Redacting contents in a PDF in Preview

Question

Redacting contents in a PDF in Preview

Do you know how to redact (i.e. cover up - NOT delete) text or images in a PDF which has been opened in Preview?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on Jul 11, 2019 10:30 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,106 points

Jul 11, 2019 2:24 PM in response to YesYouCanDoIt

Covering up specific text with an annotation in Preview does not prevent finding that text in the PDF. If you don't care, then you have your solution.

Proper PDF redaction which is removing all trace of the specific text would require a true PDF editor that offers the redaction feature.

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Answer 2

Jul 11, 2019 10:40 AM in response to YesYouCanDoIt

Open PDF in Preview
Select Markup Tool
Select Shapes Tool and choose the Square in the upper left corner

Insert Square at place in document you want to redact, e.g.

Drag corners of Square to cover the area to be redacted.

AND, VOILA! YOU'RE DONE!

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Answer 3

Jul 11, 2019 4:07 PM in response to VikingOSX

If, through the Print menu, a second PDF is made of the first PDF document [again, opened in Preview] containing the covered up specific text with an annotation in Preview, I think this would eliminate the need to for a true PDF editor that offers the redaction feature. The effect would be the same as using a true PDF editor as the covered up text could not be restored in the second PDF document..

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