Remove content from a pdf

Question

I need to cover up specific content in a document with a blank box, and then export the PDF without being able to see the content under the box. Right now I can open the PDF in Acrobat and delete the blank box and the content is still there underneath. This even happens when I export with the Acrobat 4 with PDF/X-1a:2001 settings.

Is there any way to do that?

I know can put the content on a layer and delete the layer before exporting, but that's a very impractical solution. I would prefer to just export what is visible in the document.

Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted Answer

According to the Acrobot forum, it does turn the page into an image and downgrades it to 144 dpi. Apparently it's been this way for years with many people complaining.

It does this when you select Sanitize. Sanitizing removes any traces of metadata that might linger in the file, and hence renders it into an image to prevent this. If you don't need this, uncheck that option; the rest of the file is left untouched and only what you select to redact is deleted. This, of course, leaves the typical "black bars", but you can Edit and delete these too if you want.

If you want to prove too yourself the info is really gone, test open the PDF in Illustrator and you will see the rdacted objects are not there, nor do they export to another format, e.g. a Word file

BobLevine · Answer

You can use the redaction tools in Acrobat. There's no way to do what you want in InDesign.

Edit: I thought you were referring to hiding part of a placed PDF, but I stand by the answer to use the redaction tools in Acrobat.

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