How to Black Out Text in PDF Without Redact? (3 Ways to Follow)

Do you find yourself in a pinch wondering how to black out text in PDF without redact?

There are many reasons why you may want to conceal document information without using redaction.

Maybe you don't want to remove the information permanently (which is what redaction does) – keeping the door open to reveal the content later.

Or maybe you're dealing with a complex document layout where standard redaction tools just don't cut it.

This is precisely where UPDF stands out.

While UPDF does have its own robust redaction tool, it recognizes that one size doesn't fit all.

That's why we offer versatile alternatives, allowing you to black out text in your PDF without the irreversible commitment of redaction.

UPDF has many other features, and the features to black out text in PDF can work on Mac or Windows.

In this guide, we'll explore three reliable ways to conceal your text using UPDF, ensuring that your document's integrity remains intact while catering to your specific needs.

Download UPDF today, and you'll be blacking out text like a pro in no time!

Part 1. How to Black Out Text in PDF Without Redact Via Highlighting?

In a rush with a non-sensitive PDF document and need a fast, reversible way to hide text in PDF?

If you need a way to quickly conceal lines of text, then we'd recommend going with the simple highlighting method.

Using the highlighting method is great when you are working on draft documents or when you need to obscure text for a temporary period. It's an easy, non-destructive way to hide information.

Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Open your PDF in UPDF.

First, kick things off by launching UPDF. Once it's up and running, open the PDF you want to edit. In this example, we're using UPDF for Mac. When you start UPDF, the home screen will greet you as shown in the screenshot below. Look for the "Open File" button near the top and click on it.

A window will then pop up for you to select the PDF you wish to edit. For this guide, let's go ahead and choose "whitepaper.pdf."

After clicking "Open," your chosen PDF will appear in UPDF. Now, click "Comment" and You'll find your document displayed prominently with a convenient toolbar positioned at the top.

Step 2: Select the 'Highlight' tool.

In the toolbar, find and click on the 'Highlight' tool. It is the 2nd tool on the toolbar right next to the 'Sticky Notes'.

Step 3: Choose the Black Color.

Upon selecting the highlighter, a palette of default colors will appear. Head over to the far-right option to choose a custom color. Our goal is to select black or a similar deep shade to effectively obscure the text. Achieve this by sliding the shade cursor all the way to the right until you get a solid black.

Step 4: Apply the Highlight.

Click and drag your cursor over the text you wish to black out. The text will now be covered by a black highlight, making it unreadable. In this example, we've blacked out the text within the orange box. Simply drag your cursor over the desired text using the highlight function to achieve this.

Part 2. How to Black Out Text in PDF Without Redact Via Adding Shapes?

If you're working with documents that have complex layouts or need a sleek, professional look, we'd recommend blacking out text with shapes.

This method works well in official documents and presentations where you want to keep things looking sharp.

Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Launch UPDF and Open Your Document.

Remember the steps from Part 1? We're opening the same document again. But this time, instead of highlighting, we'll use shapes to cover the entire orange box.

Step 2: Select the 'Shapes' tool.

Make sure you choose the"Comment" icon at the left side panel. Look in the toolbar and click on the 'Shapes' tool. You'll find it between the 'Eraser' and 'Stickers'.

Step 3: Choose a Rectangle Shape.

After clicking on 'Shapes', you'll see a few shape options. Choose the rectangle one.

Step 4: Color the Shape Black.

Now, let's give our shape some color – black, to be precise. Below the shape options, you'll find the settings for border and fill color. Set both to black. If black isn't one of the default options, just go to the last panel and slide the shade cursor to the far right to get that deep black.

Step 4: Apply the Shape.

Click and drag your cursor over the text you wish to black out.

And there you have it: the text is hidden away under a sleek black rectangle. We've successfully covered the entire box, achieving a clean and professional appearance.

Pretty cool, huh?

This is a super handy way to blackout text in PDF without redaction, all thanks to shapes.

Ready to try it yourself? Download UPDF today and get started!

Part 3. How to Black Out Text in PDF Without Redact Via Adding an Image?

Now that you've learned two great ways to black out text in PDF, you're probably wondering why you'd even need a third method.

Well, let's say you're dealing with a document with large chunks of text or even whole pages that you want hidden.

Using the "Add Image" tool is a good choice when you have lots of text you need to conceal.

And because an image provides very solid coverage, you don't have to worry about whether or not the covered text stays hidden.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Your Document with UPDF.

Go back to Part 1 for the basic steps to open PDF with UPDF. This time, we're going to aim to black out an entire page using the "Add Image" tool.

Step 2: Find a Pure Black Image.

Go online to your favorite web search tool and search for a "pure black image."

When you find one you like, download it to your computer by right-clicking and selecting "Save As."

Step 3: Use UPDF's "Add Image" feature.

In UPDF, click on 'Edit PDF' located in the left-hand column, the third icon from the top. After clicking it, a new toolbar will appear.

Then select the 'Image' icon. This opens a window where you can choose the black image you've saved. Click 'Open' to proceed.

Step 4: Insert the Black Image.

Bring the downloaded black image into your PDF. Adjust its size to cover the text you want to black out fully.

Step 5: Ensure Complete Coverage.

Make sure the image thoroughly covers all the text you're targeting, leaving nothing visible. In our example below, you can see how we blacked out an entire page using a pure black image.

It is easy to black out text in PDF without redact using UPDF. Moreover, UPDF has many other features which can help you handle PDF file easily. You can read this UPDF review article from Howtogeek or watch the below review video to know everything about it.

Also Read: How to Redact PDF with The Best Tool

Final Words

So there you have it – three foolproof methods for how to black out text in PDF without redact.

Now whenever you require a minor fix, a clean look, or entire pages covered, you can just go to UPDF and follow the steps outlined in this article.

Download UPDF now, take charge of your PDF editing needs, and start blacking out text with ease and precision.