Make & keep
Export one strip scan page from a PDF as an image
Choose a page thumbnail in Preview and export that page as PNG or another available image format.
A PDF may contain several scans, while a print or web tool expects one image file. Preview can export a selected PDF page as an image. This creates a raster image copy of that page; choose a suitable format and do not treat the export as the original scanner file.
Select the source page
Open the PDF in Preview and choose View > Thumbnails. Select the page containing the strip you need. Choose File > Export, enter a new filename, choose a destination, then set the Format menu to an image type such as PNG. Click Save.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Export to an image format
Use PNG when you want a lossless raster output, especially for a scan with labels or a clean background; choose JPEG only when a smaller lossy file is required. Inspect the exported image at full size and note that the page’s visible scale and pixel dimensions depend on the PDF page rendering.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Keep the source relationship
Reopen the image in Preview and check its dimensions and crop in the Inspector. Keep the PDF unchanged as the source document and name the extracted page with its PDF page number or frame number. This helps preserve the link back to the scan sequence when the images are separated for a strip maker.
Evidence: Apple user guide
Sources & further reading
Sources for the specific facts and product descriptions above. Our worked examples, interpretations and practical suggestions are original editorial guidance.