PDF Bench

Burn-in redaction for safer sharing

Use Redact when sensitive text or areas need to be permanently removed. PDF Bench burns in your redactions by rebuilding each page as an image, so the text underneath is actually gone — not just covered.

Best for

  • Removing names, account numbers, or addresses before sharing.
  • Preparing legal or compliance submissions with sensitive data removed.
  • Publishing records where covered text needs to be truly destroyed, not just hidden.

How to use this tool

  1. Upload a PDF and choose a page from the thumbnail list.
  2. Draw, move, and resize redaction boxes on each page as needed.
  3. Download the redacted file and review the safety checklist.

Limitations and notes

  • Redacted output is usually not searchable or selectable, since pages become images.
  • Higher DPI means better quality but larger files and longer processing.
  • Always check every page before sharing — redaction is only as good as your review.

Before you start drawing redactions

  • Scroll the document once to spot repeated names, headers, and footers that appear on more than one page.
  • Decide whether the file also needs metadata cleanup after the visible content is removed.
  • Pick a DPI that balances quality and file size for the way the document will be used.

What redaction doesn't cover on its own

  • Hidden metadata, attachments, and extras that live outside the visible page — run Sanitize for those.
  • A filename that reveals the very thing you just removed from the document.
  • Forgetting to review the final file before sharing it — always open the download and check.

FAQ

Is drawing a black box enough?

In most PDF editors, no — the text underneath can still be copied out. PDF Bench uses burn-in redaction, which rebuilds each page as an image so the original text is destroyed, not just covered.

Should I sanitize after redaction?

You can. The redaction export already rasterizes content, but sanitize can be an extra verification step.

How should I verify the output?

Open the downloaded file in a separate viewer, zoom in near each redaction, and try selecting or copying nearby text before you send it.

Related pages

Redaction best practices · Sanitize vs redact · Sanitize metadata · How local processing works