How to flatten a PDF: A step-by-step guide.

Whether you’re managing extensive documentation or handling the occasional paperwork, knowing how to flatten a PDF is essential for improving document security, maintaining consistency and reducing file size.

Flattening a PDF involves combining all its contents into just one single layer, effectively transforming it into a non-interactive document that can't be edited or modified in any way after export. For instance, if you're preparing a PDF portfolio with intricate graphics and multimedia elements, flattening it ensures that all elements are preserved in a single layer, preventing any discrepancies or errors during printing or sharing.

In this handy guide, we'll explain what it means to flatten a PDF, the benefits and walk you through the process in a few easy steps, covering both Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat online services.

A laptop user types as data layers merge into one screen.

What you’ll learn

What does it mean to flatten a PDF?

When you flatten a PDF, you essentially merge all the layers and annotations within the document into a single layer. This process ensures that the content appears as a single, uneditable image, removing any interactivity or editable elements like form fields or annotations. Flattening simplifies the document structure, making it easier to share and ensuring consistent viewing across different platforms and devices.

Why flatten a PDF?

Flattening is commonly used to secure a document's layout and prevent alterations to its content. It's also beneficial for reducing file size, which is important for efficient storage and sharing.

As an example, let's say you have you have a PDF document containing confidential information or important legal contracts. Flattening it ensures that the layout remains intact and prevents unauthorised modifications, safeguarding the integrity of the content. Similarly, when sharing graphic design projects that rely on precise layout and formatting, flattening the PDF guarantees that the visual elements are preserved as intended, regardless of the viewing platform.

When to flatten a PDF?

You will generally flatten a PDF when it’s in its final state, ready for printing or sharing. This ensures users can’t make further edits or modifications and is especially important when sharing sensitive documents like contracts, legal agreements or official reports. Flattening a PDF is also advisable before printing, especially if you want to maintain the exact appearance of the document without any discrepancies.

Four large folders grouped together with a green arrow pointing to one PDF.

How to flatten a PDF.

There are a few different ways to flatten a PDF, depending on your preferences and available tools. The easiest way to flatten a PDF, is by using a PDF tool that can merge all interactive elements—such as annotations, form fields and multimedia—into the document's base layer, effectively removing these elements' interactivity. And it is always advisable to save a copy of the original PDF before flattening, because as once flattened, the document can no longer be edited.

How to flatten a PDF in Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat provides comprehensive tools for working with PDF documents, including flattening. There are several ways to flatten a PDF using Adobe Acrobat. Here, we’ve outlined the simplest version:

  1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Click "File" in the top-left corner of the window.
  3. Select “Open” from the drop-down menu and select the PDF document you want to flatten.
  4. Select the “Print Production” tool under “Tools”.
  5. In the “Print Production” menu, click the “Flattener Preview”.
  6. Review and customise the settings in the dialogue box according to your preferences, for example, if you only want to flatten specific pages in the document.
  7. Click the “Apply” button and click “Yes” when the confirmation prompt appears.
  8. Once the document is flattened, save it in your desired location by clicking “File” and then “Save As”.

After completing these steps, your PDF will be flattened, with all interactive elements like annotations, form fields and multimedia either removed or integrated into the document's base layer.

How to flatten a PDF online for free.

If you prefer to use a free solution to flatten a PDF, you can use the Adobe Acrobat free online compress tool. Alternatively, for a more comprehensive approach, you can use a tool like Adobe Acrobat Pro.

Here's how:

  1. Open the PDF file in your preferred programme that you can view, open and print PDFs - for example, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
  2. Find and select "Print" from the window’s menu.
  3. In the "Printer" drop-down, select "Adobe PDF", "Microsoft Print to PDF" or “Save as PDF” as the printer.
  4. Click "Print" or “Save” to create a new PDF.

This new PDF will have a flattened appearance with interactive elements removed or merged into the base layer of the document. However, this method may not be as precise as using Adobe Acrobat Pro's flattening tools.

Flattening PDFs is an important step in ensuring document integrity, security and compatibility. By mastering this process, you can streamline your workflow and confidently share or print your PDF documents without worrying about unintended changes or discrepancies. Whether you choose to use Adobe Acrobat or do it online, the steps outlined in this guide will help you flatten your PDFs quickly and efficiently.

FAQs.

How do you know if a PDF is already flattened?

You can verify if a PDF is already flattened by opening it in a PDF viewer and checking if the document properties allow editing. If the document properties indicate that editing is restricted or if interactive elements like form fields are no longer editable, then the PDF is flattened.

Why should I flatten a PDF instead of just printing it as is?

Flattening a PDF ensures that the document maintains its intended appearance and layout when shared or printed. Printing a PDF without flattening may result in discrepancies or errors, especially if the document contains interactive elements or layers.

Can I reverse the flattening process and restore the PDF to its original state?

Once a PDF is flattened, it merges all layers and annotations into a single, uneditable image. Reversing the flattening process to restore the original document structure is generally not possible. It's advisable to keep a backup of the original PDF before flattening if you anticipate needing to make further edits in the future.

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