People who use smartphones, particularly iPhone users, can save their images in HEIF format, which is designed for saving images in a compact and high-definition mode. Although it's best suited for its smart storage, it's not highly compatible with other devices. A reliable option for this problem is to convert them to PDF format for easy sharing and accessibility across different platforms.
Many tools are available online to cater to this issue, but they have certain limitations when processing batch files. Therefore, for seamless conversion and maximum compatibility, PDFelement desktop is the best option. This article provides a detailed explanation of the easy conversion methods for HEIF to PDF on Mac, Windows, and iPhone.
Section 1. How to Convert HEIF to PDF on Mac
Are you a Mac user and want to convert your HEIF images into PDF files? This part covers both the built-in Preview app and PDFelement to solve your problem:
Method 1. Native Mac Preview App
People who require file control and quick compilation of their data without the inconvenience of installing any third-party software. Mac users can convert HEIF images to PDF effortlessly through the native Preview app.
It is compatible with several file formats, and processes a group of images to make one PDF file. The steps below should be followed to simply convert HEIF files to PDF using the built-in Preview app:
Step 1. Select the files you need to convert and right-click the mouse to open a list of options. Choose the “Preview” option from the "Open With” tab to open your image in Preview.
Step 2. With the image opened, from the "File" option, select the "Export as PDF" option which is shown in the drop-down menu list.
Step 3. Finally, specify the location for the converted images and then save your photos into a PDF file by clicking the "Save" button.
Method 2. Using PDFelement for Mac
If you’re a professional photographer and you have to deal with dozens of HEIF images on your Mac, sharing them with your team is a difficult challenge. This issue can be resolved through the Preview app, but it lacks the extensive merging tools present in PDFelement for Mac. PDFelement not only lets you integrate your photographs but also saves your precious time with the guarantee of picture quality.
The tool converts HEIF to PDF effortlessly and allows you to share them directly from the interface to online services and via email. Moreover, it offers powerful editing features and an easy-to-use interface, allowing customers to quickly manage their PDFs.
Distinct Features of PDFelement for Mac
High-Quality Image Retention: Many online tools can compress image size and reduce quality when converting HEIF images into PDF. Whereas PDFelement ensures the necessary image resolution for professional documents and high-fidelity presentations.
Merge Multiple HEIF Images into One PDF: PDFelement allows users to easily merge several photos into a single PDF file when creating documents, portfolios and class presentations. Its a simpler method than manually organizing individual PDF files for each image.
Batch HEIF to PDF Conversion: This option is used by designers, artists, and professional cameramen who work with massive amounts of HEIF photos. The functionality allows users to convert multiple HEIF photos into PDF files while maintaining their uniform photo quality.
Easy Export and Sharing: The converted HEIF image to PDF can be easily exported to your designated folder and transferred directly via email or other cloud platforms as a PDF file. This tool saves its users from the hassle of third-party interference.
Watermarking and Bates Numbering: PDFelement allows users to put text or picture watermarks into PDF documents to protect copyright. The tool also lets professionals to assign a unique number to their file for reference control.
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Steps to Convert HEIF to PDF on Mac Through PDFelement
As discussed, PDFelement offers a straightforward approach to converting your HEIF to PDF on Mac. The following is a step-by-step guide on the conversion process of a PDF file through PDFelement:
Step 1. Initiate PDFelement on Your Mac and Select Create
In this step, go to the homepage, and intialize PDFelement and click the "Create PDF" option. From the menu list, select "PDF From File" to upload your desired HEIF image.
Step 2. Import Your HEIF File and Save as PDF
After opening your selected image, use the editing toolbar to make changes. Then, navigate to the “File” menu, choose your target folder and press the “Save” option.
Section 2. HEIF to PDF Conversion on Windows
Windows does not natively accept HEIF files to be viewed within its environment. As a result, PDFelement offers a simple solution to convert HEIF images to PDF, including advanced merge options, customization, and rapid file processing, that outperforms other online solutions. Follow the given below steps to convert your media into PDF file:
Step 1. This step starts by downloading the PDFelement on your computer. Click on "Create PDF" and choose "From File" to import the HEIF images for further action.
Step 2. Select the “Edit” tab to add annotations or desired adjustments after importing your image. After that, expand the “File” menu from the top-left corner and click the “Save” option to save your file.
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Other Available Options
As we’ve discussed the complete steps of converting HEIF to PDF, let's explore the other tools for HEIF viewers and their limitations in the table below:
| Tools | Key Features | Limitations |
| HEIF Image Extension | It supports HEIF formats and provides basic viewing options. | The extension only offers basic viewing with no editing abilities. |
| IrfanView | This tool provides batch conversion support, enabling HEIF/HEIC viewing options with plugins. | IrfanView requires external HEVC codecs or plugins for viewing HEIF images. The interface of this tool is also outdated. |
| CopyTrans HEIC for Windows | The tool adds HEIC/HEIF support to Windows Explorer and Microsoft Office, enabling users to view and print their images. | Users cannot edit or export their images as a PDF. |
| Adobe Lightroom | Easily open HEIC/HEIF images and provides professional editing and cloud sync. | A paid subscription is required, and it's also not ideal for simple viewing and converting tasks. |
Section 3. Convert HEIF to PDF on iPhone or iPad
A built-in solution is available to convert HEIF image to PDF for iPhone and iPad users. Whether you're organizing your photos or managing your work files, iOS provides easy conversion options that don't require third-party apps. However, PDFelement is a better option for customization and more advanced features. Given below are the steps of how you can directly convert your HEIF images into PDF format:
How to Convert HEIF to PDF with Print-to-PDF Feature
The Print to PDF feature is available in the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad for an easy and quick way to convert a HEIF image to a PDF file. With a few clicks and simple steps, you can easily generate your PDF file as mentioned below:
Step 1. Start by launching the Photos app on your smartphone to begin the conversion process. Press the “Select” option to choose the photos for conversion. Tap on the “Share” icon located at the bottom left corner of the interface.
Step 2. In this step, from the sharing options, click on the "Print" button. Use the “Share” icon from the top-right corner after previewing your converted file within the interface. Finally, save your file by pressing the “Save to Files” option.
For users who need professional control over their documents, PDFelement offers reliable and compelling features. Other online tools offer limited functions, whereas this tool provides high-quality output and full editing capabilities for your HEIF images.
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Section 4. Recommended HEIF to PDF Converter
Among many options available online, PDFelement stands out as the best and reliable HEIF to PDF converter because of its advanced features discussed in the following section in detail:
Reasons PDFelement Desktop Is the Most Reliable Choice
Many online HEIF to PDF converters do not fully support the HEIF image format and sometimes fail to open files completely. With PDFelement, you can not only batch convert HEIF files but also retain their original quality and even edit PDFs after conversions. The following standout features explain why PDFelement is a better solution for converting HEIF to PDF:
It can open and convert HEIF images without requiring any third-party software or configuration, ensuring a seamless workflow.
Users can save time by easily converting multiple HEIF files into PDFs, which are ideal for handling large volumes of data.
Several HEIF files can be merged into a single PDF file for easy sharing and transferring to other platforms.
The post-PDF edits can be made easily through this tool that gives users complete control over the final output.
Given below is the comparison table between PDFelement and other online tools, highlighting why PDF stands out as the best HEIF to PDF converter:
| Features | PDFelement | iLovePDF | Smallpdf | Zamzar | Convertio |
| In-Built HEIF Support | Yes, opens HEIF images directly. | It has limited and no direct support for HEIF images. | It does not have direct support for HEIF images. | It doesn't offer native HEIF image support. | Offers HEIF to PDF and other conversions. |
| Batch Conversion | It can convert multiple HEIF files at once. | It has the limited feature of converting a single HEIF file at a time. | Only a single HEIF image can be covered at a time. | It lacks editing capabilities and has a limited batch conversion option. | Batch conversion options are available, but their performance varies. |
| Combine Multiple HEIF Images | Yes, it can easily combine multiple HEIF images into one PDF file. | This tool primarily converts each image into a separate PDF file. | It can convert a single HEIF image into a PDF file. | It can convert one HEIF file to a PDF output. | It offers manual merging of HEIF images after conversion. |
| Image Quality Retention | PDFelement ensures image quality retention and resolution. | This degrades the image quality and compresses its size. | It can compress the image file size, hence degrade its quality. | It may compress the image size and deteriorate the image quality. | It offers lossy compression of HEIF images. |
| OCR (Text Recognition) | This feature is available for scanned and image-based text. | It is not available in this tool. | This feature is not available here. | It doesn't offer this feature. | This tool lacks any editing features. |
| Security and Privacy | It can secure your data and files, which can stay on your system. | Files are uploaded to the Cloud or an online web, which poses potential privacy risks. | Potential risks of data leaks due to uploading files online. | Files are uploaded to the Cloud, hence privacy concerns. | Cloud-based upload poses a risk of data exposure. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, this guide offers a comprehensive review of various methods for converting HEIF to PDF across different platforms. Users who require accuracy, quality, and control over their HEIF images should choose PDFelement. Therefore, it is concluded that PDFelement delivers a seamless experience with advanced features when compared with other online converters.
Frequently Asked Questions about HEIF to PDF
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1. What is HEIF format?
HEIF is an advanced image format particularly used by iOS devices. This format provides high-definition images with the best compression ability to save storage space compared to other image formats, such as JPEG. -
2. Why doesn’t every tool support HEIF?
Because HEIF photos are incompatible with non-Apple devices, you must convert them to PDF. Its a new format of images that which require specific codecs and licensing agreements. Also HEIF is based on advanced compression (HEVC) which other softwares are not equipped to decode by default. -
3. How to convert multiple HEIF images to one PDF?
You can easily convert multiple HEIF images to PDF file with PDFelement which supports batch conversion and file merging. First of all, simply upload all your HEIF images, use the “Combine” and “Merge” feature and create a single PDF file for your photos. -
4. Can I convert HEIF to PDF for free?
Yes, you can convert your HEIF images into PDF using built-in apps like Preview on Mac or online tools like CloudConvert and Convertio. These tools have limitations of file size restrictions, watermarks, and lack of batch processing. Hence for more control and advanced functionality, PDFelement is the highly recomended tool. -
5. Will converting HEIF to PDF reduce image quality?
With many online softwares used for converting HEIF to PDF files, the image quality cannot be maintained. However, with the help of PDFelement, you can retain the quality of your PDF data files even after the conversion process.
