How to 'Flatten' in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

[kima74036004]

We recently purchased Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and I'm trying to figure out how to take a document that I added a stamp to and flatten it so our users cannot delete the stamp from it.  I have found the 'Flatten' option but it is greyed out.  The only option in the menu available is 'Import as Layer'.  How do I enable the 'Flatten' feature?  In previous versions, I used a java script to flatten when the option was not available.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

The script is this:

this.flattenPages();

It works in Acrobat DC.

[Priyanja · Accepted solution]

You can also use an existing Preflight fix-up "Flatten annotations and form fields".

Steps:

1. Go to Print Production app.

2. Click on Preflight option from Right panel.

3. Search for the fixup "Flatten annotations and form fields".

4. Run the profile by pressing "Analyze and fix" button.

Regards,

Priyanka

[Thom Parker · Accepted solution]

You'll also find a free flatten tool, as well as many others here:

https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Free_Acrobat_Automation_Tools.cfm

[mbmast]

I ran this tool and it did not work for me.  I have a PDF document with a single image "floating" over the document.  If you click on it, only the image is selected. not the entire page.  I want the image "flattened" so that the page appears the same, but if you click on what was the image, the page is selected.  That's a pretty simple request, but this tool won't do that.  I runs, it saves a new file, but the new file is identical to the old file; click on the image and only the image is selected.

[Bernd Alheit]

Export the file as TIFF images.

Combine the images as a new PDF file.

[Dorel]

in the windows version you got to print, and save as a pdf, and that flattens the file, in the mac version there is some blockage that does not allow you to do this

[JR Boulay]

This book explains why you never never never should refry a PDF:

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A68be905e-5698-4cd4-9a87-61e7...

[Thom Parker]

JR, I have to disagree with you on this point.   As anti-refry as Leonard is (and I know this personally from all the conferences and events we used to attend. He's quite animated on the topic), even he admits in the article that refrying may be unavoidable, so use EPS, not PS.   

However, all of the arguments in the article revolve around visual fidelity.  In nearly all of the cases for my clients, visual fidelity is a very low level consideration. And I would say the same for nearly all the members of the Acrobat Forums. The top priority for these users is the usability of their workflow. I know that in every case Adobe will claim there is a solution that doesn't require refrying, and they are correct. However, I have dealt with very few individuals who would ever consider an AEM solution, on cost alone.  Refrying is simple and effective for these users, who I think represent the vast majority.  Is it ideal? absolutely not, but it's cheap and accessible, which is way more important. 

[R2oor]

---

@Dorel wrote:

in the windows version you got to print, and save as a pdf, and that flattens the file, in the mac version there is some blockage that does not allow you to do this

---

There are 2 easy worflows on Mac to flatten your interactive pdf:

1. You can just use macOS build-in Preview App and from there:
   • print as a pdf or as an Adobe PDF the same way like you do on Win. There is no restriction.
   • export as a pdf, directly from preview app "file menu" (at the top)
   • export and open additional options related to pdf files
2. Open this interactive pdf in Safari (using context menu by right click on file and then open in app and choose Safari) and use the same options mentioned above. Safari is a good option when you experience some fonts issues with the interactive pdf in Apple macOS Preview App.
   • export as a pdf
   • export
   • print to pdf file
   • save as

[R2oor]

@Dorel wrote:

in the windows version you got to print, and save as a pdf, and that flattens the file, in the mac version there is some blockage that does not allow you to do this

---

There are 2 easy worflows on Mac to flatten your interactive pdf:

1. You can just use macOS build-in Preview App and from there:
   • print as a pdf or as an Adobe PDF the same way like you do on Win. There is no restriction.
   • export as a pdf, directly from preview app "file menu" (at the top)
   • export and open additional options related to pdf files
2. Open this interactive pdf in Safari (using context menu by right click on file and then open in app and choose Safari) and use the same options mentioned above. Safari is a good option when you experience some fonts issues with the interactive pdf in Apple macOS Preview App.
   • export as a pdf
   • export
   • print to pdf file
   • save as

[Thom Parker]

All of those options are in the category of "refrying" the PDF, which is generally a bad idea, but acceptable if you don't care about any of the non-graphic PDF features and you only have the free Acrobat Reader available. But if you do have Acrobat Professional, the easiest and best solution is to download one of the many free flattening tools. 

[Kristy5C7E]

I have pdfs that have linked email addresses in them. Using the Preflight fix-up above does not remove the links and saving as an optimized pdf is not working either. Am I missing something or is there another way to remove the email links? Thanks

[Kelly5EB6]

I have several documents that need to be flattened, is there a way to flatten them all at once or do you have to do each one individually?

[Thom Parker]

Use an Acrobat Action. Find the "Action Wizard" in the Acrobat Tool listing

[Thom Parker]

The flattening feature mentioned by  kima74036004 is not for flattening annotations (i.e. stamps) into the page content.  It is for something entirely different. 

To preform real flattening you'd have to do one of three things.

1. Use the Preflight flattening mentioned in the previous post

2. Print to PDF or PS. This technique literally destroys the current struture of the PDF and rebuilds it. All non-visual data is lost. But it works. And it works with Reader. 

3. Use the JavaScript flatten function. This is the easiest and most flexible flattening method. You'll find a free Add-in tool that uses this method here:

https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Free_Acrobat_Automation_Tools.cfm