Master PDF Editor for Mac. Master PDF Editor is PDF editing software for Mac that comes with loads of features allowing you to convert PDF to numerous other file types and edit just about any aspect of your PDF document. Pros: It can be used to edit both text and images. You can convert PDFs to other formats, including Word and Excel. Here’s how you edit a PDF file using this app: Click on a PDF document you want to open. It should automatically open in Preview unless you have another PDF viewer app that is installed on your Mac. If ever a PDF file does not open in Preview, right-click on it and select Open with Preview. PDF Editing Features: the Mac PDF editor you choose should be able to do basic editing tasks like annotation, add/delete pages, form filling, highlighting, and so on. Advanced editing features include: add a password, create links, export PDFs to other document formats, etc. Bottom line: the best Mac PDF editing software should offer more.
Because of its popularity, we’ll assume you have already seen, used, and downloaded a PDF file on your Mac. After all, it is a universal format for documents that works on almost all platforms. However, when you are dumped with loads of PDF documents that need editing, things can get challenging. Luckily, there is a way to quickly fill out forms and edit PDF pages without having to download a PDF editor for Mac.
If your computer is running on macOS, the good news is it already has a built-in program that makes signing and editing PDF documents a breeze – the Preview app. With this app, you can easily underline, highlight, and strikethrough text. You can also rotate, remove, or add pages. Even more, you can add comments and notes to the pages. We’ll show you how to edit a PDF on Mac below.
Edit a PDF File Using Preview
Many of you think that Preview is an app that allows you to take a quick look at images you don’t want to be added to the Photos app, but actually, this app can do a lot more than what you think. Here’s how you edit a PDF file using this app:
- Click on a PDF document you want to open. It should automatically open in Preview unless you have another PDF viewer app that is installed on your Mac. If ever a PDF file does not open in Preview, right-click on it and select Open with > Preview.
- To open markup tools, click on the button with a tip of a pencil enclosed in a circle. This button gives you access to different handy tools, including sketch and draw, note, fill color, shape and text style, and border.
- Use any of the tools to underline, highlight, add text, or draw shapes on the PDF.
Add Text to a PDF
Once the PDF document is opened in Preview, you may add text to it by clicking on the space designated for adding data. See the instructions below to know how:
- Click on the button with a T on it. You can also go to the menu bar and go to Tools > Annotate > Text.
- A text box will then appear in the current page you are editing. You can move it around by dragging and dropping it. You can also modify its size to fit the PDF’s layout. Once you have decided on its placement and size, begin entering your text.
- To change the color, size, and font of the text, click on the italicized A icon located at the far-right portion of the toolbar. It will then open up a new set of options that allows you to modify the text and its alignment.
Tick a Checkbox in a PDF
It is common for PDF documents to have boxes that you have to add a check or cross to. Though crossing it out is an easy task, wherein you only have to use the X key, adding a checkmark to it is the other way around. Besides, while some PDFs are set up in a way that the check sign automatically appears when you tick the box, others don’t show. Don’t worry, because there is a way to put a check in the checkbox. Follow the instructions below:
- In your toolbar, click on the button with a T on it. You can also access it via the menu bar, and then selecting Tools > Annotate > Text.
- Drag the text box onto the area that needs to be checked.
- Use the Option + V function to type a check mark.
- If you are not happy with the appearance of the checkmark, just change the font until you end up with one that you like.
- If several parts of the PDF need to be checked, copy the checkmark you created and paste it accordingly.
Copy a Text from a PDF
There are instances when you have to copy a portion of a text from one document to another. Though this can be an easy task for word files, for PDFs, this can be a challenge. But if you know how to use Preview, this task should be easy as pie. Below are the steps to follow to copy text from a PDF file:
- Click the icon in the toolbar that has a lower and uppercase A.
- Find the words you want to copy and highlight them.
- Right-click on the highlighted text to show the Copy option or use the Command + C function.
- Paste the text into another document. If you want to paste it anywhere else in your current PDF, be sure you create a text box first.
Add Comments and Notes in a PDF
One of the best things about Preview is the feature that allows you to add comments and notes in a PDF. You have to select and highlight an area in the PDF, for instance, a portion of a text that contains errors, and leave a reminder for the writer or yourself. Follow these steps to add comments and notes:
- Select and highlight a portion of text in the PDF.
- In the toolbar, click on the icon that has three lines inside a square. A yellow box will then appear in the area you highlighted.
- Type in any comments and notes you have in mind. Once done, click anywhere outside the box.
- If you wish to see and read your note, click on the yellow square and it will automatically expand.
Add Shapes to a PDF File
With Preview, you can create shapes in specific areas that you highlighted. That way, it will become more noticeable. Here’s how:
- Go to the toolbar menu and click on the button that has a circle and square on it.
- Select the shape you want. You can choose from a speech bubble, hexagon, star, square, circle, arrow, line, and a lot more.
- Your chosen shape will show in the document. You can move and resize it by dragging the blue circles along the edges, depending on the shape, of course.
- To change the color of the shape, click on the shape and then the box with thick lines around it. This will display a color palette, where you can select a color that matches the shape.
- If you wish to change the thickness of the lines, just click on the icon in the toolbar that has three lines.
Sort and Add Pages to a PDF
If you like to add more pages to the PDF file you are currently working on, or you want to sort the pages, you can still use Preview. Follow the steps below to know how:
- Click on the View Menu in Preview’s menu bar.
- Select Thumbnails. After this, an overview of all the pages in the PDF will be displayed.
- To remove a specific page from the PDF, select the thumbnail of the page and press the Delete key on the keyboard.
- To sort the pages, click on the thumbnail of the page and drag it up or down in the sidebar to its new position.
Reduce the File Size of a PDF Document
Is the file size of the PDF too large to be attached to an email? Apple keyboard disassembly aluminum. Perhaps you might want to reduce its size. Instructions are provided below:
- Go to File > Save. You can also press Command + S on your keyboard.
- Look for a drop-down menu beside Quartz Filter. Select the Reduce File Size option.
- Click the Save button.
- The PDF document will now have a smaller file size.
Add a Signature to a PDF
You can also use Preview when you need to sign a PDF document. The instructions are as follows:
- In the toolbar, click on the icon that has a scribble on it. Select Create Signature.
- A new Window will pop up, where you can use your computer’s trackpad as a notepad. You can then use your finger or a stylus to draw your signature.
- Press any key once you’re done scribbling your signature.
- If you don’t get it right, click the Clear button. Anything you scribbled will be erased so you can try again.
- If you are happy with your virtual signature, click the Done button. Your signature will be automatically saved in Preview so you can use it whenever you need to sign other documents in the future.
- To insert the signature you created, click the scribble icon once more. After that, select the signature you created. It should then show in the PDF document you are editing.
- Drag the signature to its designated area. If necessary, adjust its size.
Use Third-Party Apps
It is true that Preview is a reliable app for making changes to a PDF document, but if you need to take things to a whole new level, you might want to consider using a dedicated app.
PDFelement for Mac is one favorite app you might want to consider. It is created to create, editing, and annotating PDF documents. It also has features that allow you to create interactive forms out of existing documents. If your work involves the use or creation of PDFs, then this app is worth using. It has a free trial version, but you may upgrade to a pro version to explore its other features.
Summary
When it comes to editing PDFs using your Mac, you have a lot of options. If you want to complete simple editing tasks like adding signatures or adding text, Preview app should be more than enough. But if you need to do more complicated tasks, then we suggest you use third-party apps designed for more complex PDF editing tasks. Regardless of your choice, do not forget to install Tweakbit MacRepair on your Mac. This tool will help ensure your device is efficiently running as you perform your everyday PDF editing tasks.
If you’re running into errors and your system is suspiciously slow, your computer needs some maintenance work. Download Outbyte PC Repair for Windows, Outbyte Antivirus for Windows, or Outbyte MacRepair for macOS to resolve common computer performance issues. Fix computer troubles by downloading the compatible tool for your device.
See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.
See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy Policy.
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PDFpen lets you change anything about your PDF docs.
You can't escape them — PDFs are everywhere, especially in the workplace. Although convenient to read, PDFs can be tricky to deal with if you just need to make quick changes to the text, sign a form, or send a file through a size-restrictive platform.
Apple store setup. With a default PDF reader like Preview on the Mac, finding a certain word in the PDF is difficult and editing a document can be almost out of the question. Without knowing which tools to use, it will be very hard to make changes to a PDF document. Fortunately, there are plenty of PDF apps to help you get the editing job done.
You can use PDF Search to search for specific document, information, facts, or figures. This would come in particularly handy if your PDFs are very long. To pore through your PDF in batches or to scan through long files, open the app and type in a search word or phrase in the search bar. Even if you misspell a word, PDF Search's artificial intelligence feature will make an effort to understand what you mean and help you find exactly what you're looking for.
Tools to Edit PDF Documents
By now, if you don't know how to modify a PDF document, you may be left behind. Good news is taking control of your PDF files is not rocket science — whether they be for home or work, you just need the right set of tools in place to cover your everyday requirements.
To help you alter PDF documents, there are a few apps with such useful features as adding comments, filling and signing agreements for your business, removing sensitive information, and compressing large files to allow for easier sharing. Stop agonizing over how to edit PDFs and try a few of the powerful applications mentioned below. You may want to redact your PDF documents, like edit typos or add different images, but how do you go about doing so?
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Apple provides every Mac with Preview, a free program that allows you to read and edit PDF files (add and highlight text, combine PDF documents and transfer pages from one PDF to another, add a signature and comments).
Edit and mark up PDFs with Preview
The experience of editing images with Preview is pretty intuitive. We've created a quick guidance for you to instantly find what you're looking for.
How to type on a PDF, add text and notes
Open the PDF in Preview and try to add text by clicking on the target text field. If it doesn't work, you'll have to add a new text or note field:
- Select Tools > Annotate > Text/Note.
- Click on the text/note box that appears in your document and start typing.
- Close the box by clicking outside it. You can move the note/text field anywhere via drag and drop.
- To customize fonts or color of text, select View > Show Markup Toolbar > A.
Highlight text in a PDF
To activate the highlight mode in Preview, select the Highlight button in the top right corner. Click on the down arrow next to the Highlight button to change color, or choose an option to underline or strikethrough.
When switched on, highlights will be applied to any text you click on. You can switch it off by clicking on the same Highlight button.
To view notes and highlights in the PDF, select View > Highlights and Notes.
Combine multiple PDFs
- To merge PDF files, open one PDF in Preview.
- Select View > Thumbnails to see the thumbnails of all pages.
- Click on Edit > Insert > Page from file and open another PDF.
- Choose destination and save the updated file as PDF.
Rotate, delete, rearrange pages, and renumber pages inside a PDF
You can cut pages out or change the order of pages in a few steps via thumbnails:
- Open a document in Preview.
- Navigate to View > Thumbnails.
- To rotate, click on a page thumbnail > Tools > Rotate Left or Right.
- To delete pages in a PDF, select thumbnail > Tools > Delete to remove a page from your PDF.
- Rearrange by dragging pages around in the sidebar.
To change page numbering, you can use PDFpen editor. When you open a file, go to Edit > Headers, Footers, Page numbers > Insert. From there, you can customize the position and format of page numbers as well as define a starting page.
Split PDF files
To separate pages in a scanned PDF, simply drag the page you want to remove from the thumbnails pane to desktop. If needed, you can combine those pages into a separate PDF file afterwards.
How to reduce PDF size
You can compress your PDF in Preview while exporting the doc. Once you're done with editing, select File > Export. Click on Quartz Filter to open the pop-up menu > Reduce File Size.
Apart from Preview, you can use a scanning application like Prizmo app to create easily searchable PDF files out of paper-based images like brochures, books, or posters. This app lets you scan and recognize any photo documents to make them editable. You can even take a photo of a physical document on your phone, and finish editing on your Mac.
Free Software To Edit Pdf Files On Mac
To make corrections or rewrite some text within the original file with editable text blocks, try PDFpen. Also you can use it to highlight, draw, scribble on the document.
Edit any PDF on a Mac
To correct text with PDFpen:
- Open the desired PDF document within the application
- Highlight the text within the PDF and click Correct Text
- Erase the current text and type the desired changes
To insert and edit an image in PDF:
- Click on 'Insert' icon and choose an image you want to add
- Move and/or resize the image by dragging it around inside the PDF
- Double clicking an image lets you adjust it or add some effects
- You can also delete pictures and drop new ones
You can also edit images by converting them into PDFs with Prizmo. With powerful OCR, Prizmo app instantly captures text and makes it fluid and editable.
To create a PDF from an image with Prizmo, use the following steps:
- Click the plus icon in Prizmo
- Find your source in the drop-down menu
- Select an image that you'd like to convert to PDF and click Add
- Click Recognize in the top right corner or toggle Text mode in View.
- Editable text will appear on the right side of the window.
Add comments and annotations to a PDF
To help yourself with extra notes or annotations, you can add comments directly onto a PDF. Comments can be useful to readers when you want to provide extra information about certain parts of the document.
To add text using Preview app:
Free Software To Edit Pdf Files On Mac
- Place your cursor where you want to insert text.
- Go to 'Tools,' click on 'Annotate,' select 'Text,' and start typing.
- To change the font, size, or color, go to 'View,' click on 'Show Markup Toolbar,' and press A.
- You also can move the text box anywhere on the document.
A regular PDF viewer app won't let you attach comments to specific areas on a PDF, so you need to use an editor like PDFpen to do that. This app allows to add comments to PDF files with highlights, sticky notes, a freehand drawing. Annotations are useful because you can embed them into the file without being too distracting for a reader. You can also use the markup tools to add shapes around important areas of the PDF and underline things to remember.
To comment and make notes on PDF:
- Click on the Comment (cmd+8) or on the Notes (cmd+7) on the
- Tap on the area of the document where you want the comment or note to appear
- Type in the comment or note area field
- Drag the comment or note text box to the desired area on the document
Fill and sign PDF forms (e-sign)
Printing documents just to sign them and scan them back can be frustrating and time-consuming. Many of us don't even have printers anymore. But luckily with e-signatures, there's no need for all that.
Now you can easily add your signature to digital forms and documents in macOS. Whether you're looking to have a new client sign an agreement, a tenancy contract, or any other PDF form, e-signature will save you time (and ink).
To sign a document using PDFpen:
- Scan your signature and save it as an image file
- OR draw your signature right on a PDF with your trackpad, magic mouse, etc.
- Drag, resize and correct position the signature inside your PDF file.
To sign your PDF file with Preview app:
- Open the document you want to sign
- In main menu go to Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage signatures
- To create signature tap to Click Here to Begin, draw your signature on the trackpad, press any key when finish, and then Done
- You can also scan your handwritten signature - write it on a piece of paper, hold to be visible to the camera, and Preview will draw a virtual signature.
- Choose the signature created to insert it into the document. Drag, resize and correct position of your sign like a regular image
Redact sensitive information from PDFs
Many of the PDF files on your computer may contain sensitive or personal information, leaving you at risk of becoming a victim to identity theft. For example, a PDF form could contain your tax information, credit card numbers, or other personal details that you don't want to share with third parties.
This is where PDF redaction comes in handy. Without an appropriate PDF editor like PDFpen, it can be very difficult to remove parts of the text you want to hide from a document. Redaction can remove a word or an entire line of text with a black box or empty white space.
Of course, if you don't want to use software to redact your PDF, you can always take a black marker to cross out any information from a printed sheet. To make your life easier, use the following steps to redact sensitive information.
To redact an entire section of a document:
- Within PDFpen, click Tools and select the rectangle tool
- Select the area of the text you want to redact
- Click Format and Redact Text-Block
To redact selected text:
- Under Tools select Text Tools
- Select the text you want to redact
- Click Format and Redact Text – Block
Compress and share a PDF
If you don't have a strong or reliable internet connection, it can be hard to send large PDF files to friends or colleagues. In order to upload large PDF files onto the cloud, send via email, or add them into size-restricted forms, you'll need an app like PDF Squeezer to help you compress the PDF file while keeping the original quality. You can rest easy that this process won't convert your PDF into a ZIP file.
To shrink your PDF resumes, applications, or visa-related documents for the web, use the following steps:
- Open PDF Squeezer
- Drag the PDF file you want to compress into the 'Drop Your Files Here' section
- At the drop-down menu, select your preferred dpi and image quality
- Click Save
With a built-in feature to send your PDF files to friends, clients, or colleagues, it makes sharing your compressed documents super easy. Click Share to send your file via text, email, or other options.
Get a collection of PDF instruments
In a single package, download a bunch of useful PDF tools, each of which complements the other's functionality. Give it a try!
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So with the use of a few apps, you'll easily be able to create, search, and share PDFs all while saving time and frustration by being able to directly make changes to your documents, add notes, or remove personal information with redaction. Best of all, Setapp can help you do all of the above and features every app you can use to increase your PDF productivity. You can try the apps mentioned here at no cost along with over 150 other high-quality macOS apps.
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Software To Edit Pdf Documents
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