Making the Switch: How to Easily Change File Formats

Did you know that there are a lot of different PDF viewer apps available for your use?

Out of them, Foxit Reader is the most popular due to its ribbon-style interface. It ensures that it’s intuitive, making it easy to learn if you used different word processing software before.

But if you’re looking to change file formats, there are a few good tools out there you can use. It’s especially important when you’re trying to keep your website looking professional.

It’s one of the necessary steps to impress tech-savvy people and big-time clients.

Are you ready to learn how to change video format and other file types? Read on and find out more.

1. Check Your Existing Applications

In most cases, the application you use for file creation lets you save it using another format. For example, if you’re accessing a document using Google Docs, you can click File and select Download as… to pull up a list of formats you can use for file conversion. It can include the following formats:

• PDF
• Plain Text
• Microsoft Word Document

There are a lot of other formats you can use. Depending on the software you use, the selection of formats can differ. Most of the time, it all boils down to preferences.

2. Use Conversion Applications

There are a lot of editing programs that offer to save your pictures as a different file type. If you want to export an image from Photos on macOS, you can use the File and Export option. This will let you choose between three image formats —JPEG, PNG, and TIFF.

If you’re looking to ensure your image files are accessible across different software, you need to save the file using different formats. It’s important since it’s possible that you don’t have access to the software that made the file originally. There are a lot of conversion applications out there — do your research and find out what works for you.

3. Use Virtual Image Printers

Working within an organization makes it more beneficial for you to move to an actual application for file conversions. Virtual image printers serve as a good midpoint between online file converters and all-in-one document converters.

At its core, a virtual image printer is a printer driver installed on your computer. Your usual Print menu dialog will now have the means of making simple conversions from Word to PDF as well as Word to TIFF. It can even convert the file into JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

4. Use Video Converters

Video conversion is easy since there are a lot of great applications out there–and they’re free! Good examples include Handbrake and VLC. Both of these work for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Handbrake

This app can take videos from almost any imaginable video format. It then converts them into any of the other popular video types. It has a simple interface and it gives you the means of picking from the standard pre-set modes for video optimization for specific devices like iPhone X.

Once you get more comfortable with the app, you can get into more advanced territories like codecs. This helps you manipulate the standards needed to save video files. Handbrake also rips videos from DVDs, with subtitle support and chapter marks once converted.

VLC Media Player

This video player can play a lot of different video formats without the need for plug-ins. Aside from that, you can convert videos across different file types. It’s comparable to a Swiss Army Knife when it comes to converting videos.

Choose the Media option and pick Convert/Save while your video is open. The application will give you options on the type of video file from the hard drive. It then lets you pick the format you’d like to convert it into.

VLC creates a different copy of the reformatted video, rather than overwriting it. Like Handbrake, you can include subtitles as well as chapter marks as you convert it. Its main advantage over the other is that it can convert batches of files at once.

5. Use Audio Converters

If you’re into dedicated audio converters, there are a lot of different applications you can use. It’s different from other apps that only have audio conversion as part of their features. Here are three popular ones:

Fre:ac

This free application can support a wide array of formats, from FLAC to MP3. You also have the means of tinkering with the audio quality. With the use of the Add Audio Files button, you can load up the tracks you want to convert.

Choose the output format using the Options menu and choosing the General settings. If you want to adjust the output, you can select Options and Configure Selected Encounter. You can click the green play button on the toolbar once you’re happy with the results to start converting.

Audacity

This audio editor lets you take more control over the audio while you convert it. Audacity has a full compendium of editing tools, as well as the ability to convert files into other formats. The easiest way to do this is to open the specific track and pick the Export option in the File Menu.

Freemake

This Windows-exclusive converter is simple to use. You only need to drag the audio into the program’s window. You can then choose the format of the output from the options listed at the bottom.

It can support common audio formats like MP3 and OGG.

Change File Formats Today!

There are a lot of options for you if you’re formatting files. Aside from free applications, there are some file conversion services out there. But in any case, you can use this list as a starting point when you need to change file formats.

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