How to edit a PDF

Editing a PDF doesn't have to be difficult! Whether you want to change text or images in a PDF, or you want to sign a PDF document, you can do it quite easily in Vectornator.
Editing PDF in Vectornator

What is a PDF?

A PDF is a type of digital document that is easy to share and print online. The acronym "PDF" stands for "portable document format.” It’s the gold standard for digital documents.

A PDF document ensures that the layout and colors of the document will remain exactly the same, no matter what device it's being displayed on. That makes it perfect for designers.

Why a PDF is the best digital formats?

PDF files are ideal for digital documents because they are difficult to edit. 

This is good for documents where the formatting is important, like e-books or contract documents. There are lots of programs out there that will teach you how to sign a PDF, but relatively few that will let you edit the PDF itself. 

In fact, it's almost impossible to edit PDF files without using a dedicated PDF editing software, like Adobe Acrobat Pro. But most of those PDF editing programs require expensive fees, which prevents most people from using them.

So how do you edit a PDF without a dedicated PDF editor software? Thankfully, there are some solutions out there.

Edit Your PDF

Here’s how you can easily edit PDF documents with Vectornator.

Exporting

Once you're done, use File > Export or (Command +E) to save the document as a new PDF. This will give you a drop-down menu of file types to which you can export. Choose PDF from the list. Then, you’ll have the option to merge all artboards in your document into PDF pages, or just the currently selected one. This will affect your file size, of course. Finally, you’ll be able to choose whether you want your PDF to use CMYK colors or the standard RBG. This means you can also use Vectornator to create PDF files from scratch!

How to Sign a PDF

But what if you just need to add your signature? Easy! You can use Vectornator for that too! 

It can be difficult for many people to sign documents digitally. You don't want to go through the process of printing your document out, signing it physically, and then scanning it back into a digital form. Luckily, if you use Vectornator, you won't have to!

There are three ways to sign a PDF in Vectornator.

The first is probably the simplest. Sometimes the easiest way to sign digital documents is with a photo.

First, write your signature on a blank piece of paper. Then, take a photo of your signature and crop it so the image is barely bigger than your signature. You can then use your phone's photo app (or use a different program on your computer) to alter the contrast and color tone of the photo to be just a pure white background with your signature. 

Then, you'll have a photo version of your signature that can be used very easily in the future! If you're going with this method, then it's easy to sign a PDF in Vectornator. All you have to do is import the PDF as normal, then import the photo of your signature into the document.

The second way is even easier, and it’s not a feature that you’ll find on many software platforms!

You can use Vectornator’s Brush Tool to sign your name directly onto a PDF file!

First, import your PDF file into Vectornator. Then, select the Brush Tool.

Using either your finger, your Apple Pencil, or your other iPad stylus, sign your signature onto the PDF. This signature will be a vector element, which you can alter or resize as much as you want.

The first is probably the simplest. Sometimes the easiest way to sign digital documents is with a photo.

First, write your signature on a blank piece of paper. Then, take a photo of your signature and crop it so the image is barely bigger than your signature. You can then use your phone's photo app (or use a different program on your computer) to alter the contrast and color tone of the photo to be just a pure white background with your signature. 

Then, you'll have a photo version of your signature that can be used very easily in the future! If you're going with this method, then it's easy to sign a PDF in Vectornator. All you have to do is import the PDF as normal, then import the photo of your signature into the document.

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One tool to rule them all.

On top of providing great tools for creating illustrations, Vectornator is great for other design cases too! For instance, you can create all your interface, lettering and print designs right inside Vectornator; no need to switch to another tool.

Any Questions?

How can I use custom fonts in a PDF?

If you want to edit some PDF text, you'll need the correct font files to be saved onto your device. If you don't have the correct files, you can use Fontinator to import the custom fonts you want.

How to edit PDF forms on Mac

The quest for a free PDF editor is endless. But with Vectornator, the search is over! You can use the steps above for the annotation of Word documents, Google Docs, and other PDF form files. Plus, it works when you're offline!

How to convert PDF files

You can also use Vectornator as a PDF converter. After opening your document, use the Export function to save it as a .JPG, .PNG, or .SVG file. This might make it easier to place into a PowerPoint presentation or help you compress PDF files for use on a web browser like Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox.

Get started with Vectornator today.

Vectornator runs on iPadOS 14 & iOS 14 and later,
or macOS Big Sur and later (with native M1 support).