Make a fixed visual copy of a PDF
Flattening here means rendering every PDF page into a JPEG image and placing those images in a new PDF. Use it when a recipient needs a fixed visual copy of a completed form or marked-up document. Keep the editable original so you can correct information later.
This choice changes the whole document, including ordinary text. The output does not retain a selectable text layer, working links or editable form fields. A page can look correct while being less useful for search, copying and assistive technology; choose this conversion only when the visual copy meets the recipient's needs.
Decide whether a page image is suitable
| Your situation | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| A completed form must be shared as a fixed visual copy. | Save the filled source first, reopen it to confirm the values, then flatten a copy. Check every filled field in the output because rendering depends on the appearances saved in the PDF. |
| Only standard form fields need to stop being editable. | Consider the Fill PDF Forms tool's flattened output. That is a different operation from turning every page into an image and may better suit an otherwise searchable document. |
| You need smaller files or confidential text removed. | Choose a compression or redaction workflow for that task. Flattening can enlarge a file, and all visible confidential information remains readable in the resulting page images. |
Compare the two output detail choices
Use the downloadable five-page sample to inspect changes without risking a working document. This is a repeatable visual exercise, not a promise of a particular size reduction or rendering time.
- Choose device-document-lab.pdf. Leave Output detail at High · clearer print, the default, then select Flatten PDF and download the output.
- Open the download and compare all five numbered pages with the source. Check the sample's form appearance as well as its ordinary headings and raster image.
- Start again from the original sample, choose Standard · smaller file, and download a second copy. Keep the two downloads under different filenames.
- Compare fine text at the same zoom, inspect the reported file sizes, and choose the copy that meets your recipient's reading or printing needs.
Expected result. Both outputs should contain five image-only pages. High requests 150 dpi and Standard requests 96 dpi; the device's pixel limit can reduce the actual render resolution. Neither option guarantees a file smaller than the original.
Check the downloaded result
- Count the pages, compare their orientation, and inspect small numbers, punctuation, stamps and faint marks. A readable heading is not enough to establish that small form entries survived.
- Try selecting ordinary text and clicking a form field in the downloaded file. The new PDF contains page images; some viewers may independently run OCR, which is separate from this tool's output.
- For a printed submission, print one representative page at its intended size before printing the whole document. Check that the recipient accepts an image-only copy.
Troubleshooting
- A form value or annotation is missing.
The renderer uses saved page and annotation appearances. Unsaved edits, unsupported annotations or XFA forms may not appear as they do in the original application.
Try this: Reopen the source in the application that created or filled it, save the visible values, and compare a new output. If anything remains missing, do not use that flattened copy.
- Small text looks softer or the PDF is much larger.
Vector text has become JPEG pixels. High uses more pixels than Standard, while a formerly compact text page can become a comparatively large image.
Try this: Compare both detail choices from the original. Retain the original PDF if neither meets the required quality and size; repeatedly flattening an output cannot recover detail.
- The browser reports an unsupported feature or size limit.
The tool needs worker rendering and OffscreenCanvas support, plus enough memory for the pages and output.
Try this: Try an up-to-date browser, select Standard, or extract a smaller group of pages before retrying. Respect the limits shown for your device.
Limits and compatibility
- Appearance is the acceptance test
- The tool verifies that the saved PDF opens and keeps the page count. It cannot automatically certify that every annotation, font or form value rendered correctly. XFA rendering is disabled.
- Local processing and retained originals
- Page rendering and PDF creation run in your browser. Download the result before leaving the page, retain the source, and do not treat a flattened copy as an unchanged digitally signed original or an accessible tagged document.
Your files and form values are processed on this device. Downloaded copies remain wherever you save them. See how to check local processing and our privacy policy for site data and optional services.
Common questions
- Can someone still change a flattened PDF?
- A person cannot edit the original form fields because those fields are absent, but image-editing or PDF software can still alter the page images. Flattening is not tamper protection.
- Can I make the output searchable again?
- OCR can add recognised text, but it can make mistakes and does not recover the original form structure. Keep the source when accurate searchable text matters.
Continue your document workflow
Maintained by Shakti Prasad Ram. Found a mismatch? Report the tool, browser and steps without sending a sensitive document. Back to the tool