The Best Way to Edit PDFs on Mac.
We all love a good PDF editor. But while there are many options for PC users, one simple question remains for Mac users:
What’s the best way to edit PDFs on Mac?
It is difficult for Mac users to find a free solution for editing PDF files. But with a little creativity, you can find ways to get around the problem.
Preview
We can’t move forward without mentioning the preview. This preinstalled program comes with every Mac and is the default PDF editor. It does the most basic things besides text editing.
So if all you need to do is reorder pages or insert annotations (Tools Annotations), a preview might be sufficient.
Edit a PDF file
To edit PDF documents, you need access to the Preview editing feature.
–
- Open the PDF you want to edit.
Click the “Edit” button in the preview window.
Choose one of the editing options on the toolbar, such as add text or shapes.
Other features
There is a feature that allows users to change the order of the pages in any order. This can be done through the sidebar. Those who don’t have sidebar enabled by default can enable it from the View menu.
But what if you really need to edit the text? What can you do? While not ideal, you can create a white box to hide the unneeded copy. Then you can just add text and place it on top of the box.
Enter signature
Adding a signature is also possible if you have an iSight or trackpad connected to your Mac. The freehand drawing tool can also be used to insert shapes or signatures directly into the PDF.
If you already have a signature saved on your computer, adding it to PDF is even easier.
Click Sign In on the Edit toolbar.
Select a signature from the drop-down list or add a new one.
Place your signature where it should appear on the document.
Convert PDF files
Another possible solution is to convert PDF files to DOC versions. Thus, the converted file can be edited in MS Word.
You may need to use file converters for this. There are free programs available on the Internet that will do the job. After making changes, you can save the document as PDF by converting it back to its original file format.
If formatting isn’t a problem, there are ways to convert PDFs to Word for free.
- Open the PDF in preview.
- Copy text from your document.
- Paste a copy into Microsoft Word.
- Edit the copy
- Go to File Save As and select PDF from the drop-down menu.
Converting using Preview
- Open the PDF when previewing.
- Copy the text from the document.
- Paste the copy into Microsoft Word.
- Make changes to the copy
- Go to File Save As and select PDF from the dropdown list.
- Sign in to your Google Drive account.
- Download the PDF file by dragging and dropping the document into the control panel or choosing New File Download.
Convert using Google Docs
- Sign in to your Google Drive account.
- Upload the PDF by dragging the document onto the control panel or by going to New Upload the file .
When the download is complete, right-click the document and select Open With Google Docs.
Make the necessary edits. When finished, choose File Download As PDF Document.
Third-party programs
Mac OS users looking for something more powerful are forced to resort to third-party software. There are many programs to choose from on the Internet. Some of them have proven themselves well, while others have not.
If you plan on taking this route, you need to do extensive research to make sure you don’t download or install unnecessary files.
Users should also remember that no third-party PDF editor is perfect. Problems such as the inability to edit existing text are still possible.
Edit PDF files online
There are sites offering online PDF editing. You just upload the file and start making changes. When you download the document to your computer, it will be saved in PDF format.
–