The white out method of editing typed documents has been with us since the 1950s. It has been used over the years for correcting errors on typed documents done on typewriters. Not electronically though, the “white out” procedure was performed with the use of a fluid. Because of its relevance, the evolution of computers has made developers adopt it as one of the essential writing editing functions in modern-day computers.
Major software and computer hardware companies have taken an interest to include this simple editing feature; for example, the birth of white out for acrobat PDF reader on Windows, Android, Mac OS, iPads, even on iPhone devices.
Why Do You Need to White Out PDFs?
One of the most common reasons people choose to white out their PDF documents is that they need to do minor edits like correcting typographical errors, adding more texts, or updating other details.
Sometimes, you may need to hide some crucial parts of the document. Of course, there are several ways to secure a PDF; unlike encryption, whiting out is very easy while giving access to other parts of the document.
In today's post, we'll discuss different ways you can white out pdf with a minimum of fuss.
You will learn how to:
- White out PDF
- White out PDF using Acrobat Acrobat: 1) White out the Whole Text Box; 2) White Out PDF from a Scanned Document
- White Out PDF Documents with Microsoft Word
- Redact in Nuance PDF
- White Out PDF Online
- White Out PDF on iPhone
- White Out PDF on Mac Computers
- Frequently Asked Questions.
How to White out PDF
We’ll discuss various methods of whiting out PDFs and on different platforms.
How to White out PDF using Acrobat Acrobat
To do this, you have to use the “Edit Text and Images” option, which allows you to edit, add, and replace texts contained in the PDF file. With this tool, you can also change the size or font of the entire paragraph. To get on with whiting out your PDF, follow the steps below:
- Select the drop-down tool from the menu bar. Choose “Edit PDF” and select “Edit.”
- The texts on the PDF document that you want to edit should be visible for you to see. Also, they are separated from each other so as not to interrupt the flow of other documents.
- Click on the box containing the text you wish to white out, select all the text, and press “Backspace” on your keyboard.
- To replace the text, type in the new text you wish to replace the old one with on the same area as the old text.
How to White out the Whole Text Box:
- Select the whole text and hit the Backspace button.
- From the “File” menu, select “Save As" to save the edited PDF again – but this time, as a fixed-layout PDF. That’s it, and you are done.
How to White Out PDF from a Scanned Document
Usually, when we scan documents onto our PC, we would like to save them as PDF documents. With this method, suppose you want to white out some parts or maybe edit some details of the digital version of the document; it is quite simple. You can also do this using the white out Acrobat PDF feature. To do this:
- Open the scanned PDF document, after which it is expected to run an “Optical Character Recognition”: its job is to convert your scanned document into an editable version.
- At this time, make sure you switch on the “Recognize Text” option (which should be turned on by default).
Note:
If this feature is turned on, every document opened with an Acrobat reader will automatically be converted to an editable document.
How to White Out PDF Documents with Microsoft Word
If you find yourself in a situation where you don’t have access to Adobe Acrobat, we recommend using the Microsoft Word method. However, to achieve this “white out” procedure, you will need first to convert your PDF document to Microsoft Word. After you are done with the editing, convert it back to a PDF.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how:
- Open Microsoft Word, click on “File” from the menu section, and click “Open.”
- Select the PDF file you wish to open (and open it).
- You will see a pop-up window seeking permission to convert your PDF into a Microsoft Word document.
- Here, the program automatically makes a copy of your PDF to avoid tampering with the original PDF document. Then click OK.
- On the “Insert” tab, you’ll see “Shapes.” Select the rectangle.
- Click and drag the shape on the area you want to white out and adjust appropriately.
- The “Shape Format” tab should appear. Choose white color for the “Shape Fill” and “Shape outline” options.
- It’s time to check your copy for any noticeable changes that may have occurred due to the copying process.
- Go back to the file. Select “Save As,” choose PDF as the format of choice using the File Format selection box.
- Click on ‘Export,’ and you are done – your newly reversed PDF is ready.
Note:
According to Microsoft Word technical department, some of the pages or lines may end up broken at various locations as the copying process is going on. Hence, the need to check for apparent changes after the copying process is over.
How to White Out (Redact) in Nuance PDF
Nuance Power PDF (formerly called) is a powerful tool designed to manipulate PDF files (or documents). It comes with an extensive array of functionalities, e.g., you can edit, view, create, and convert documents in different formats using this tool. You can also edit, convert and view various interactive media documents like images, videos, etc. But since this is about redacting, this section will strictly focus on that. Below is how it is done.
- Open your document using Nuance PDF (preferably the advanced version), click on the security ribbon. Then click on “Mark Reduction.”
- Look for the text(s) you wish to redact. Highlight, then click and drag those areas you want to cover.
- After you have covered the necessary areas, select the “Apply Reduction” feature.
- Now, save the redacted file (documents).
