Why do images move or break when I convert a PDF to ePub?

Because a standard ePub is reflowable — it has no fixed pages; text and images flow to fit whatever screen and font size the reader chooses, so an image that sat in a precise spot on a PDF page gets repositioned in the flow, often appearing between paragraphs rather than where it was. That is by design (reflow is what makes ePub readable on any device), but it can disrupt layouts where image placement matters. So images do not "break" so much as relocate. For text-led books that is fine and even desirable; for image-heavy or carefully-laid-out books, you either anchor images near their references or use a fixed-layout ePub, covered below.

What is fixed-layout ePub and when should I use it?

Fixed-layout ePub keeps the exact page design — image and text positions are fixed, like a PDF — instead of reflowing. Use it when layout integrity is essential: art and photography books, comics and graphic novels, children's picture books, and anything where moving an image would ruin the page. The trade-off is that fixed-layout does not adapt to small screens as gracefully (text does not reflow, so it can be small on a phone) and loses some of ePub's accessibility flexibility. So choose by the book: reflowable for text-led reading, fixed-layout for image-driven, design-critical books where you would rather preserve the page than reflow it.

How do I keep image quality through the conversion?

Extract or carry the images at sufficient resolution for the target screens — e-reader and tablet displays are high-DPI now, so images that looked fine in a print PDF may need to stay at good resolution rather than being heavily downsampled. Balance this against file size (ePub files should not be enormous): compress images sensibly but not so aggressively that they look soft on a Retina-class screen. If the source PDF is a scan, the images are the page; OCR for text but keep the image quality for any figures. The goal is images that look crisp on a modern device without bloating the ePub, which is the same quality-vs-size balance as any image work.

Should I add alt text to images during conversion?

Yes, if you can — ePub supports alt text on images, and adding it makes the book accessible to readers using screen readers or text-to-speech, which is both good practice and increasingly expected (and required in some contexts). A converted ePub often arrives with images but no alt text, so plan a pass to add meaningful descriptions to informative images and mark purely decorative ones appropriately. For an image-heavy book especially, missing alt text means a significant part of the content is inaccessible. Treat alt text as part of producing a finished ePub, not an optional extra, particularly if the book will be distributed publicly.

How does the conversion actually work under the hood?

ePub is essentially a package of HTML, CSS, and image files, so converting a PDF to ePub means extracting the text and images and rebuilding them as structured HTML content with the images referenced and styled. That is why a clean, well-structured source converts better — the converter infers structure (headings, paragraphs, image placement) from the PDF, and a simple layout infers cleanly while a complex one needs cleanup. Because ePub is HTML-based, the same skills that make good web content (real headings, proper image references, alt text) make a good ePub. Expect to review and tidy the converted structure, especially around images, before publishing.

What if the result still is not right?

Match the approach to the problem. If images are merely repositioned in a text-led book, that is normal reflow — usually acceptable, and you can anchor key figures near their references. If the layout is design-critical and reflow ruins it, switch to fixed-layout ePub. If images look soft, redo with higher-resolution images. If structure is messy, clean up the underlying HTML (ePub is editable). And if the book is fundamentally a fixed-design document where a faithful page is what matters most, consider whether ePub is even the right target versus keeping the PDF or producing a fixed-layout export. Choose the format that serves how the book is actually read.

Is it safe to convert an unpublished manuscript online?

Unpublished books are confidential, so prefer a tool that converts locally rather than uploading. ScoutMyTool converts PDF to HTML/ePub-style content, extracts images, and OCRs entirely in your browser tab, so the manuscript never leaves your machine. For anything pre-publication, confirm the tool does not upload before using it.

6 min read

How to convert a PDF to ePub while preserving images

By ScoutMyTool Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026-05-22

Convert an image-heavy book from PDF to ePub and the first thing you notice is that the images have wandered — a figure that sat beside its paragraph now floats two screens away. That is not a bug; it is reflow, the very thing that makes ePub readable on any device. The question is whether your book wants reflow at all. Text-led books do; art books, comics, and design-critical layouts often do not, and for those a fixed-layout ePub preserves the page. This guide covers converting a PDF to ePub with images intact: when to choose reflowable versus fixed-layout, keeping image quality crisp on modern screens, adding alt text, and cleaning up the result.

Which ePub type for which book

Book type	ePub choice	Why
Text with occasional images	Reflowable ePub	Adapts to screen; images flow inline
Image-heavy (art, photo)	Fixed-layout ePub	Preserves exact image placement
Comics / graphic novels	Fixed-layout ePub	Page integrity matters
Textbook with figures	Reflowable + anchored figures	Readable text; figures near references
Just need it readable	Reflowable ePub	Best reading experience on any device

Step by step — PDF to ePub with images intact

Decide reflowable or fixed-layout. Text-led → reflowable; image-driven or design-critical → fixed-layout. This choice drives everything else.
OCR if the source is scanned. Recover text with PDF OCR (see OCR + reformat) while keeping figure images at quality.
Convert via HTML. ePub is HTML+CSS+images, so convert with PDF to HTML (see PDF to interactive HTML) as the structured basis, then package as ePub — see PDF to ePub.
Keep image quality and placement. Carry images at good resolution for high-DPI screens; for reflowable, anchor key figures near their references — see images in ePub (and extracting images).
Add alt text. Describe informative images, mark decorative ones, so the ePub is accessible.
Clean up the structure. Fix headings, image references, and any reflow oddities in the underlying HTML.
Test on real devices. Check the ePub on an e-reader/phone (see e-reader compatibility) — confirm images render crisply and sit sensibly.

PDF to ePub: the general conversion.
Images in ePub: handling images specifically.
E-reader compatibility: testing on devices.
PDF to interactive HTML: the HTML basis of ePub.
Extract images from a PDF: pulling figures at quality.
PDF to HTML tool: convert in your browser.
All ScoutMyTool PDF tools: the full toolkit.

FAQ

Why do images move or break when I convert a PDF to ePub?: Because a standard ePub is reflowable — it has no fixed pages; text and images flow to fit whatever screen and font size the reader chooses, so an image that sat in a precise spot on a PDF page gets repositioned in the flow, often appearing between paragraphs rather than where it was. That is by design (reflow is what makes ePub readable on any device), but it can disrupt layouts where image placement matters. So images do not "break" so much as relocate. For text-led books that is fine and even desirable; for image-heavy or carefully-laid-out books, you either anchor images near their references or use a fixed-layout ePub, covered below.
What is fixed-layout ePub and when should I use it?: Fixed-layout ePub keeps the exact page design — image and text positions are fixed, like a PDF — instead of reflowing. Use it when layout integrity is essential: art and photography books, comics and graphic novels, children's picture books, and anything where moving an image would ruin the page. The trade-off is that fixed-layout does not adapt to small screens as gracefully (text does not reflow, so it can be small on a phone) and loses some of ePub's accessibility flexibility. So choose by the book: reflowable for text-led reading, fixed-layout for image-driven, design-critical books where you would rather preserve the page than reflow it.
How do I keep image quality through the conversion?: Extract or carry the images at sufficient resolution for the target screens — e-reader and tablet displays are high-DPI now, so images that looked fine in a print PDF may need to stay at good resolution rather than being heavily downsampled. Balance this against file size (ePub files should not be enormous): compress images sensibly but not so aggressively that they look soft on a Retina-class screen. If the source PDF is a scan, the images are the page; OCR for text but keep the image quality for any figures. The goal is images that look crisp on a modern device without bloating the ePub, which is the same quality-vs-size balance as any image work.
Should I add alt text to images during conversion?: Yes, if you can — ePub supports alt text on images, and adding it makes the book accessible to readers using screen readers or text-to-speech, which is both good practice and increasingly expected (and required in some contexts). A converted ePub often arrives with images but no alt text, so plan a pass to add meaningful descriptions to informative images and mark purely decorative ones appropriately. For an image-heavy book especially, missing alt text means a significant part of the content is inaccessible. Treat alt text as part of producing a finished ePub, not an optional extra, particularly if the book will be distributed publicly.
How does the conversion actually work under the hood?: ePub is essentially a package of HTML, CSS, and image files, so converting a PDF to ePub means extracting the text and images and rebuilding them as structured HTML content with the images referenced and styled. That is why a clean, well-structured source converts better — the converter infers structure (headings, paragraphs, image placement) from the PDF, and a simple layout infers cleanly while a complex one needs cleanup. Because ePub is HTML-based, the same skills that make good web content (real headings, proper image references, alt text) make a good ePub. Expect to review and tidy the converted structure, especially around images, before publishing.
What if the result still is not right?: Match the approach to the problem. If images are merely repositioned in a text-led book, that is normal reflow — usually acceptable, and you can anchor key figures near their references. If the layout is design-critical and reflow ruins it, switch to fixed-layout ePub. If images look soft, redo with higher-resolution images. If structure is messy, clean up the underlying HTML (ePub is editable). And if the book is fundamentally a fixed-design document where a faithful page is what matters most, consider whether ePub is even the right target versus keeping the PDF or producing a fixed-layout export. Choose the format that serves how the book is actually read.
Is it safe to convert an unpublished manuscript online?: Unpublished books are confidential, so prefer a tool that converts locally rather than uploading. ScoutMyTool converts PDF to HTML/ePub-style content, extracts images, and OCRs entirely in your browser tab, so the manuscript never leaves your machine. For anything pre-publication, confirm the tool does not upload before using it.

Citations

Wikipedia — “EPUB,” the format, including reflowable and fixed-layout. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPUB
Wikipedia — “Reflowable document,” why images reposition in standard ePub. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflowable_document
Wikipedia — “Comparison of e-book formats,” on ePub vs. other formats. en.wikipedia.org — e-book formats

An ePub where the images still work

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