To turn photos or scans into one PDF, use your phone’s built-in scanner (Notes on iPhone, Google Drive’s scan feature on Android) or the Print to PDF option on any computer: select the images in order, choose “Print”, pick “Save as PDF” or “Microsoft Print to PDF”, and save. Before converting, crop each page, straighten it and shrink the images, so the PDF is readable and small enough for email and online forms (many accept only 1 to 5 MB).
- You already have free tools to make PDFs on every phone and computer.
- Scanner apps straighten pages and boost contrast automatically.
- Crop and compress images first for a smaller PDF.
- Put pages in the right order and name the file clearly.
- Prepare pages with the free cropper and Image Compressor.
Twelve photos, one PDF, one deadline
Imagine a job applicant who has to upload “all certificates in a single PDF, maximum 2 MB” by midnight. He has twelve phone photos: tilted, with fingers in the frame and the kitchen table showing around each certificate. Uploading them one by one is not an option.
With a scanner app, each page comes out flat and white. A few taps combine them into one file, and a quick compress gets it under the limit. Twenty minutes, done.
Method 1: Scan straight to PDF with your phone
iPhone (Notes app)
- Open NotesCreate a new note.
- Tap the camera iconChoose Scan Documents.
- Scan each pageHold the phone above the page. It captures automatically and straightens the page.
- Save and shareTap Save, then share the scan and choose to save as PDF to Files, or send it directly.
Android (Google Drive)
- Open Google DriveTap the plus button.
- Choose ScanPhotograph each page; adjust the crop if needed.
- Add pagesTap the plus to add more pages to the same PDF.
- SaveName the file and save it as a PDF.
Method 2: Combine existing photos on a computer
| Computer | Steps |
|---|---|
| Windows | Select the images in File Explorer, right-click, Print, choose “Microsoft Print to PDF”, untick “Fit picture to frame” if pages get cropped, Print, then name the file |
| Mac | Select images, open in Preview, arrange the thumbnails in order, then File, Print, PDF, Save as PDF (or File, Export as PDF) |
| Chromebook | Open an image, Print, choose “Save as PDF” |
Prepare images first for a better PDF
- Crop to the edges of the page with the image cropper.
- Rotate pages that are sideways.
- Resize and compress to around 1500 to 2000 pixels on the long side and 200 to 400 KB per page with the Image Compressor.
- Convert odd formats such as HEIC to JPG first with the Image Converter.
Getting the PDF under a size limit
- Compress the images, not the PDFIt is easier to shrink the photos before combining them.
- Use grayscale for text documentsBlack-and-white scans are much smaller than colour.
- Remove blank or duplicate pagesEvery page adds size.
- Check the resultOpen the PDF and zoom in. Text must still be clearly readable.
Naming and order
Name the file clearly, for example “Rahim-Uddin-certificates.pdf”, and put pages in the order the form asks for: usually certificates from latest to oldest, or as listed in the job circular. For CVs, read how to write a CV in Bangladesh and make one with the free CV maker, which downloads as PDF.
Sources
- Apple Support: How to scan documents on your iPhone or iPad
- Google Drive Help: Scan documents with Google Drive
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert photos to PDF on my phone?
On iPhone, use Scan Documents in the Notes app. On Android, use the Scan option in Google Drive. Both create a PDF from one or more pages.
How do I combine multiple images into one PDF on Windows?
Select the images, right-click, choose Print, select Microsoft Print to PDF and save.
How can I make a PDF smaller?
Compress the images before combining them, scan text documents in grayscale, and remove blank or duplicate pages.
Can I edit the text in a scanned PDF?
Not directly. Use an OCR tool to convert the scanned image into editable text.
What file size limit do online forms use?
It varies, but many forms accept 1 to 5 MB per PDF. Check the instructions before you scan.
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