Reads PostScript text files
A .ps file is a program in readable text that draws each page. The converter runs it and saves the drawn page as a picture, so you do not need Ghostscript or a PostScript viewer installed.
PS to PNG Converter
Add a PostScript .ps file and get one PNG back. A multi-page file gives you page 1 only, at 72 ppi on a white background.
To convert ps to png, add the .ps file, keep PNG as the output format and download the result. In our test, a 1,772-byte PostScript file with three US Letter pages became one 612 × 792 px png of page 1 only, because this converter outputs a single image.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the PNG file once before you share it.
FromPSLossless
PS (PostScript)
A page description language from Adobe. A .ps file is a program in readable text that a printer or an interpreter such as Ghostscript runs to draw each page, using text, vector paths and images. The Language Reference, third edition, dates from 1999. Fonts may be embedded in the file or left for the interpreter to find, which is the usual cause of wrong lettering after conversion.
ToPNGLosslessTransparency
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A lossless raster format with a full alpha channel. It preserves every pixel it is given and supports transparency, which makes it the usual choice for logos, screenshots, and any image with sharp edges or text.
A 3-page US Letter PostScript test file of 1,772 bytes, our own work, converted on indox.org
- PSthe original, 3 pages
- 1,772 bytes
- PNGfrom indox, page 1 only, 72 ppi, about 5.8× larger
- 10,305 bytes
Why use indox to convert PS to PNG?
Nothing to install, any device with a browser
The conversion runs on indox servers, so it works the same on Windows, Mac, Linux, a Chromebook or a phone. In our test we did not have to sign in.
Clear about pages and resolution
The page tells you before you convert that you get page 1 only and a size of one pixel per PostScript point, which is 72 ppi. Most converters leave both out.
Text, lines and fills come out as pixels
Titles, shapes and coloured fills in our sample were drawn as a normal RGB picture. A font the file does not embed is replaced by a similar one, so the text is still there.
What happens to your PS file
Stays
- Your original PS file, which is not touched
- The page size: 612 × 792 pt became 612 × 792 px in our test
- Titles, shapes and colours as seen on page 1
- The text, even when a font is substituted
Changes
- Pages: only page 1 is converted
- Resolution: fixed at 72 ppi, one pixel per point
- Background: opaque white, with no alpha channel
- Text: pixels now, so it cannot be selected or searched
- File size: 1,772 bytes became 10,305 bytes in our test
How do I convert PS to PNG online?
- 1
Add your PS file
Drop the .ps file on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original: it is the only copy that stays sharp at any size.
- 2
Confirm PNG, then start the conversion
Check that PNG is the output format and start the conversion. In our test it finished about 3.3 seconds after the click for a file under 2 KB, and the time depends on the file.
- 3
Download and check the PNG
Download the picture and open it. Check that the fonts look right and that page 1 is the page you wanted, since the other pages are not delivered.
- 4
Need other pages or a sharper picture?
Split the file by page first and convert each part, or use Ghostscript yourself for 300 ppi, as described in the troubleshooting table below.
What do I get from indox's PS to PNG converter?
You hand over a PostScript file and take away a PNG of its first page, ready for a web page, a slide or a document. The page also states what you will not get, so you know before converting whether it fits the job.
- One PNG for the PS file you add, in a few clicks
- Nothing installed on Windows, Mac, Linux or a phone
- The page says up front that you get page 1 only at 72 ppi, with a route to PDF and to a sharper picture
- Your original .ps file stays as it was
What are the limits for PS to PNG?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
PS in, PNG out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- A multi-page PS file gives you one PNG of page 1. In our test, pages 2 and 3 were not delivered.
- The resolution is 72 ppi, one pixel per point. In our run we saw no option to choose a higher resolution or a page.
- The background is white and opaque. If you need a transparent PNG, remove the white in an image editor afterwards.
- Fonts that are not embedded in the file are replaced. In our font test a requested Palatino Bold Italic came out as a serif bold italic substitute, so the shape of the letters changes but the text stays.
- The result is a picture. Text in it cannot be selected, searched or copied.
- We tested small files of 1,772 and 860 bytes. Large or complex PostScript files were not tested here, so we cannot say how long they take or whether they convert.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Only one picture from a multi-page file | The converter outputs page 1 only | Split the file by page and convert each part, or use PS to PDF to keep every page |
| The picture is small or soft when printed | It is 72 ppi, one pixel per point | Keep the .ps and render at 300 ppi, for example with gs -sDEVICE=png16m -r300 -o page-%d.png file.ps |
| The background is white, not transparent | The PNG has no alpha channel | Remove the white in an image editor, or render with Ghostscript's png16malpha device |
| The letters look different from the original | The font was not embedded and a substitute was used | Embed the fonts when you create the PS, then convert again |
| I need every page as its own PNG | Only page 1 is delivered here | Ghostscript writes one PNG per page when the output name contains %d |
| The file will not convert | It may not be valid PostScript, or it may be too complex | Check that it starts with %!PS and try a smaller test file |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to PS to PNG?
PS vs PNG: what is the difference?
| Compared on | PS | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| What it stores | Drawing instructions in readable text | A grid of pixels |
| Pages | Several pages in one file | One image per file |
| Sharpness when enlarged | Sharp at any size | Soft when enlarged past its pixel size |
| Where it opens | Printers and tools such as Ghostscript | Practically every browser, editor and phone |
| Typical use | Print jobs and LaTeX or plot output | Web pages, slides and sharing |
Who can use a PS to PNG converter?
When to use it
- Placing a figure from a LaTeX document into a web page or a slide.
- Sending a quick preview of a print job or a plot to someone who cannot open PostScript.
- Checking what page 1 of an unknown .ps file contains before deciding what to do with it.
- Getting a raster version of a PostScript drawing to use as a thumbnail.
- Checking whether a font was substituted before you send the file to print.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- Devices (png16m, png16malpha, resolution, OutputFile)Ghostscript documentation
- PostScript, Level 3Library of Congress
- psconvertGeneric Mapping Tools
Facts checked on November 5, 2026
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PS to PNG FAQs
How do I convert PS to PNG?
Open the converter, add your .ps file, keep PNG as the output and download the result. In our test we did not have to sign in, and the conversion finished in about 3.3 seconds for a small file.
Which page of a multi-page PS file do I get?
Page 1 only. In our test a 3-page PostScript file produced one PNG, and pages 2 and 3 were not delivered. To get another page, split the file by page first, or run Ghostscript yourself with a page number in the output name.
What resolution is the PNG?
In our test a US Letter page of 612 × 792 pt gave a 612 × 792 px PNG, which is 72 ppi, one pixel per point. We saw no resolution option in our run. For 300 ppi, Ghostscript can render the file with the -r300 option.
Is the PNG transparent?
No. In our test the PNG was 8-bit RGB with no alpha channel, and the four corner pixels were opaque white. If you need transparency, remove the white background in an image editor.
Why are the fonts different in my PNG?
A PostScript file can embed its fonts or leave them to the interpreter. When a font is not embedded and is not available, a similar one is used. In our test a requested Palatino Bold Italic became a serif bold italic, and the text was still there.
Why is my PNG larger than my PS file?
A PostScript file is a short program. A PNG stores every pixel. In our test a 1,772-byte file became a 10,305-byte PNG, and a 860-byte file became 13,011 bytes.
Why does the PNG look small or blurry?
It is 72 ppi, which is fine on a screen at actual size but soft when printed or enlarged. A PostScript drawing is sharp at any size, so keep the .ps and render a bigger PNG with Ghostscript if you need one.
Should I convert PS to PNG or to PDF?
Choose PNG when you need a single picture of one page. Choose PDF when you need every page, selectable text or a file to print. PDF replaced PostScript for most page description use.
Is PS here the same as Photoshop PSD?
No. This converter reads PostScript, the page description language, with the .ps extension. A Photoshop file is .psd and is a different format.