Guide

Why an edit can leave a visible patch on a PDF

A box behind your new text is covering the old words, which could not be taken out cleanly. Here is why, and how to make it less noticeable.

By EasyEditPDF · Updated

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Why there is a patch

When the old words cannot be removed cleanly, we cover them with a block the colour of the page and write the new words on top. On white paper it is invisible. On a photo, a colour fade or a tinted row, no single colour matches, so it can show. Likely cases are marked Overlay only before you type.

Make it less noticeable

  1. Keep the new words about as long as the old ones.
  2. Change the whole line, so the patch follows a natural edge.
  3. Open the downloaded copy at normal size before sending it on.

A patch hides nothing

The old words may still be in the file. Do not use editing to remove confidential information. Why editing is not redaction.

Related: why the text will not change, edit the text in a PDF.

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PDFs under 5 MiB (25 MiB on Pro), up to 100 pages. No sign-up needed to try.