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Confidential information can be found in almost every kind of important business document, from corporate reports to tax filings and employee records. Keeping this sensitive data confidential is critical for organizations of all sizes.
That’s where redaction comes in.
Adobe Acrobat has long been a go-to solution for redacting documents, offering tools designed to permanently remove visible text and images from PDFs. However, Adobe Acrobat redaction has its drawbacks. Though effective, Adobe Acrobat redaction tools demand meticulous manual effort and attention to detail to ensure no sensitive data is inadvertently exposed.
Read on to learn more about how Adobe Acrobat redaction works and discover a superior solution that delivers more features, a better user experience, and more efficient redaction.
What is Adobe Acrobat redaction, and how does it work?
Adobe Acrobat is a software application that enables users to easily view and edit PDF files. Sensitive information can be removed from PDFs, images, and other files using its built-in “Redact” tool.
This feature can be used to redact all kinds of data, including personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, and confidential business information. Once redacted, the eliminated information can only be recovered from the original file. When sharing files electronically with clients or other external parties, users typically only share the redacted file, ensuring information security.
Adobe does allow customized redaction. You can choose between colored boxes in place of blacked-out text or images or just leave the space empty. You can further customize the appearance of the redaction marks, such as the color, size, and style of the box or text that appears.
How to redact in Adobe: 9 steps
Now that we’ve examined its features, let’s look at how to use Adobe’s PDF redaction software to remove sensitive information from a document before sharing it.
Step 1: Run Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF.
Step 2: Click on the "Tools" tab in the top menu.
Step 3: Select the "Redact" option.
Step 4: To redact a word or a sentence at a time, you can use the cursor to highlight the text.
Step 5: Left-click on the "Apply" option.
Step 6: A dialogue box with an on and off button will appear. Sanitize and erase concealed information by turning the toggle on or off.
Step 7: Click the "Ok" option to apply the effect.
Step 8: The Save As PDF dialogue box will ask you where you want to store your work.
Step 9: Click on the Save button in the dialogue box.
How to redact images in a PDF with Adobe
You can also redact images in Adobe by following these steps:
Step 1: Run Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF.
Step 2: Click on the "Tools" tab in the top menu and select "Redact."
Step 3: Click Redact Text & Images from the Edit menu.
Step 4: Select the image you wish to redact. It will be highlighted in red to let you know it has been chosen.
Step 5: To complete the redaction, save the PDF.
How to Customize Adobe Redaction Markings
Images and text that have been redacted have thin red outlines around them and are replaced with black boxes. Adobe PDF redaction software allows users to change the look of the redaction marks before they are applied to the document.
Step 1: Run Adobe Acrobat and open the file.
Step 2: Choose the "Redact" option under the "Tools" menu. Or, select Redact Text & Images from the context menu.
Step 3: The Redact toolkit will be featured in the secondary toolbar. Select the "Redaction Properties" option. The window for the redaction properties appears with the adjustable settings for the appearance of the redaction marks.
These settings may include options such as the overlay's color and opacity, the redaction border's thickness, and more.
Step 4: Select the choices you wish to edit, then click OK.
- Redacted Area Fill Colors - Pick a fill color from the color palette for the boxes that substitute deleted content. For example, select No Color if you want the blacked area to be blank.
- Custom Text - The text you wish to see in the blacked area should be typed there.
- Redaction Mark Appearance - Select either the Fill Color or Outline Color icon. Pick a color for the pictures and text you've highlighted for redaction. To keep the selected section without color, pick No Color.
- Use Overlay Text - If you want to choose the redaction code or custom text, choose the text's alignment, size, and typeface.
- Redaction Code - Choose a code from a pre-existing set, or press Edit Code to create a code set.
How to Remove Redactions From A PDF
Because Adobe only provides manual redaction, it’s common for users to make mistakes and remove information unnecessarily. Your firm may also have style rules about how redaction should look. Follow these instructions for the removal of redaction:
Step 1: Run Adobe Acrobat Pro and load the original file.
Step 2: Go to the top of the page and choose the Edit tab.
Step 3: Press the Redact Text & Images option from the menu.
Step 4: You can remove or apply the effect of the selected image or text from the option.
Step 5: The colorful bars will vanish, and the image or text will become visible after removing the redactions.
The Best Alternative to Adobe Acrobat Redaction Software: Redactable
When it comes to a redaction software alternative to Adobe Acrobat, Redactable emerges as the superior choice. Just a few of Redactable’s notable features include:
- Redaction is done automatically via the power of AI technology
- Blistering fast redaction speeds – capable of redacting ten pages in just 2.5 minutes!
- No human error
- Highly effective in ensuring all sensitive information is covered
- Court-approved Redaction Certificate provided with every document redacted
To use Redactable, follow these simple steps.
Step 1: Upload the document to Redactable.
Step 2: Use the Redaction Wizard to locate information you want to redact.
Step 3: Choose the content you intend to redact.
Step 4: Download the file to use, along with your Court-Approved Redaction Certificate
While Adobe Acrobat has been a staple in document redaction, it is no longer the best choice for organizations that need efficiency and foolproof security.
Redactable addresses the challenges and limitations inherent in Adobe's manual redaction process. Through automation, Redactable minimizes the risk of human error and significantly increases redaction speed.
If you’re looking for a better way to keep your organization’s sensitive information secure, choose the hassle-free option – Redactable. It’s a web-based application with free and premium plans that gives you the ability to redact entire documents in just a couple of clicks.
If you'd like to learn more about Redactable and how it can benefit your business, try it for free and start redacting your documents today!
FAQs
Is document redaction ethical and legal?
Yes. Businesses commonly redact various documents to protect private information and comply with regulations. Removing information from documents before publishing them prevents private data from falling into the wrong hands. Illegal or unethical redaction is highly rare and involves concealing information you have a legal or ethical obligation to disclose to a third party.
Can the redaction effect in Adobe PDF Redaction Software be removed?
Yes. Redaction can be reversed using the steps highlighted above in this article, but only if you possess administrative access to the original file.
Is redaction the same as masking information?
No. Redaction is very different from data masking. Data masking is a temporary form of redaction that uses reversible methods to provide limited information protection. Data masking can be reversed not only by the owner of the document but by recipients as well. Redaction, by contrast, eliminates the sensitive information, preventing unauthorized third parties from gaining access.
Is PDF redaction a safe and secure process?
PDF redaction can be conducted in a safe and secure manner if you use the right tools. The wrong software may leave you with imperfect redaction, leaving behind metadata that could be used to penetrate confidential data. However, if you use a reliable and reputable tool, such as Redactable, you can ensure that your redaction efforts are secure.
Is Adobe the best tool to redact a PDF?
Adobe Acrobat is known for its extensive features for creating and editing PDF files. However, relying exclusively on Adobe for redaction has significant downsides:
- Only Adobe Acrobat Pro, which goes for a monthly subscription of $29.99 (or $19.99 with an annual commitment), features the redact tool. Adobe no longer offers the tool as part of its more affordable standard package.
- Adobe Pro redaction must be performed manually (an extremely slow process)
- Human error means the level of output tends to decline (especially when redacting thousands of documents at a time)
Try Redactable for free to start redacting your documents today!
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