss in quality that you can’t regain. Visuals saved as PDF are of very high-quality and even customisable, making them the file format of choice for printers.
PDFs are usually larger than JPEGs because they can display rich media (that is, video, audio, animation and other interactive experiences) as opposed to JPEGs, which usually contain a single image. Another reason why JPEGs will be a smaller size than PDFs is because its lossy format offers a higher compression rate than PDF in the trade-off for quality.
There are several ways to convert between PDF and JPEG formats. The most convenient method is to visit the Adobe Acrobat website to convert PDF to JPEG for free. You can convert a JPEG to PDF in the JPEG file by first selecting File, then Save As and finally, choosing .pdf in the list of available file formats under the down-arrow.
Posting a PDF to Facebook is easiest when you link to the document (if it’s hosted elsewhere). Upload your PDF to a website or document repository, then link to it via Facebook. You can also upload PDFs to a Facebook page by first clicking About, then More Info, then Add Menu and uploading the document — whether or not it’s a menu.
You can add drawings and text to JPEGs by clicking the Draw tool via the Edit menu and re-saving the file. A more legitimate way of signing a JPEG would be to print the file, sign it physically and scan the document to digitise it.
The primary use of JPEGs is for images, whereas PDFs can handle all sorts of text and image-based documents. Because JPEGs compress image data, its file sizes tend to be relatively small. This means that it's a convenient way to share digital images over the web and email.