Can Photoshop change the background of a PDF file, so that the result can be printed?

[Edmund5F9C]

I have a number of PDF documents, some 100 pages,  which I want to print out. However the background when printed is much too dark. I have searched among PDF Editing programs for one which will change the background of a file, without success.  I am also looking a Photo editing programs. Does anyone know if Adobe Photoshop can change the Background of a PDF File (change to white, or even neutral or transparent.? I would appreciate any information and help on this

[J E L]

Hi @Edmund5F9C Without seeing your document's content, it's hard to tell. Do the pages have mostly text over this dark background? Charts? Images? Using Photoshop to work on 100 pages might be very cumbersome, if it's even possible. You can only lighten a background (i.e., curve adjustments) so much without affecting the entire page. Maybe you could select and mask the content, page by page, or possibly use a script if the pages are similar enough. Using Acrobat Pro DC, you may be able to edit the elements on the page and copy them to a new PDF. You might also convert to Word or text and then re-export as a new PDF. If you are able to share some sample pages, that might bring you more suggestions.

[jane-e]

Jain has some good ideas, but without seeing a page or two we can only guess.

• Is there an background image that can be deleted using the Edit tool in Acrobat?
• Is it scanned text with a darkish background?
• Something else?

Jane

[Edmund5F9C]

Here is an example of a PDF File which I have just created.

[Edmund5F9C]

Here is a scan of the page when I print it.

[J E L]

@Edmund5F9C How are you creating the PDF file of the dictionary pages? Are these scans or photographs you are assembling into a new PDF? What type of printer are you exporting to? Your PDF print settings may be able to adjust the overall brightness and contrast.

[Edmund5F9C]

Just learned that the background of a PDF file has no colour - it is Blank. My issue then is whether I can install a white background into this Blank which will not block out the Typescript
Edmund

[J E L]

No, not with a PDF file. In Photoshop, you can only do this if the type layer is transparent. I think your only options are to rescan the pages and use better scanning settings, or try to adjust the brightness and contrast settings on your printer or page-by-page in Photoshop one at a time or with a script.

[Edmund5F9C]

Thanks for your advice. By the way the PDF Files were in fact photographed and then converted from JPG into PDF . Does this make any difference? 

[J E L]

Sure, it would make a difference. A lot depends on how the pages were photographed. What type of equipment and lighting conditions were used? Also, if the jpg files weren't color corrected before being converted to PDFs, then the output may shift. Still, if you are happy with how the PDFs look on your screen, but are unhappy with the printed pages, then you should look into trying different printer settings or different printers altogether.

[Eamonn23518041w63e]

Thanks again. I'll look into the printer suggestion. If I strike gold I'll let you know