Overview
Flattening a PDF document offers numerous advantages. If you wish to leverage these benefits, please follow the steps outlined below.
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Simplifies the Document: Flattening a PDF merges and simplifies the various elements within, such as annotations and form fields, into a single layer. This ensures consistent display and prevents potential compatibility issues when sharing or printing the document.
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Reduces File Size: Flattening a PDF file reduces the file size, making it easier to share and faster to load
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Preserves Formatting and Layout: A flattened file preserves the formatting and layout of the original document. This ensures that it appears the same to all viewers.
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Prevents Changes: Flattening a PDF also makes the file read-only, preventing changes from being made to variable fields.
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Improves Printing and Sharing: Flattening a PDF combines all of the layers into a single layer, making your document easier to print and share. It also handles transparency and overlapping image elements, which can be important for professional printing
Remember, once a PDF is flattened, the original will no longer be editable. So, it’s always a good idea to keep a backup of the original file before flattening.
Target Audience
Anyone
How to Flatten a PDF document
It is recommended to complete both the below steps to provide the greatest benefits
Steps to flatten a PDF document using Foxit PDF Editor:
- Open the PDF document where you want to flatten pages1.
- Choose
Organize > Flatten 
- In the
Flatten Pages dialog box, specify the page range (current page, all pages, a range of pages), and click OK
Please note that the flattening operation cannot be undone. If you want to retain a copy of the original PDF, make sure that you save the new document using Save As rather than Save. This will ensure that the original document remains unchanged.
Steps to flatten a PDF document using Print to PDF feature in any PDF reader/writer programs
Printing a PDF document to a PDF printer can be similar to flattening in some ways, but they are not exactly the same. So if you encounter any issues using this method please try the more advanced methods outlined below.
When you print a PDF to a PDF printer, the software interprets the PDF, along with its various elements like text, images, and vector graphics, and then creates a new PDF. This process can effectively “flatten” certain elements of the PDF, such as form fields and comments, into static, uneditable elements.
However, this method might not handle more complex elements, such as layers and transparencies, in the same way a dedicated “flatten” function would. Flattening a PDF not only merges all layers into one but also handles transparency and overprint. It divides transparent artwork into vector-based areas and rasterized areas.
So, while printing a PDF to a PDF printer can mimic some aspects of flattening, it may not be as thorough or effective as using a tool specifically designed for flattening PDFs. It’s also worth noting that the results can vary depending on the software you’re using to print the PDF.
In conclusion, if you need to flatten a PDF for professional printing or to ensure compatibility, it’s generally better to use a dedicated PDF editing tool that offers a specific “flatten” function. Always remember to keep a backup of your original file before flattening, as the process is irreversible.
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In FoxIT Reader, Editor or Adobe Reader print the PDF using the below settings.
1) Open the provided PDF. You will notice that the pages are both protrait and landscape
To maintain this make sure to make the following setting changes
2) Click File, Print (Make sure to select the Microsoft PDF Printer)
3) Choose these settings and click OK
4) You will be prompted to Save the file on the next screen. Choose a location that is easy to find. It doesn't matter the name you use at this point, so I just included the word FLAT to the filename.
5) Review the document to make sure it is still maintained the right page orientations (portrait/landscape)