How to Convert PDF to SVG with Python: Fast and Easy Guide


SVG is an XML-based image format that scales without losing quality, making it ideal for websites, presentations, and design work. However, many resources are only available as PDF files. If you need to extract scalable graphics from a PDF, converting PDF to SVG with Python is a simple and efficient solution. Whether it’s a logo, chart, or diagram, Python allows you to export any page of a PDF into high-quality SVG format—ready for reuse across digital platforms.
Convert a Single PDF Page to SVG with Python
PDF files often contain multiple pages, but sometimes you only need to convert a specific one—like a cover, diagram, or chart—into SVG format. With Python and the help of third-party libraries, this task becomes much easier. In this example, we’ll use Spire.PDF, a powerful Python library designed for handling PDF files. It supports not only simple conversions like PDF to SVG, but also advanced features such as comment management and font handling. Let’s walk through how to convert a single PDF page to SVG.
Steps to convert specified PDF pages to SVG:
Create an object of the PdfDocument class.
Load a source PDF file using the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
Save the specified pages to SVG through the PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.
The code example here shows how to change the first and the second pages to SVG:
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Create an object of the PdfDocument class
doc = PdfDocument()
# Load a PDF file
doc.LoadFromFile("/Booklet.pdf")
# Save specific pages of the file to SVG files
doc.SaveToFile("/PdfPagesToSVG/ToSVG.svg", 1, 2, FileFormat.SVG)
# Close the PdfDocument object
doc.Close()
Convert an Entire PDF to SVG Files in Python
In the last section, we learned how to convert a specific page from a PDF to SVG. Now, let’s take it a step further and convert the entire PDF into individual SVG files—one per page. With just three simple steps and the PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method, Python can easily handle the task and export each page as a separate SVG file automatically.
Steps to convert a PDF file to SVG:
Create an instance of the PdfDocument class.
Load a PDF file to be converted through the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
Save the PDF to SVG with the PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Create an object of the PdfDocument class
doc = PdfDocument()
# Load a PDF file
doc.LoadFromFile("/Booklet.pdf")
# Save specific pages of the file to SVG files
doc.SaveToFile("/PdfToSVG/ToSVG.svg", FileFormat.SVG)
# Close the PdfDocument object
doc.Close()
Convert PDF to SVG with Custom Width and Height in Python
Sometimes, the default PDF size doesn't fit your needs—especially when using the converted SVG on websites or responsive layouts. Instead of manually adjusting it later, you can set the desired width and height during the conversion. With Spire.PDF’s ConvertOptions.SetPdfToSvgOptions() method, you can easily customize the output size. Here’s how to apply it step by step.
Steps to set width and height while converting PDF files to SVG:
Create a PdfDocument object.
Load a PDF document with the PdfDocument.LoadFromFile() method.
Set the width and the height of SVG files using the **PdfDocument.**ConvertOptions.SetPdfToSvgOptions() method.
Save the PDF file as SVG through the PdfDocument.SaveToFile() method.
from spire.pdf.common import *
from spire.pdf import *
# Create an object of the PdfDocument class
doc = PdfDocument()
# Load a PDF file
doc.LoadFromFile("/Booklet.pdf")
# Specify the width and height of output SVG files
doc.ConvertOptions.SetPdfToSvgOptions(800.0, 1200.0)
# Save each page of the file to a separate SVG file
doc.SaveToFile("/PdfToSVGWithCustomWidthAndHeight/ToSVG.svg", FileFormat.SVG)
# Close the PdfDocument object
doc.Close()
The Bottom Line
In this guide, we explored how to convert PDF to SVG with Python, covering converting a single page and the entire file, as well as how to customize the output size. With this page, you can easily export vector graphics from PDFs for use in web design, presentations, and more. Try these simple and flexible methods to streamline your PDF-to-SVG conversion process.
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