Tables & Figures

How to Include a PDF as a Figure in LaTeX

PDF files are the ideal format for vector graphics in LaTeX — they scale perfectly and preserve all visual quality. Whether you need to include a single-page figure, a specific page from a multi-page PDF, or an entire PDF document, LaTeX has the tools. Bibby AI handles PDF figures just like any other image format, rendering them instantly in the live preview.

Include a Single-Page PDF as a Figure

Use the standard \includegraphics command from graphicx to include a PDF file as a figure. This works the same as PNG or JPG:

\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{figures/system-diagram.pdf}
\caption{Overview of the proposed system architecture.}
\label{fig:architecture}
\end{figure}

% You can use all the same options as with other image formats:
\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centering
\includegraphics[width=0.6\textwidth, trim=10 20 10 20, clip]{figures/chart.pdf}
\caption{Performance chart with trimmed margins.}
\label{fig:chart}
\end{figure}

Include a Specific Page from a Multi-Page PDF

When your PDF has multiple pages (like a presentation or report), use the page option in \includegraphics or the pdfpages package for more control:

% Method 1: Include a specific page as a figure using graphicx
\usepackage{graphicx}

\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centering
\includegraphics[page=3, width=0.7\textwidth]{documents/slides.pdf}
\caption{Key result slide from the presentation (page 3).}
\label{fig:slide}
\end{figure}

% Method 2: Use pdfpages for inserting full pages
\usepackage{pdfpages}

% Insert pages 1-3 of an external PDF
\includepdf[pages={1-3}]{documents/appendix.pdf}

% Insert specific pages
\includepdf[pages={1,5,8}]{documents/supplementary.pdf}

% Insert all pages
\includepdf[pages=-]{documents/full-report.pdf}

Customize PDF Page Insertion

The pdfpages package offers many options for controlling how PDF pages are inserted — scaling, framing, putting multiple pages per sheet, and more:

\usepackage{pdfpages}

% Insert a PDF page scaled to fit within margins
\includepdf[pages=1, fitpaper=true]{external/certificate.pdf}

% Insert multiple PDF pages with 2 per sheet (useful for appendices)
\includepdf[pages=-, nup=1x2, landscape]{external/slides.pdf}

% Add a frame around the inserted page
\includepdf[pages=1, frame, scale=0.8]{external/letter.pdf}

% Insert a page and add custom header/footer
\includepdf[
    pages=1,
    pagecommand={\thispagestyle{plain}},
    scale=0.9
]{external/approval-form.pdf}

% Insert as a figure with caption (combine both approaches)
\begin{figure}[htbp]
\centering
\includegraphics[page=2, width=\textwidth, trim=50 50 50 50, clip]{external/poster.pdf}
\caption{Poster presented at the conference.}
\label{fig:poster}
\end{figure}

💡 Tips

•Use \includegraphics for PDF figures you want inside a float with captions; use \includepdf for full-page insertions like appendices.
•The page= option in \includegraphics is 1-indexed — page=1 is the first page.
•If your PDF figure has excessive whitespace, use the trim and clip options to crop it: trim={left bottom right top}.
•Bibby AI uploads and renders PDF figures instantly — just drag and drop your PDF into the editor.

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