How to Flatten a PDF in Bluebeam? The Complete Guide

Bluebeam is a useful PDF editing and markup tool widely used in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. PDF files created in Bluebeam usually contain extensive markups and interactive elements. You may want to flatten them to lock layer from editing and make sharing easier. However, this feature doesn’t always work as expected.

If you're having any issues when flattening PDFs in Bluebeam, this guide is for you. Here, you'll learn how to flatten a PDF in Bluebeam, why it might not be working, and what you can do to fix it easily.

Part 1. Flatten PDF in Bluebeam

Flattening a PDF in Bluebeam means permanently merging all markups or other layers into the document’s content. Once flattened, you can no longer edit or remove these elements.

Bluebeam provides flexible options to do this. You can flatten all markups, choose specific ones, or flatten everything to a separate layer to hide or show markups later.

Here’s how it works.

1. Open the PDF you need to flatten in Bluebeam. Then, click the “Document” tab at the top. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and choose “Flatten.”

Tip: You can also use the Bluebeam flatten shortcut keys “CTRL + SHIFT + M” to access the flatten window directly.

• A window will appear on your screen. From here, go to the “Options” section. Then, select the items you want to flatten. Otherwise, check the box for “Type” to select all elements at once.
• Head over to the “Flatten” section and select your desired option. Select “All Markups” to flatten all annotations in the PDF.
• Check the option for “Allow Markup Recovery (Unflatten).” This will allow you to unflatten the elements in the future if needed.

• Once you’re done with settings, click the “Flatten” button to proceed.

Part 2. Why Can't Bluebeam Flatten?

If you're unable to flatten in Bluebeam, there can be several causes behind this issue. Below, I’ve listed the most common reasons along with their effective solutions to help you out.

Reason 1: You are in the Free Version

Bluebeam comes with a hefty price tag, and not everyone can afford it. Many users rely on the free version, which doesn’t allow flattening. If you find Bluebeam’s cost high, UPDF offers a much cheaper alternative. Here's a comparison of their pricing.

UPDF also lets you choose the specific elements you need to flatten. Click here to download UPDF and get started. Then, use these steps to flatten your PDF:

1. Launch UPDF and click “Open File” from the main screen. Then import the PDF you want to flatten.
2. Once your PDF opens, click the down arrow button at the top right. Then, select “Save as Flatten.”

• Go to the “Flatten PDF” section and select the elements you want to flatten, such as comments, forms, watermarks, and cropped pages. Then, click “Save As” to store the PDF on your device.

Reason 2: The Document is Protected

If your PDF is password-protected or has restricted permissions, Bluebeam can't flatten the PDF. The security settings can block any editing or merging of markups. Therefore, you need to remove the password protection first. UPDF can help you do this easily. It lets you remove both open and permissions passwords in just seconds.

Here's what to do.

1. Open your PDF in UPDF. If your PDF has an open password, enter it and click “Unlock” to access the document.

• Once your PDF opens, click the down arrow button in the top-right. Select “Remove Password” and select a location to save the PDF.

• If the PDF is locked with a permissions password, a dialogue box will appear. From here, enter your permissions password and click “Unlock.” Then, save the file.

Reason 3: The PDF was Flattened

If Bluebeam Flatten is grayed out, it's possible that your PDF is already a flattened document. This means that all annotations and markups in the file have been permanently merged into the documents. Since Bluebeam cannot recognize any interactive elements in the PDF, it cannot further flatten it. In this case, you don't need to do anything. Your document is already finalized.

Part 3. Why Recommend to Use UPDF Instead of BlueBeam

At this point, you might be wondering what makes UPDF a better option than Bluebeam. Here are some key reasons that make it stand out.

Reason 1: UPDF is a Lot Cheaper

Bluebeam only offers annual price plans, which come with a hefty subscription fee. Meanwhile, UPDF offers both yearly and perpetual plans at a significantly lower price. Even better, a single license works across all platforms. This means you don't need to spend more for additional devices. You can check and upgrade to UPDF pro here.

Reason 2: UPDF is Available Everywhere

UPDF is available across all platforms, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. So, you can work seamlessly on all devices. You can edit a document on your PC and continue it on your phone without losing your progress.

Reason 3: Easy to Use

UPDF requires no technical knowledge. Its clean interface and straightforward tools make it the perfect tool for beginners. But it still provides professional-grade features anyone can use easily.

Reason 4: A Complete PDF Solution

UPDF isn’t just for flattening. It’s an all-in-one PDF tool with everything you need to work smarter. Some key features include:

1. Edit PDF text, images, links, watermarks, pages, and more in PDFs.
2. Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, PDF/A, and more.
3. Annotate and comment with highlights, shapes, notes, text callouts, stamps, and stickers.
4. Organize pages by extracting, splitting, rotating, deleting PDFs, and more.
5. Add open and permissions passwords to keep your documents secure against unwanted tampering.
6. Compress large PDFs to five different levels without losing the document’s quality.
7. Use an AI assistant to brainstorm ideas, summarize, translate, explain PDFs, chat with images, and create mindmaps.

These features are just scratching the surface. To learn more about UPDF, read this review article or watch the video below.

Final Words

That wraps up how to flatten a PDF in Bluebeam. It allows you to flatten multiple markup layers. However, sometimes, it may not work. This can be because you're using a free version, the document is protected, or it's already flattened. But regardless of the reasons, UPDF can help you fix it quickly. If you want to flatten PDF at a much lower price, download and try UPDF today!