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April 23, 2017
Answered

Save as PDF... with recognized text

  • April 23, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1333 views

Hi! I have two questions about Photoshop CC 2017 and .pdf format.

  1. I have PDF with recognised text. Is there a way to import this PDF as layered composition, so I can edit textboxes? Right now Photoshop imports it as a flat image.
  2. I edit some image in Photoshop and add text layers on top of it. When I export it as PDF, Photoshop flattens image. Can I save recognized text, so when I view my finalised PDF I can select/search for a specific word?

I'd like to use Acrobat, but every time I save it breaks my kerning in random places. Work becomes impossible: I need to check kerning on dozens of pages, fix it, then save PDF, search again and find new errors.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer

    Here's what I learned:

    Use Foxit PDF Editor.

    Answers to all my questions are 'no'.

    InDesign can't import PDFs with recognized text and layers. The $200 plugin PDF2ID maybe can help, but there is no guarantee and no fully operational trial version: only very limited one.

    Acrobat can't save document without randomly jamming characters and rearranging text boxes. It ruins workflow. This flaw observed even in official tutorials without any explanation.

    Not a single Adobe product helped me in this task. "Foxit PDF Editor" is clumsy, but it opens PDFs, recognises layers and text boxes, and it saves the document without surprises... as far as I know. I use it now. Very uncomfortable, but I hope it will work.

    I'd like to have better answer. Sorry. Thanks to everybody who spent time answering. Adobe forums is a cruel place.

    3 replies

    Correct answer
    May 6, 2017

    Here's what I learned:

    Use Foxit PDF Editor.

    Answers to all my questions are 'no'.

    InDesign can't import PDFs with recognized text and layers. The $200 plugin PDF2ID maybe can help, but there is no guarantee and no fully operational trial version: only very limited one.

    Acrobat can't save document without randomly jamming characters and rearranging text boxes. It ruins workflow. This flaw observed even in official tutorials without any explanation.

    Not a single Adobe product helped me in this task. "Foxit PDF Editor" is clumsy, but it opens PDFs, recognises layers and text boxes, and it saves the document without surprises... as far as I know. I use it now. Very uncomfortable, but I hope it will work.

    I'd like to have better answer. Sorry. Thanks to everybody who spent time answering. Adobe forums is a cruel place.

    Laith Bisher
    Participating Frequently
    April 23, 2017

    Use Indesign for this     

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 23, 2017

    It sounds like you should be using InDesign.

    Photoshop is not the right tool for this.

    April 23, 2017

    I thought InDesign can't import PDFs with editable text. Am I wrong?