Convert IS2 to PDF

A thermal inspection often needs PDF output when recipients lack FLIR software, a report must be emailed or printed, or results must be archived in a standard document format. PDF preserves the selected report layout, while the original IS2 file remains necessary for later temperature analysis.

What the IS2 format is

IS2 is a proprietary FLIR infrared-image format used by various FLIR thermal cameras and inspection workflows. Depending on the camera and capture settings, an IS2 file can contain a radiometric thermal image, temperature data, visual imagery, measurement markers, and camera metadata.

FLIR Thermal Studio and compatible versions of the older FLIR Tools software can open many IS2 files. Support varies by camera model and software release. Renaming .is2 to .pdf does not convert the file, and ordinary image converters cannot interpret its radiometric structure.

What the PDF format provides

PDF is a fixed-layout document format designed for consistent viewing, printing, email distribution, and document archiving. A PDF made from an IS2 file normally contains a rendered thermal image and the report information selected during export, but it does not preserve the full editing capability of the original radiometric file.

Convert an IS2 file with FLIR Thermal Studio

1. Install a Thermal Studio release that supports the camera and IS2 file. Obtain the software from Teledyne FLIR.
2. Open Thermal Studio and import or open the .is2 file.
3. Check the thermal image, temperature scale, units, palette, measurement markers, emissivity, reflected temperature, and other analysis values before creating the report.
4. Open the report workspace or the application's export command, commonly found under File → Export, and choose PDF if that option is available.
5. Select the report layout, pages, destination, and filename, then save the PDF.

Thermal Studio versions and licenses expose different report and export functions. If the application can display the IS2 file but has no direct PDF export, use File → Print and select a built-in PDF printer such as Microsoft Print to PDF or macOS Save as PDF.

Convert an IS2 file with FLIR Tools

FLIR Tools is a legacy option for older cameras and installations. Open the IS2 file, create or open an inspection report, and use the version's PDF report or export command. If direct export is unavailable, print the displayed report through the operating system's PDF printer. Menu names and supported IS2 variants differ between FLIR Tools releases.

Online converters and fallback options

There is no broadly reliable general-purpose online converter for FLIR's proprietary radiometric IS2 format. Services that support common image formats may reject IS2 or produce only an unusable preview. Uploading inspection files can also disclose confidential information about buildings, equipment, or industrial sites.

Use an online service only if it explicitly documents support for the relevant IS2 variant and the inspection data is suitable for external upload. For a file that FLIR software can display but cannot export directly, the local PDF-printer method is safer and preserves the visible screen or report output without sending the source file to a third party.

Quality and compatibility limits

• A PDF is a presentation of the selected thermal view, not a substitute for the original radiometric IS2 data. A normal PDF viewer cannot change the temperature calculation, emissivity, palette, or measurement analysis.
• Verify temperature units, scale limits, emissivity, reflected temperature, measurement points, and annotations before export. These settings affect how displayed temperatures are interpreted.
• Print-to-PDF captures the chosen report or screen view; it may omit hidden measurements, embedded metadata, alternate image views, or data available through a dedicated export.
• Retain the original IS2 file for engineering, diagnostic, warranty, regulatory, or legal work. It may be required for recalculation or later inspection.
• If the file will not open, install a compatible Thermal Studio or FLIR Tools release and check the camera model's documentation. Not every FLIR application supports every IS2 variant.