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Documents conversion

Convert DjVu to PDF

Short answer

DjVu is a compact format built for scanned books and archives, but most apps and devices can't open it without a special reader. PDF is the format almost everything reads. To convert, open the DjVu file in a converter and export it as PDF. Doing this on your own computer keeps the scanned pages off other people's servers.

All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.

Extension
.djvu
Type
Documents
Typically
Scanned books, archives
Extension
.pdf
Type
Documents
Typically
The universal document format
Metadata
Carries EXIF

Convert DjVu to PDF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.

One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.

How to convert DjVu to PDF

  1. Open Morphjet and drag in the DjVu file, or a whole folder of scanned volumes, at once.
  2. Choose PDF as the output format.
  3. Convert. The PDF is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.

DjVu vs PDF: what actually changes

DjVuPDF
Opens everywhereNo, needs a special reader or pluginYes, opens in browsers, phones, and e-readers
File sizeSmaller, built to compress scanned pages tightlyLarger, though still practical for scanned pages
QualityPage images as scannedSame page images carried over, no visible loss
Searchable text layerYes, if the file was OCR'dYes, carried over if the DjVu already has one
Printing and archiving supportLimited, most print and archive tools skip itYes, the standard format for both

When to convert, and when not to

Convert DjVu to PDF when you need to send a scanned book or archive to someone without a DjVu reader, print it, or read it on a phone, tablet, or e-reader that doesn't support DjVu.

Keep the DjVu original if you're storing a large scanned archive and already have a DjVu reader, since DjVu usually keeps the file noticeably smaller than PDF.

Why not just use an online converter?

Scanned documents often hold private material, old letters, medical records, out-of-print books someone spent years digitizing. Sending a DjVu file through an online converter means uploading all of that to a server you don't control. Converting on your own computer keeps every page local, so nothing about what you're reading or archiving leaves your machine.

Questions

Does converting DjVu to PDF lose quality?

No. The page images carry over as they are, so there's no visible loss going from DjVu to PDF.

Will the PDF be bigger than the DjVu file?

Usually, yes. DjVu was built specifically to compress scanned pages tightly, so the resulting PDF is often somewhat larger even though it holds the same pages.

Does the PDF keep the searchable text layer?

If the DjVu file already has an OCR text layer, that layer carries over to the PDF. Converting doesn't add text recognition to a DjVu that doesn't already have one.

Why convert DjVu to PDF at all?

DjVu needs a special reader or browser plugin that most people don't have installed. PDF opens natively in browsers, phones, e-readers, and print software, so it's the more practical format for sharing.

Can I convert DjVu to PDF without uploading it?

Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the scanned pages never travel over the internet.

Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.

One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.