Remove content from a pdf

[Bryan Colley]

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. 

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

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.

[Bryan Colley]

Yes, this does the trick, although it seems to have turned all the text in the document into an image and the quality is degraded. Perhaps if I keep fiddling I can work around that, or maybe this will work for my purposes. Thank you!

[BobLevine]

I haven't used those tools in a while but I don't remember that being an issue. Perhaps pop over to the Acrobat forum and ask there.

[Bryan Colley]

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.

[BobLevine]

Good to know. I suppose if it's text you could just highlight it and delete it but I don't know what kind of mess you'd wind up.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse · Accepted solution]

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

[Gord@APL]

Assuming you're using InDesign, is it practical to set the document up with all the content that requires removal on a unique layer, then setting that layer as non-printing under Layer Options when you need to output?

The content will still be there, and can be set back to being printable if needs be.

[Bryan Colley]

Yes, that the option I'm going with now using Applescript.