Fix Low Resolution Images in Google Docs to PDF
Low resolution images in a PDF exported from Google Docs are caused by inserting low-resolution source images or by how the image was added to the document. The export engine does not reduce resolution, so the fix is always in the source image.
Check the source image resolution
Right-click the image in the Google Doc and select Save to Drive or Save image as to get a copy of the source file. Open the file and check its pixel dimensions. For a document that will be viewed on screen, a minimum of 96 DPI is acceptable. For print, you need at least 300 DPI. If the source is below these values, replace it with a higher-resolution version.
Re-insert high-resolution images
Delete the low-resolution image from the Google Doc. Obtain a higher-resolution version of the same image, then go to Insert > Image > Upload from computer and insert the new file. Make sure you are uploading the full-resolution file, not a web-compressed thumbnail.
Avoid screenshots for diagrams and charts
Screenshots are typically 72-96 DPI and look blurry in print-quality PDFs. For diagrams, export from the original tool as a PNG or SVG at higher resolution. Google Docs supports high-resolution PNG imports that maintain sharpness in PDF export.
Google Drawings export quality
Drawings created with Insert > Drawing in Google Docs export as vector graphics in the PDF. They scale to any size without quality loss. If you need high-quality diagrams, create them using Google Drawing rather than inserting raster images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google compress images when I upload them to a Google Doc?
Google may compress images slightly when they are inserted into a Doc to reduce document file size. For maximum quality, ensure the original image is high resolution before inserting it, so that even with some compression the output remains acceptable.
Why do images look sharp in the Google Doc but blurry in the PDF?
Google Docs displays images at screen resolution scaled to fit the document view, which can look sharp even for low-resolution images. The PDF shows the actual pixel resolution. View both the Doc and the PDF at the same zoom level to get an accurate comparison.
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