Copying an Image from PDF

[vinsgraphics]

I get a PDF from one client where I am unable to copy an image from the PDF file. The file is unlocked, there are no security blocks in place. I can copy text just fine. I can even move the image (stamp) around the page. But it won't copy. The right-click menu does not include copy/paste options. The only thing I can do is zoom in, take a screenshot, and use that. Thoughts?

[Luke Jennings3]

Do you see copy & paste under Edit?

Command + C (on a Mac)?

You can also use the Edit PDF tool to select the image, open it and save it from Photoshop.

[vinsgraphics]

Yes, Copy/Paste appear under the Edit menu. However, the image does not copy when selected. As I mentioned, this only happens with one client when they send me a PDF. Everyone else's PDFs act normally, I can copy/paste to my heart's desire. I usually copy from the PDF and place into Illustrator when working on technical illustrations. I've checked the security settings and everything is open. I can copy/paste text normally ... but not a placed image (ie, an image placed by the client in the PDF as part of an edit). If I didn't have to do it so many times I wouldn't bother with it... just annoying.

[vinsgraphics]

PS. Copy/paste on the image does NOT work when selecting to Edit the PDF.

[vinsgraphics]

An example: the highlighted image was placed by the client. The right-click menu shows the available options, not including copy/paste etc. I've checked properties etc to see what might affect the image, without success. 

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

It appears your client has pasted the image into the document as a Stamp. I know of no way to edit the contents of a stamp.

You will have to ask your client to supply it another way. For instance, they can ATTACH the image to the PDF

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Vinsgraphics,

Thank you for reaching out.

As Brad @ Roaring Mouse mentioned above, it may be possible that the image was added as a stamp.

Please check with the sender of the document about how the images were added to the PDF.

Would it be possible to share the PDF with us so we can have a look at it?

Also, please confirm if it happens only with this particular image on the PDF.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[try67]

Flatten the file and then you'll be able to access it just like any other image.

[Luke Jennings3]

I see the same "open Pop-up Note" panel you do when I right click on a stamp image, however, copy/paste works when selected from the Edit menu, so I suspect something else is going on with this particular PDF. Try running a preflight fixup to flatten the annotations, as try67 suggests (saving as PDF/X-1a may also fix it). (Tools> Print production> Preflight> Fixups> Interactive elements), this will convert the stamp to regular page content and you should be able to copy/paste normally. If that doesn't work, can you attach a PDF sample page?

Edit: I believe the size of the stamp is determined by the image resolution, which suggests the stamp in your screen shot was downsampled when created, so you should probably request a separate image, as Brad suggested.