convert pdf to image - imagemagick - ghostscript

[Ciary]

hi all,

it's my second question of today but since i'm stuck with this problem, i'm going to ask it anyway. i'm trying to convert an uploaded pdf file to a jpg, gif or png file. i want to use it as a background image. the problem isn't uploading the file, it's converting the file from pdf to an image.

first, i tried to use imagick. so i installed ghostscript and imagemagick. but then the problems began. i searched 4 days to find a way to get imagick working in php. i tried nearly every solution on google without a positive result. i'm using xampp on windows XP.

does anyone know, in detail how you should install imagick or does anyone know another way to convert pdf files in to images using php.

one other thing. the solution needs to contain a function to rotate the image as well. this might complicate things.

still, i hope someone can help me.

[Markus]

So you want something like an image of the pdf? Not quite sure how you'd do that, apart from create an app that reads the data and then builds it as an image. That'd be a hard thing to do, I guess.

Good luck.

- mark.

[Ciary]

i found on the php.net website a way to do it with imagick but i have a problem implementing and installing it.

for the interrested: this is the way to convert pdf to image if you get it installed

[EDIT] so, if anyone knows another way. or if anyone knows exacly how to install imagick, i'm here to hear your solutions

[Ciary]

come on!!

is there really no one who knows how to install imagemagick and imagick properly? i really need this.

il give you a billion thanks and a kiss of you want to :-)

please!! it's urgent :-(

[Markus]

Installation of imagick.

I've never used it so I can't be of much help.

- mark.

[secmazec]

I could also use this code for thumbnails on my Website. Big thanks to whoever can and will code it in shortest possible form. :-)

[Ciary]

tried that already and it didn't work. but thanks anyway Markus.

secmazec, coding it is the easy part. it's only 8 lines to convert a pdf to an image. installing imagick on windows is a lot harder.

<?php
$im = new imagick( 'test.pdf[ 0]' ); 
 
$im->setImageColorspace(255);
$im->setCompression(Imagick::COMPRESSION_JPEG);
$im->setCompressionQuality(100);
$im->setImageFormat('jpeg');
 
$im->writeImage('thumb.jpg');
$im->clear();
$im->destroy();
?>

you will need to install ghostscript too because imagick itself can't handle pdf-files. So, if you get it installed, please let me know.

[secmazec]

Thanks Ciary, now I understand.

[Ciary]

my first question on this forum and after a few weeks, i've finally solved it.

the first thing you need to do when you want to convert a PDF to an image at runtime in php is ... (fill in all abusive content you can think of but the admin doesn't permit me to write) ... with imagick.

after that you install imagemagick and ghostscript
then you write the code: remember that in imagick you needed 5 lines of code. when using ghostscript and imagemagick (things you also needed with imagick) you need this:

exec(convert upload/test.pdf upload/test.jpg)

you noticed correct. it's only 1 line of code. i'm not sure if it can be used on a unix/linux server but there, installing imagick is a lot easier.

i hope i didn't offend anyone and helped a lot of ppl with this post

grtz

Jan

ps. srr if i sound rude in this post, but i'm a bit frustrated that i searched 3 weeks to find something that simple. and only because of ****** imagick.

[Markus]

This will be helpful to a lot of people, I expect.

I'll update the post title so that it'll get more attention (via google).