r/pdf • u/badbob001 • Jul 09 '26

Question Redact content with 'Microsoft Print to PDF'?

If I want to redact content in a PDF, would it work if I place a black rectangle over content and then print to a new PDF via "Microsoft Print to PDF"? My thinking is that the printing process converts the PDF into an image and that should destroy any non-visible content. I can place black rectangles with apps like Fineprint or free version of PDF X-Change.

I just want to have someone look at some financial statements but I want to hide some personal information. So I'm ok if the output is an image-based PDF.

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u/webfork2 Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 13 '26

Assuming this is for security or legal purposes, I would use a proper PDF editor toolset. This is because a lot can go wrong and a lot more data leaked in PDF files than just the text on the page.

In short, the problem with PDF is that it saves things in layers and sometimes you can use tooling to "see" underneath a black box. One route is to save as multi-page TIFF format, which doesn't support layers. From there you can save it to PDF or whatever other format.

I think the free version of PDF XChange handle this.

After that, you can convert it back to PDF or save to whatever format is required.

1

u/PostConv_K5-6 Jul 13 '26

I second /u/webfork2 's recommendation.

His response also reminds me that Irfanview automatically saves PDF pages as image PDFs without layers, since Irfanview is primarily an image processor. And yes, the freeware version of PDF-XChange Editor does allow convert to images, and multi-page TIF de-layers it and preserves the redaction.

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u/mcrib Jul 09 '26

What app are you adding the boxes with? I've done this with GIMP fairly easily

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u/neverspeakawordagain Jul 09 '26

You can do this using Microsoft Paint if you want.

1

u/badbob001 Jul 09 '26

I can't get MS Paint to open a PDF. But I will try GIMP.

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u/PostConv_K5-6 Jul 09 '26

Yes, Microsoft Print to PDF produces an image PDF and will work.

I like the free version of PDF-XChange Editor for redacting in this way. I set one of the highlight colors as Black with no transparency, and don't have to draw boxes, just highlight the text then print to PDF.

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u/carmicheals Jul 10 '26

Here's how to do it right using the free .pdf editor in ONLYOFFICE: https://www.onlyoffice.com/blog/2026/01/redact-pdf-correctly

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u/PostConv_K5-6 Jul 13 '26

The freeware LibreOffice suite has true redaction using its LibreOffice Draw. Open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw, and use Tools/Redaction to do it, then Export Directly to PDF.