How do I convert only part of a long PDF?
Last updated
To convert only part of a PDF in DistilBook, upload it in the Files tab, then use Select Pages: enter the first page in From and the last page in To, and press Apply. DistilBook shows the range it will use, for example pages 4 to 9, and builds the video from those pages only, so a long textbook chapter or manual becomes a focused video. You can press Change to pick a different range before you generate. The maximum range depends on your plan: 10 pages on the free and Basic plans, 30 on Pro and 999 on Max.
What do you need before you start?
- A PDF with a real text layer. Scanned pages need OCR first.
- The page numbers you want, as they appear in the PDF viewer.
How do you do it, step by step?
- 1
Upload the PDF
Start a Motion Explainer or Guided Explainer, open the Files tab, and drop the PDF in or browse to it.
- 2
Set the range
Under Select Pages, type the first page in From and the last page in To. The label shows the maximum your plan allows.
- 3
Apply it
Press Apply. DistilBook confirms with Using pages X to Y. Press Change if you want a different range.
- 4
Carry on as normal
Set the length, language and style, then generate. Only the selected pages are used.
What are the limits?
The honest list, so you know before you start rather than after.
- The range is capped by plan: 10 pages on free and Basic, 30 on Pro, 999 on Max. For a longer section, split it into two videos.
- Page numbers are the PDF's own page positions, not the numbers printed in the book.
Common questions
Does choosing fewer pages cost fewer credits?
Credits are charged per slide, and you control the number of slides with the Length setting. A tighter page range keeps the video focused on the part you care about.
Can I do two chapters as two videos?
Yes. Upload the same PDF twice and choose a different range each time.