By ByteGuide Tools · Reviewed 26 October 2026

Choose presentation changes, pixel removal or encryption for the result you actually need.

A PDF can display a neat-looking page while still containing text, images or attachments that you do not see. Before editing a document for sharing, decide whether your goal is to improve its appearance, remove information, or control who can open it. One operation does not automatically do all three.

Cropping changes the visible page area

Crop PDF adjusts a PDF page's crop box. It is useful for reducing margins or hiding a scanner border in the default view. The material outside that box can remain in the file and may be recoverable by another application. Do not crop out a private address and assume it has been deleted.

Redaction removes the original document structure in this tool

ByteGuide's Redact PDF renders every page into an image, burns a black rectangle into the chosen pages' pixels, and builds a new PDF from those images. The output does not reuse the original text layer, form fields, links, attachments or hidden layers. This is more destructive than drawing an editable black shape on top of text.

Positions are measured as percentages from the top-left. For example, x = 10, y = 15, width = 30 and height = 8 cover a rectangle beginning 10% across and 15% down the page. It must fit within the page boundaries. First try the coordinates on a non-sensitive sample with the same layout.

Verify the exported copy

1. Open the downloaded PDF, rather than relying only on the tool's success message.
2. Inspect every selected rectangle and every page containing similar information. A name can occur more than once.
3. Check that small text near a rectangle's edge is fully covered at a high zoom level.
4. Search for the removed words and try copying nearby text. The raster output should not have the original selectable text layer.
5. Share only the checked output, with a neutral filename. The original file on your device is not modified or deleted.

Rasterization reduces accessibility and searchability and can increase file size. It is not a certified document-sanitization service. If a document has strict legal or organizational requirements, use the approved workflow and obtain an independent review.

A password controls opening; it does not remove information

Protect PDF encrypts a file with AES-256 and a password you choose. Someone who has that password can see its contents. Send the password through a separate channel when appropriate, and keep your own secure copy. There is no password recovery service here. Unlock PDF requires an existing known opening or owner password; it does not crack passwords or bypass access controls. Only work on documents that you own or are authorized to modify.

Use the related tools

• Crop PDF
• Redact PDF
• Protect PDF
• Unlock PDF

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