Preview app - Instant Alpha Tool does not appear in Markup Toolbar

Question

Level 1

61 points

Preview app - Instant Alpha Tool does not appear in Markup Toolbar

Mac OS X 10.11.4 Preview app

I am trying to remove a background in a PDF file. I used to be able to do this with the Instant Alpha Tool in Preview. I checked under Preview Help and it still says to do this that you use the Instant Alpha Tool, which it says should appear when you select Show Markup Toolbar. But it is not there. All that appears is a rectangular selection tool. Did the Instant Alpha Tool get removed from the latest version of Preview in Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11.4?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), 3.4 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 mid-2011

Posted on Apr 4, 2016 1:05 PM

Reply

Answer 1

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,446 points

Apr 4, 2016 1:29 PM in response to alp1116

alp1116 wrote:

I am trying to remove a background in a PDF file.

It is still there.

shift command A shows the tools

However you are not going to edit a PDF in this way with Preview.

You can try a PDF editing software like PDFpen or convert the PDF

Reply

Answer 2

alp1116 Author

Level 1

61 points

Apr 4, 2016 1:29 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thank you. If you open a PDF file in Preview, the Instant Alpha Tool DOES NOT appear in the Markup Toolbar. After I read your note, I exported the PDF file as a TIFF file first, then opened it in Preview, and now the Instant Alpha Tool appears as in your photo. Appreciate the help.

Reply

Answer 3

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,446 points

Apr 4, 2016 1:31 PM in response to alp1116

alp1116 wrote:

Thank you. If you open a PDF file in Preview, the Instant Alpha Tool DOES NOT appear in the Markup Toolbar. After I read your note, I exported the PDF file as a TIFF file first, then opened it in Preview, and now the Instant Alpha Tool appears as in your photo. Appreciate the help.

Good computing alp1116 !

Reply