Extracting maps from pdfs....


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How do you do it? Any help would be appreciated.

Also, I know there are the interactive maps that come with downloads, but I was asked how to do the above question, so they are not pertinent right now.


Google "extract pictures from pdf" and you get a lot of choices.

I use Somepdf myself and it does a good job. Not so much on the Interactive Maps that comes with APs. Also, I forget if it is this product, but as always read what they are also asking to install and uncheck as necessary so you don't get the junk.

-- david

Shadow Lodge

This document outlining the steps on how to print maps starting from scratch has the first step on extracting maps, with a link to the version of Some PDF Image Extractr 1.5 that you need.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I've been using Nitro to extract my PDFs, but that forces me to go to Windows. Looking forward to trying this on the Hackintosh.

What I've been doing..

1. Use Nitro PDF reader to extract the images.

2. Import images into Scribus aftermaking a suitably sized document.

3. Size up images as needed, using the scribus ruler to measure the squares.

4. Output to PDF.

5. Print through the online Document service at Staples, making engineering prints.

Edit:Here is a link to a freeware Mac extractor


Adobe allows you to copy images. You use the same method to get them from the interactive pdfs as any other pdf.

There are also a few posts on it.


I don't know if this is just on Macs, but all I have to to is right click and drag it onto my desktop from Adobe Acrobat.

I've had less success with the interactive maps, but turning off the grid and labels, then taking a screenshot has worked well for using them for Roll20. For some reason the grids don't line up well.


Most images can be selected and copied out of the PDF. My normal process is to copy out with Adobe or NitroPDF and paste into paint.NET.

Not all the PDFs have the map labeling separated as a layer of the PDF, so some maps will come out with the "B1, B2, ..." labeling. If you are inclined, you can use an image editing software (paint.NET has some of this functionality if you have the patience to learn it. I never go this far, but Adobe Photoshop or GIMP also fit this role well.


Depending on what use you're putting the extracted maps to--

One method I use is the windows 'snipping tool'. I use it for my PbP tactical maps and for all the tokens on the maps. Once the image is 'snipped' you can save it as its own file. That file can be dragged onto a google document/drawing and voila -- you have a tactical map that the whole party can use.

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