What PDF Import Does
PDF Import converts PDF pages into catalog page images. It does NOT extract product data, text, or prices from PDFs.
Use cases:
- Digitize existing print catalogs
- Import brochures or flyers as editable catalogs
- Archive supplier PDFs as image-based catalogs
NOT for:
- Importing product data (attach the PDF in AI Concierge, below, or use CSV / Shopify)
- Extracting text or prices from PDFs
- OCR or data extraction
Need to extract product data from a PDF? Use the AI Concierge - upload your PDF and it will extract products, prices, and descriptions automatically. → Try AI Import
How to Import a PDF
- Go to Catalogs > Import PDF
- Upload your PDF file
- Configure options:
- Name: Catalog name (defaults to PDF filename)
- Quality: Low (72 DPI, fast), Medium (150 DPI), High (300 DPI, slow)
- Create catalog: Auto-create catalog with imported pages
- Click Import
Each PDF page becomes an image stored in your library and placed on a catalog page.
Quality Settings
| Setting | DPI | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 72 | Quick preview, screen-only |
| Medium | 150 | Balance of speed and quality |
| High | 300 | Print-quality output |
Higher DPI = larger file sizes and longer processing.
Limitations
- Maximum file size is 50 MB, regardless of plan or storage. Larger files are rejected - compress the PDF or split it into parts
- Pages per catalog depend on the plan: Free 20, Lite 50, Pro/Premium unlimited, counting pages already in the catalog. An import that stops partway (e.g. 50 of 88 pages) hit the plan's page limit, not a file problem - splitting the PDF does not help; upgrading to Pro does
- Processing time increases with page count and DPI
- Images are static - text cannot be edited after import
- Product data must be added separately via Products
After Import
Once imported, you can:
- Edit catalog layout in Designer
- Add product overlays or links
- Combine with Product Cards and AutoGrid pages
- Export as new PDF or share online