I. Introduction
PDFs, or Portable Document Format, have been around since the 90s and remain one of the most popular file formats for documents, proposals, and flyers. However, editing a PDF can sometimes feel like an impossible task. You may need to change a business proposal or add your signature to a document, but cannot seem to figure out how to do so.
In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to edit PDFs, and highlight the top 10 tools you can use to edit PDFs with ease. We will also identify common mistakes to avoid, why you should learn to edit PDFs and offer expert tips to help you optimize your editing process.
II. Step-by-Step Guide
Editing PDFs can be broken down into several smaller steps to make the process simpler:
Step 1: Identify the type of PDF
PDFs come in different types, including image-based PDFs, which are non-editable. Therefore, it is crucial to check the type of PDF you have before you start editing.
Step 2: Check if your PDF editing tool can convert PDFs
Most PDF editing tools come with the option of converting PDFs to Microsoft Word or Excel. This can be helpful if you want to make in-depth changes to the text or formatting of the document.
Step 3: Basic edits with the PDF editing tool
Once you have identified your PDF type, and if applicable, converted the file, you can now proceed to edit it. Basic edits can include adding text, highlighting, underlining, or striking through text. Many pdf editing tools come with these features.
Step 4: Advanced editing with the PDF editing tool
Advanced editing includes manipulating images, creating forms, adding watermarks, and editing the content in a more detailed manner. PDF editing tools that come with these features include Adobe Acrobat, Nitro Pro, and PDFelement.
III. Top 10 Tools for Editing PDFs
The following are the top 10 tools available for editing PDFs:
1. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is the most well-known and widely used PDF editing software. It comes with advanced editing tools, features such as document comparison, and integration with other Adobe tools. However, it can be expensive.
2. Nitro Pro
Nitro Pro is a cost-effective alternative to Adobe Acrobat that comes with similar advanced tools. It is user-friendly and has an intuitive interface that allows you to easily create and edit PDFs.
3. PDFelement
PDFelement is a beginner-friendly PDF editing tool that is both affordable and comes with many features. It allows you to add texts, images, and create fillable forms.
4. Foxit PhantomPDF
Foxit PhantomPDF is a feature-rich PDF editor that is also budget-friendly. It offers multiple editing modes, the ability to export PDFs to Word, and customization options.
5. Preview
Preview is a free, built-in PDF editing tool for Mac users. It allows you to add text and signatures, crop or resize images, and even combine multiple PDFs.
6. Smallpdf
Smallpdf is a cloud-based PDF editing tool that is simple and easy to use. It comes with basic editing tools and offers a free version. However, it lacks advanced editing features.
7. Sejda PDF Editor
Sejda PDF Editor is an online PDF editing tool that comes with a desktop version as well. It is reliable and offers basic to advanced editing features.
8. PDFescape
PDFescape is a free, online PDF editor that allows you to add text, images, and links to your documents. However, it has limited features compared to paid tools.
9. Inkscape
Inkscape is a free, open-source graphic design tool that allows you to edit and create vector images, including PDFs. It requires a bit of a learning curve, but it is a powerful tool for those who need to edit the graphics in their PDFs.
10. LibreOffice Draw
LibreOffice Draw is a free, open-source program that allows you to edit PDFs and create vector graphics. It has many features and is user-friendly.
IV. Common Mistakes to Avoid when Editing PDFs
The most common mistakes people make when editing PDFs include:
1. Not Checking PDF Permissions
Some PDFs can be locked or secured with a password, which can prevent you from editing them. Always check if your PDF has editing permissions before attempting to edit it.
2. Save a Copy of the Original PDF
Always save a copy of the original PDF before making any changes. This ensures that you can revert to the original version if needed.
3. Not Proofreading the Edited PDF
Always proofread the edited PDF to ensure that all the changes have been made correctly. Pay close attention to punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
4. Editing Scanned PDFs
Scanned PDFs are images and cannot be edited in the same way as text-based PDFs. To edit a scanned PDF, you need an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to convert the image to text.
V. Why You Should Learn to Edit PDFs
Editing PDFs can be a valuable skill to have, especially in today’s world. It allows you to easily make changes to important documents, such as contracts, proposals, and resumes. Furthermore, being able to edit PDFs can save you time and effort, as you can make changes without having to retype the entire document.
VI. Expert Tips for Editing PDFs
The following expert tips can help you edit PDFs more efficiently and effectively:
1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Using keyboard shortcuts can save you time and reduce the number of mouse clicks you need to make. Common shortcuts include Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, and Ctrl+Z to undo.
2. Learn to Use Batch Processing
Batch processing allows you to edit multiple PDFs simultaneously. This is a helpful feature if you need to make the same changes to multiple documents.
3. Use OCR Tools for Scanned Documents
OCR tools can convert scanned PDFs into editable text files, allowing you to make modifications. This is useful if you need to edit an old document that was not saved in an editable format.
VII. Conclusion
Editing PDFs can seem overwhelming, but it is a valuable skill to have. With the right tools and knowledge, editing PDFs can be a simple and straightforward process. Remember to check the PDF type before editing, always proofread the edited document, and save a copy of the original file. We hope this article has provided useful tips and information to help you edit PDFs with ease.