How to Edit PDFs on a Mac

PDFs are often used for final documents like contracts, invoices, or reports. However, errors or typos can happen. Editing a PDF allows you to fix these mistakes without having to recreate the entire document. You can update outdated information as well.

There are two main approaches to editing PDFs on a Mac:

1. Using Preview (Built-in):

Preview is a pre-installed application on all Macs and offers basic PDF editing capabilities. Here’s what you can do with Preview:

• Add Text, Images, or Shapes: You can overlay text boxes, images, or shapes on top of the existing PDF content.
• Fill out Forms: If the PDF is designed as a fillable form, you can enter text directly in the designated fields.
• Annotate the PDF: Preview allows you to add comments, highlights, underlines, or drawings to the document for reference or collaboration.
• Sign Documents: You can create a digital signature and use it to sign the PDF.
• Rearrange or Delete Pages: You can reorder pages within the document or remove unwanted pages.

Here’s how to edit a PDF in Preview:

1. Open the PDF document in Preview.
2. Click the “Show Markup Toolbar” button (toolbox icon) located at the top of the toolbar. This reveals editing tools.
3. Use the available tools to make your edits.
4. Save the edited PDF with a new filename to avoid overwriting the original document.

Limitations of Preview:

• Limited editing capabilities: Preview cannot directly edit existing text within the PDF.
• Formatting challenges: Adding text boxes or images might disrupt the original layout of the document.

2. Using Third-Party PDF Editors:

For more advanced editing features, you can explore third-party PDF editing applications available on the Mac App Store or other software vendors. Here are some examples:

• Adobe Acrobat Pro DC: This is the industry-standard paid software offering a comprehensive set of editing tools, including direct text editing, advanced annotation features, and document conversion capabilities.
• PDFpenPro: Another paid option with a user-friendly interface that allows you to edit text directly within the PDF, insert or replace images, and manage pages.
• Sejda PDF (Free & Paid versions): This web-based and desktop application offers a variety of editing features in both its free and paid versions. The free version allows basic editing like adding text, images, and annotations, while the paid version unlocks advanced features like text editing and document conversion.

Choosing the Right Method:

• For basic tasks like adding annotations, signatures, or filling out forms, Preview is a sufficient and readily available option.
• For more advanced editing like direct text editing, complex layouts, or frequent PDF editing needs, consider a third-party PDF editing software.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions about editing PDFs on your Mac.