Introduction
Editing PDFs on Mac can be a challenging task, especially if you are not familiar with the right tools and techniques. However, editing PDFs on Mac is essential for business, academic, and personal purposes. In this article, we provide a step-by-step guide on how to edit PDFs on Mac, the best PDF editing software for Mac, tips for efficient PDF editing, answers to frequently asked questions about PDF editing on Mac, and free tools for editing PDFs on Mac.
Step-by-Step Guide to Editing PDFs on Mac
Step 1: Open a PDF on Mac
The first step in editing a PDF on Mac is to open the PDF file in a PDF editing tool. You can use the default PDF viewer on Mac – Preview – or any other PDF editing software of your choice. To open a PDF in Preview, simply double-click the PDF file in your Finder or right-click the PDF file and select “Open With” and then “Preview.”
Step 2: Adding text to PDFs
Once you have opened the PDF file, you can add text to it. To add text to a PDF in Preview, click on the “Text” icon in the toolbar and select the area where you want to add text. You can customize the font, size, and color of the text as well.
Step 3: Inserting and resizing images
You can also insert and resize images in a PDF on Mac. To insert an image in Preview, click on the “Tools” icon in the toolbar, select “Annotate,” and then “Image.” You can then select the image file you want to insert and place it in the desired location. To resize an image, click on the image and drag the edges to adjust the size.
Step 4: Highlighting and commenting
Another useful feature of PDF editing on Mac is highlighting and commenting. You can highlight text in a PDF by selecting the text and clicking on the “Highlight” icon in the toolbar. You can also add comments to a PDF by clicking on the “Note” icon and typing your comment.
Step 5: Saving and exporting changes
After making the necessary changes to the PDF, you can save and export the file. To save the edits in Preview, click on “File” and then “Save.” To export the changes, select “Export as PDF” to save a new version of the edited file.
Best PDF Editing Software for Mac
There are several PDF editing software options available for Mac, but we have narrowed down the three best PDF editing software for Mac based on their pricing, features, and user-friendliness.
1. Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat DC is the best PDF editing software for Mac with robust features, including advanced text and image editing, creation of fillable PDFs, password protection, digital signature, and easy sharing. However, it is expensive, and the interface can be overwhelming for beginners.
2. PDFpen
PDFpen is another excellent PDF editing software for Mac that is more affordable than Adobe Acrobat DC. It has features like easy-to-use text and image editing tools, annotation, and form-filling. The software also offers OCR for converting scanned PDF documents into editable text, making it even more useful in a business setting.
3. Skim
Skim is a free PDF editing software for Mac with basic editing features such as highlighting, annotating, and adding text. It also supports various languages and offers useful note-taking features that make it ideal for academic purposes.
Tips for Efficient PDF Editing on Mac
Here are some tips for efficient PDF editing on Mac:
1. Use of keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can save you time and make editing PDFs on Mac more efficient. For example, Command + T opens the Edit Toolbar in Preview, which allows you to quickly access editing tools.
2. Organizing pages
To organize pages in a PDF on Mac, use the thumbnail view in Preview. You can drag and drop pages to reorder them or delete unwanted pages.
3. Extracting text
Extracting text from a PDF can be useful in several contexts. To extract text from a PDF in Preview, select the text and copy it to the clipboard. You can then paste the text into a document editor or any other program.
PDF Editing FAQ on a Mac
Here are some frequently asked questions about editing PDFs specifically on a Mac:
1. Can I edit a PDF on Mac using Microsoft Word?
Yes, you can edit a PDF on Mac using Microsoft Word. With Microsoft Word for Mac, you can open a PDF file, edit the text, and save it as a new PDF file.
2. Can I edit a scanned PDF on Mac?
Yes, you can edit a scanned PDF on Mac using OCR software. OCR software recognizes the text in scanned PDF documents and converts it into editable text.
3. How can I edit the font in a PDF on Mac?
You can edit the font in a PDF on Mac using PDF editing software like Adobe Acrobat DC or PDFpen. In Preview, you can only add text with the default font.
How to Edit PDF for Free on Mac
If you prefer not to pay for PDF editing software, there are still options available to edit PDFs on Mac for free. Two tools you can use are Preview and online PDF editors.
Preview
Preview is the default PDF viewer and editor on Mac and offers basic editing features like adding text and images, highlighting, and annotating.
Online PDF editors
Several online PDF editors such as Sejda and PDFescape offer free plans with basic editing features. However, these online editors may not be as reliable as desktop editors, and privacy concerns should be kept in mind.
Conclusion
Editing PDFs is a crucial task in the business, academic, and personal spheres. This guide has provided a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to edit PDFs on Mac, the best PDF editing software for Mac, tips for efficient PDF editing, answers to frequently asked questions about PDF editing on Mac, and free tools for editing PDFs on Mac. With this information, you are well-equipped to edit PDFs on your Mac with ease.