Open PDF files in Photoshop

Last updated on Oct 5, 2026

Use the Import PDF dialog to select pages or images, set crop boundaries, and specify resolution and color settings.

When you open a PDF in Photoshop, the app converts vector content into pixels at your chosen resolution. This gives you control over pages or images to import and how they're rendered.

This procedure applies to generic PDF files that contain images, illustrations, or multi-page documents. Photoshop PDF files open without the Import PDF dialog. To preserve vector data and keep content editable, place PDFs as Smart Objects instead.
To open a PDF in Photoshop, you'll need a PDF file that isn't in Photoshop PDF format. Before you start, confirm your intended output resolution and color requirements—this helps you make the right import decisions.

Open a PDF from Photoshop

Select File > Open. Locate and select your PDF file, then select Open.

In the Import PDF dialog, select Pages to import full pages or Images to import only embedded images.

Select the thumbnails of the pages or images you want to open. Shift-click to select multiple items.

Type a name in the Name field. For multiple selections, Photoshop appends numbers to the base name.

Tip

Use the Thumbnail Size menu to adjust the preview size. The Fit Page option displays one thumbnail at full size in the preview window.

Set crop boundaries and dimensions

Choose a crop option from the Crop To menu to define the import area.

The Crop To menu offers six boundary options:

Bounding Box: Crops to the smallest rectangle containing all content, eliminating excess white space outside the Trim Box.
Media Box: Preserves the original page size as defined in the PDF.
Crop Box: Uses the clipping region specified by the PDF's crop margins.
Bleed Box: Includes the bleed area intended for production processes like cutting and trimming.
Trim Box: Crops to the intended final trim size of the printed page.
Art Box: Uses the region defined for placing PDF content into other applications.

Enter Width and Height values to set the document dimensions.

Select Constrain Proportions to maintain the aspect ratio or deselect it to scale to exact dimensions.

When importing multiple pages, the Width and Height fields display the maximum dimensions across all selected pages. With Constrain Proportions enabled, each page renders at its original size unless you modify these values.

Configure image properties

Enter a Resolution value appropriate for your intended output. Higher resolution values create larger files with more detail. Learn more about pixel dimensions and printed image resolution.

Choose a color Mode from the menu. .

Select a Bit Depth for the document.

Select Suppress Warnings to prevent color profile mismatch alerts.

Select OK to complete the import.

Your resolution, mode, and bit depth choices determine the final pixel dimensions and file characteristics.

Open a PDF from Bridge

In Adobe Bridge, navigate to the folder containing your PDF file and select it.

Select File > Open With > Adobe Photoshop.

Configure the Import PDF dialog options as needed, then select OK.

Note

Crop options don't apply when importing images. If you select Images instead of Pages, skip directly to configuring image properties.

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