Explicit Channel Order
Choose RGB or BGR to match the program that will read the data. Both layouts contain the same rendered colors; only the order of the three channel bytes changes.
PDF to RAW
Export headerless RGB or BGR page pixels with exact layout metadata.
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
What Kind of RAW Data Does This Tool Export?
This tool renders PDF pages and saves their pixels as headerless, interleaved, 8-bit RGB or BGR data. Every pixel contributes three bytes. Rows run from left to right and from the top of the image to the bottom, with no header or row padding.
The output is not camera sensor RAW such as CR2, NEF or ARW. A PDF cannot recover the original measurements from a camera sensor. The download therefore includes a JSON sidecar describing the exact layout needed to read each rendered pixel file correctly.
PDF to RAW Features
Layout Sidecar
The ZIP includes layout.json with filenames, pixel dimensions, channel order, bit depth, row direction and byte counts. Keep it beside the pixel files when moving the download.
Page-Specific Dimensions
Export selected pages independently. Pages with different sizes or rotations receive their own dimensions in the sidecar instead of being forced into one shared canvas.
Uncompressed Pixel Data
The .raw entries contain direct channel values without an image-file header. Extract them from the losslessly compressed ZIP before importing.
How Do I Export PDF Pages as RAW Pixels?
- Choose one unencrypted PDF and enter the page numbers you need.
- Select 72, 150 or 300 DPI for the rendered images.
- Choose RGB or BGR channel order to match your destination application.
- Convert the selection and download the ZIP containing .raw files and layout.json.
- Extract the ZIP, read each page record in the sidecar and enter the recorded dimensions and channel order in your importer.
Choose the Source Pages
Select a PDF and decide which page images to export.
Select the screenshot to enlarge it.
Set the Pixel Layout
Choose resolution and RGB or BGR channel order.
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Keep the Sidecar
Download and extract the ZIP with its pixel files and layout.json.
Select the screenshot to enlarge it.
Screenshots show this toolkit using harmless sample files. Your file name, page count and settings may differ.
Why Export Headerless Page Pixels?
Headerless pixel data is useful for image-processing experiments, custom visualization programs and import pipelines that require a known byte layout. Removing an image header also removes the information a normal viewer would use to interpret the data. The sidecar is therefore part of the usable result, not an optional description. For routine viewing or sharing, PNG or TIFF is usually easier.
Who Can Use a RAW Pixel Export?
Software Developers
Feed rendered page pixels into a program that explicitly accepts interleaved RGB or BGR arrays.
Imaging Students
Compare channel order, byte counts and raster dimensions using a reproducible page image.
Technical Review Teams
Prepare a small, documented raster sample for checking a custom image import process.
Settings and Output Checks
| Setting | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Input | One PDF up to 100 MiB with no more than 500 source pages. |
| Selection | Up to 20 selected pages, 24 megapixels per page and 80 megapixels per job. |
| Pixel Format | Three interleaved 8-bit channels in RGB or BGR order, with no alpha channel, header or row padding. |
| Download | One ZIP containing page-numbered .raw files and a JSON layout sidecar, even for one selected page. |
Check the Byte Count before Importing
A rendered page that is 1,000 pixels wide and 800 pixels high contains 2,400,000 bytes of RGB data: 1,000 × 800 × 3. Enter those dimensions and the recorded order in RAW to PDF using headerless mode. If the byte count differs, check that you selected the extracted .raw entry rather than the ZIP or sidecar.
Troubleshooting PDF to RAW
| Situation | What to Check |
|---|---|
| An image viewer will not open the file | Use an importer that supports headerless RGB/BGR and supply the sidecar settings, or export PNG for an ordinary image viewer. |
| Red and blue appear swapped | Check whether the importer is expecting RGB while the sidecar specifies BGR, or the reverse. |
| The image is skewed or wrapped | Verify width, height, three channels and zero row padding. A wrong row width changes where every following line begins. |
FAQs
Can PDF to RAW Create a Camera RAW File?
No. It exports rendered page pixels. It does not create a camera model file, a Bayer mosaic or original sensor measurements.
Why Is the JSON Sidecar Necessary?
Headerless files do not contain dimensions or channel descriptions. The sidecar records those facts so the bytes can be interpreted without guessing.
Can I Convert These Files Back to PDF?
Yes. Extract a .raw file, choose headerless RGB/BGR mode in RAW to PDF and enter its recorded dimensions and order. The resulting PDF contains the rendered image, not the original PDF objects.