macOS PDF editor, Preview
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Editing PDFs on Mac is easy, thanks to built-in tools in macOS and a variety of third-party apps. Here's how to get started, whether you're making quick annotations or detailed edits.
PDF is a widely accepted document format because it preserves the layout and content across devices and platforms. However, PDFs can be difficult to edit without the right tools.
Preview's Markup Toolbar
Luckily, Mac users have several options for editing PDFs, from simple built-in tools like Preview to more advanced third-party apps.
Using Preview
Preview is the default PDF viewer in macOS, and it can do more than just view documents. It comes with editing tools for managing PDFs, from making quick annotations to organizing pages.
Annotations and Markup
- Highlight, underline, or strikethrough text in Preview by clicking the Highlight button in the toolbar (the pen icon).
- Add shapes or notes by selecting Tools, Annotations, Shapes from the top menu. Click and drag these shapes anywhere in the document.
- To add comments, use the Notes tool in the same menu.
Adding Text
While you can't edit existing text in a PDF using Preview, you can add new text.
- Open a PDF in Preview, click the Markup toolbar button.
- Then click the Text tool. A text box will appear that you can move and resize.
- Type the content you want to add, and you can further customize the text.
Adding text
Signing text
Preview lets you sign a PDF directly in the app:
- Open a PDF in Preview.
- Click the Markup toolbar button, then click the Signature icon.
- You can create a signature using your Mac's trackpad or a photo of your signature.
- Once saved, click on it to add it to your document, then drag and resize it as needed.
Sign a PDF
Manage Pages
Preview offers simple tools for managing and organizing PDF pages:
- Reorder Pages: Open a PDF, click the Sidebar button, and drag page thumbnails to reorder them.
- Delete Pages: Select a Page thumbnail in the sidebar, right-click (or Control-click), and select Delete.
- Combine PDFs: Open the first PDF in Preview, drag additional PDFs to the sidebar, and place them anywhere in the sequence.
Sidebar for Pages
Using QuickLook for quick annotations
Quick Look is another built-in macOS feature that lets you preview and make fundamental edits right from the Finder. This feature helps you make quick annotations without opening the entire PDF editor.
Quick Editing with Quick Look
- Select a PDF file in Finder.
- Press the Spacebar.
- Click Markup to access annotation tools like highlighting, text, and shapes.
Third-Party Alternatives
For more advanced PDF editing beyond Preview, several third-party alternatives provide advanced features. Adobe Acrobat Pro is a widely used choice, offering text editing, adding images, and creating fillable forms.
Adobe Acrobat Pro also includes tools for redacting sensitive information and adding watermarks. Another option is Nitro PDF Pro, which offers text and image editing, document conversion, and collaboration features.
Both apps are ideal for users who want more control over their PDFs. While other tools like Google Docs offer easy online PDF editing, they can struggle with complex formatting.
Mac users have a number of options for editing PDFs. Preview and Quick Look are fast, free, and easy to access for basic tasks like annotations and signatures.
For more complex tasks like text editing or working with forms, third-party tools like Adobe Acrobat and Nitro PDF Pro offer the professional features you need. Whether you need to edit a PDF for personal or professional use, there is a solution to suit your needs.
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