PDF guides
Short, practical guides to the PDF jobs that come up at work, school and home. Each one explains what’s really going on and links to the free tool that does the job in your browser.
- How to compress a PDF so it fits in an emailEmail attachment limits, why some PDFs are huge, and how to shrink a PDF enough to send it while keeping text sharp.
- How to redact a PDF properly (and why black boxes often fail)Drawing a black rectangle over text doesn’t remove it. Learn what real redaction is, what to redact, and how to check your file before sharing.
- Signing PDFs: electronic signatures vs digital signaturesThe difference between a typed or drawn electronic signature and a certificate-based digital signature, and which one your document needs.
- PDF passwords explained: open passwords, permissions and encryptionWhat the two kinds of PDF password do, how strong PDF encryption is, and how to choose a password you won’t regret.
- What is PDF/A, and when do you need it?PDF/A is the archival version of PDF required by many courts, governments and archives. Here’s what it is and how to pick the right level.
- How to combine PDFs into one file (and keep them in order)Merge several PDFs into a single document, reorder pages across files and avoid the common problems with mixed page sizes and protected files.
- How to flatten a PDF (and when you should)What flattening a PDF means, when to flatten a filled form or a marked-up document, and how to do it in your browser without uploading the file.
- How to remove metadata from a PDF before you share itPDFs carry hidden details such as the author’s name, the software used and when the file was made. See what’s in yours and remove it in a few clicks.
- How to convert a PDF to Excel (tables, statements and invoices)Get tables from bank statements, invoices and reports into an Excel spreadsheet, with numbers you can add up. Plus what to check after converting.
- How to fill out a PDF form online (fillable or not)Fill in a fillable PDF form in your browser, add text to a flat or scanned form that has no fields, sign it and lock your answers before sending.
- How to crop or trim a PDF’s marginsTrim the white margins off a PDF, remove dark scanner edges or cut out one part of a page, on one page or all of them at once.
- How to make a scanned PDF searchable with OCRA scanned PDF is just pictures of pages. Add a hidden text layer with OCR so you can search it, copy text and convert it to Word or Excel.
- How to convert PNG to PDF (and combine several images)Convert PNG screenshots and images to PDF, put several PNGs in one document, and choose the page size, margins and orientation. No upload needed.
- How to convert a PDF to PNG imagesSave the pages of a PDF as sharp PNG images. Learn which resolution to pick, when PNG beats JPG, and how to convert just one page.
- How to create a fillable PDF formHow to turn a Word document or any PDF into a fillable form with text boxes, checkboxes and drop-downs, and how to test, fill and lock it afterwards.
- How to fill out a W-9 form, line by lineWhat to put on each line of IRS Form W-9, with a filled-out sample: name, tax classification, exemptions, address, taxpayer ID and signature, plus common mistakes and who to send it to.
- Form 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC: which one do you need?The difference between Form 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC, what each one reports, the thresholds and deadlines, and how to fill in and file a 1099-NEC.
- How to convert HEIC photos to PDFTurn iPhone HEIC photos into a PDF on any computer or phone, combine several photos into one document, and choose the page size. Nothing is uploaded.
- How to sign a PDF without printing itAdd your signature to a PDF on your computer or phone without printing and scanning. Draw, type or upload a signature, place it, and know when it is accepted.