Choose the Required Profile
Select PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b according to the receiving archive's requirements. The tool does not create level-a accessibility or level-u searchable-text conformance.
PDF to PDF/A
Rebuild selected PDF pages as an image-only PDF/A-1b, 2b or 3b copy.
Choose PDF Files
Drop files here or use the button below.
Up to 100 MB total · Files stay on your device
Preview the document here. For added content, this is a placement guide; check the saved output.
Table of Content10 Sections
How Does This PDF/A Converter Work?
Create a new archival PDF from the visible pages of an existing PDF. The converter renders each selected page, embeds the resulting RGB image and an sRGB color profile, then builds the document for PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b or PDF/A-3b.
This is an image-only conversion. Selectable text, forms, links, layers, attachments and digital signatures are removed as interactive or logical objects. Their visible page appearance can remain in the rendered image. Keep the original file whenever those original features matter.
PDF to PDF/A Features
Clean Page Reconstruction
Build a new document from flattened page images instead of adding an archival label to the original objects. Source scripts, embedded files and interactive fields are not copied into the output.
Resolution and Page Selection
Choose 72, 150, 200 or 300 DPI and select the pages to retain. Higher resolution can improve small detail but also increases memory use and the resulting file size.
Output Structure Checks
Check the generated document's page tree, metadata, color profile and image resources before offering a download. Release fixtures are also independently tested with veraPDF.
How Do I Convert a PDF to PDF/A?
- Select one unencrypted PDF and review the visible pages before conversion.
- Choose the PDF/A-b profile required by the receiving workflow.
- Set the page range and image resolution within the displayed limits.
- Acknowledge that the archival copy loses selectable text and interactive features, then start conversion.
- Download the copy, inspect small text and graphics, and use your receiving archive's validation process if required.
Select the Source PDF
Choose the document whose visible pages you want to retain.
Select the screenshot to enlarge it.
Choose Profile and Resolution
Set the archival profile, pages and DPI, then acknowledge the removed features.
Select the screenshot to enlarge it.
Inspect the Archival Copy
Download the checked output and review its page appearance.
Select the screenshot to enlarge it.
Screenshots show this toolkit using harmless sample files. Your file name, page count and settings may differ.
When Is an Image-Only Archival Copy Useful?
This approach suits workflows that need a stable visual copy and explicitly accept page images. It can also normalize mixed source content into a simpler document structure. It is unsuitable when the archive requires retained text search, accessibility tags, embedded supporting files or a valid original digital signature. Confirm those requirements before choosing a profile; PDF/A conformance alone does not establish suitability for every archive.
Who Can Use This Archival Copy?
Records Teams
Prepare a visual derivative while retaining the source and following the receiving archive's requirements.
Administrative Staff
Create a fixed copy of completed pages when interactive fields are no longer needed in the derivative.
Researchers
Preserve the visible arrangement of selected pages alongside the original research material.
Settings and Output Checks
| Setting | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Source | One unencrypted PDF up to 100 MiB and 500 source pages. |
| Profiles | PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2b and PDF/A-3b; image-only output. |
| Page and pixel limits | Up to 50 selected pages, 24 megapixels per page and 120 megapixels per job. |
| Resolution and size | 72, 150, 200 or 300 DPI; generated output up to 160 MiB. |
| Page dimensions | Each output side must measure between 3 and 14,400 PDF points. Visible page rotation and cropping are applied. |
Choose a Profile before Converting a Record
Suppose an archive requests PDF/A-2b and accepts page images. Select that profile, convert a short sample at 200 DPI and inspect the smallest text. Check that completed form values are visible and that no required information exists only in an attachment. Convert the remaining permitted pages only after the sample meets those needs.
Troubleshooting PDF/A Conversion
| Situation | What to Check |
|---|---|
| The job reaches a pixel limit | Lower the DPI or select fewer pages. Large drawings may hit the per-page limit even in a short document. |
| The output text is not searchable | This is expected for an image-only copy. Keep the original or use a different archival workflow when retained text is required. |
| The receiving archive rejects the file | Read its exact profile and submission requirements. This converter is not a general validator for uploaded PDFs or a substitute for archive-specific checks. |
FAQs
Does Renaming a PDF Make It PDF/A?
No. This tool rebuilds the page content, embeds a color profile and writes the required archival metadata and supported structure. A filename or metadata label alone cannot establish conformance.
Does PDF/A Preserve My Digital Signature?
This conversion creates a new image-only document. It does not retain the original signature object or its cryptographic validity. Keep the signed original.
Is the Tool a General PDF/A Validator?
No. It checks the specific output structure it generates. Use a dedicated validator or the receiving system to assess arbitrary PDFs and any additional archive requirements.