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M
MisterEditorial
Participant
May 22, 2020
Question

Flattening all text and images in a PDF so it can't be edited

  • May 22, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 6794 views

I am using Acrobat DC to make PDFs and need to flatten all images and text (including a watermark) so they can't be edited or items removed. I have tried using Adobe DC encryption and the password feature but this can easily be removed by non-Adobe software.

I have a project that involves 100s of pre-made PDFs that need a watermark to be added and then 100% flattened as part of the document. Therefore, I cannot apply the watermark in Photoshop or InDesign prior to making the PDF.

Any help greatly appreciated!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

try67
Community Expert
try67Community Expert
Community Expert
May 23, 2020

You should digitally sign the files. While not making it impossible to edit them it's the only way to prove that a file has been edited, as that would invalidated the signature. Anything else can be overcome by someone willing enough.

M
MisterEditorialAuthor
Participant
May 26, 2020

Thanks for your response. I may look to add a watermark in Photoshop prior to makign PDFs in future.

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 22, 2020

This is an impossible quest. Flattening is not a security measure. Acrobat specifically does OCR to

recognise the text and allow editing if you flatten it,  because people demand this feature. 

M
MisterEditorialAuthor
Participant
May 22, 2020

Thanks for your quick reply. It seems odd that there isn't an option for security purposes - flattening with a watermark would prevent the ability of a third party to reproduce work without necessary permissions afterall. I appreciate being able to edit PDFs, but would also think that there would be a feature to secure all content within the file. 

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
May 22, 2020

"flattening with a watermark would prevent the ability of a third party to reproduce work without necessary permissions" No really, it wouldn't. Not for a moment. Acrobat would do OCR in this case. Any other app might do whatever is convenient to their user to allow editing. 

 

"but would also think that there would be a feature to secure all content within the file. " Well, there is document security. However, the PDF specification is public - that's why PDF is everywhere. That means that it's up to the people who sell software to obey the security rules. Many of them just don't care about our wishes and/or rights to protect stuff. So, I suggest you give up.

 

Digital signatures are designed to detect any CHANGE to a file, and this is the real security; the file can be changed, or faked, or printed/scanned, or whatever; but the signature will show it was tampered with.

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