How to flatten and secure PDFs in Adobe Acrobat DC Pro; simple
step-by-step.
Flattening prevents
others from lifting material such as clip art, out of the PDF. Securing prevents others from editing the
PDF--a must-do if you create products for the internet.
If you can select, copy and paste
pictures or text from your PDF file, it is not flattened and secured.
Please let me know if you have any
suggestions or improvements. Thanks so much!
If you'd like all this info in a convenient PDF, How To Flatten and Secure Files, it's here and it's free.
Save as Adobe PDF
1)
Open a PowerPoint completed file
These
steps will also work for a
Word
Document.
2)
File/ Save as Adobe PDF (left nav bar)
3)
[Name it]/ Save as type: PDF files/ Save [replace
any older version]
4)
[The PDF will open in Acrobat. Check it for accuracy and correct layout!]
Flatten the PDF
5)
Tools [top tool bar]/ Print Production [center
pop-up]
6)
Flattener Preview [far right nav bar]
7)
Highlight: None [NOTE: IF KEEPING ALL PREVIOUS SETTINGS,
SKIP TO # 15 BELOW]
8)
Preset: High resolution
9)
Raster: 100
10)
Line Art: 1200 ppi
11)
Gradient 300 ppi
12)
☒ preserve
overprint (check)
13)
Compression
setting for flattener:
a.
Monochrome:
CCITT Group 4
b.
Grayscale:
ZIP
c.
Color:
JPEG2000
14)
Quality:
maximum
15)
Apply to
PDF/ All pages/ OK / Apply/ Yes
16)
[Close out
Flattener Pop-up]
Faint
White Lines – PROBLEM & SOLUTION
Sometimes, after flattening, you will see
very faint white lines. These can appear in a box shape around your clip art
images or text boxes—often only on your cover page.
When you print, these lines will not show
up.
You CAN, however, erase the lines from
your PDF. The solution comes from Adobe:
Solution 1: Export as PDF 1.4 or
later.
In the Export Adobe PDF General settings,
select Acrobat 5 (PDF 1.4) or higher from the Compatibility options.
Solution 2: Turn off the Smooth
Line Art option in Acrobat.
1.Choose
Edit > Preferences (Windows), or Acrobat > Preferences (Mac OS) to open
the preference dialog box.
2.In
Categories > Page Display deselect the option Smooth Line Art, and then
click OK.
For more solutions to this and other
problems,
Secure the PDF
17)
Tools
(Top tool bar)[With older versions of Microsoft,you may have to click on "Document" tab]
18)
Protect [right
side, nav bar]
19)
Restrict
Editing [Top center tool bar]
20)
[Enter my
password twice, as indicated; use letters, numbers and symbols for best
security]/ OK/ OK
21)
More
Options (Top center toolbar)
22)
Security
Properties
23)
Description TAB
a.
File [Name of Product]
b.
Title [Change this from ppt presentation to the
same as the file name]
c.
Author: [Author’s name]
d.
Subject: [eg, Phonics]
e.
Keywords: [List all words in lowercase, with a
comma. Add my author’s name, and my blog
name]
FOR
KEYWORD METADATA, I create a word doc in my product
folder called: [PRODUCT NAME] TEXT. So if I ever have to re-create my
PDF, I simply
copy
and paste the
keywords.
24)
Additional metadata (tab on center, right)
a.
Copyright status/ copyrighted
b.
Copyright notice/ [type:] © [YEAR] [MY NAME]
e.g., © 2015 Renee Dawn
[For ©, press "number lock" (this is optional on some keyboards), hold down the alt key, press 0169
on tiny keyboard to the right side of alphabet keyboard]
c.
OK
25)
Security TAB
a.
Security method: password security [NOTE: IF
KEEPING ALL PREVIOUS SETTINGS, SKIP TO # k BELOW]
b.
Change settings (tab on far right)
c.
DO NOT CHECK: Require a password to open
document
d.
DO CHECK: Restrict editing and printing
e.
Printing allowed: High resolution
f.
Changes allowed: commenting, filling in form
fields, signing
g.
DO NOT CHECK: Enable copying of text…
h.
DO CHECK: Enable text access…for visually
impaired
i.
Compatibility: Opens with Acrobat 7 or higher
(NOTE: lower than 7 is not as secure!)
j.
YES: Encrypt all document contents
except metadata [Do NOT CHECK the 2 other
boxes; this allows search engines to find your metadata]
k.
OK/OK
The security pop-up should look like this:
The Password Security Settings should look like this (after you click
“Change Settings”):
And, in "Show Details"...
Save the Final PDF
26)
File (Top, Far left)
27)
Save as/ Save as PDF
28)
[Choose location/ Folder]
29)
NOTE: This will replace the un-flattened and
unsecured file by the same name.
30)
[Name the file in a way that indicates to you it is
secured]:
31)
E.g.; Phonics Fun + [The plus sign indicates to you that it
is flattened and secured]
32)
Save [Note: the PDF isn’t secure until you save
it]/ Yes
Check the Final PDF
33)
Must check the final PDF for correct
layout of pages, clip art, etc.
34)
Upload the flattened and secured PDF
About Adobe:
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is the best program, by far, for flattening and securing PDFs.
If you're a teacher or student, you can save quite a lot by buying the Student and Teacher Edition. Here's the Windows or Mac version. You can upload it instantly, and begin using the trial version for a month before you must confirm your teacher/student status:
IMPORTANT: Please read the verification process carefully
before you purchase. If you do not qualify for Teacher or Student
status, you will be obligated to pay the full price.
Special thanks to Laurah J for her
cool video on securing PDFs.
Special Notes for Preview Files:
Many preview files when flattened, become too large to upload to TpT. The solution I found is:
1) In Flattener Preview page, Preset: Low Resolution, and Compression Settings/ Quality: Minimum.
Be sure to change these back to High Resolution and Maximum for the actual resource (that is, not a preview).
2) When Saving the Final Preview: File/ Save As/ Reduce File Size (tiny check box at the top)/ Choose Folder/ [Type: File Name PREVIEW +]
If your Preview file is still too large…
2) Upload
the file, compress it and download it.
3) Repeat
the steps 1 and 2 in Preview Files section above, to flatten and secure!
Also, for Preview Files: In your password
security > settings > change settings > printing allowed > [select NONE]
MUST:
Change BACK to “High Resolution”
for a printable resource!
If you'd like this entire file as a convenient PDF, How To Flatten and Secure Files, it's here--and it's free.
Best wishes to you on flattening and securing PDFs!
