Flatten PDF
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Compare free and paid accessFlatten forms and annotations into ordinary page content.
The job runs privately and its inputs and results expire on the retention date you select.
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Premium processing keeps every input and result scoped to your own account.
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What it does
Flatten PDF turns form fields, comments, stamps and other annotations into ordinary page content. After flattening, what was typed into a field is simply printed on the page, and comments can no longer be moved, edited or hidden.
When to use it
Flatten a filled-in form before you send it so nobody can change the answers, or flatten a reviewed document so the comments show up the same way in every reader and printer.
How it works
- Read the offer, sign in and use an account with paid access
- Upload a supported file (or enter a public URL), choose options and retention
- Start the job, inspect every result and warning, then download the files you need
Before you start
Flattened fields are no longer fillable. Reader-specific appearances may differ.
Flattened fields cannot be filled in again. Some readers draw fields differently, so the flattened look may differ slightly from what you saw.
Processing limits
Up to 50 MB per input; 25 files and 500 MB per batch. PDF limit: 2000 pages. Up to 2 active jobs per account. Output limit: 1000 MB. Renderer limits can reject especially large pages or images.
Example result
The fillable text field becomes a fixed part of the page. The output has no interactive fields.
Download example input · Download result
Example details & evidence
Real PDF output from the synthetic fixture. Inspect the downloaded result and notes. The input has one fillable text field; the output has no interactive fields. This run used the renderer fallback.
Examples use synthetic files, not customer documents. Generation notes and SHA-256 hashes.
Common questions
Can I undo flattening?
No. Keep the original if you might need to edit the form later.
Does it hide what is under a comment?
No. Flattening only changes interactivity. It is not a safe way to hide sensitive text.
Why do fields look blank in some apps?
Some forms rely on the reader to draw their values. Flattening fixes that by printing the values into the page.
Does it affect signatures?
Flattening changes the file, so existing digital signatures will no longer validate. Flatten before signing, not after.