How to Edit a PDF with Preview on Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan
A handy PDF editor is already installed on a Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan system. All you need to do is use the Preview app to review and manage text and media files. You can arrange, merge, and split PDFs with absolute ease. The tool has other features that allow you to rotate, scale, and crop PDF documents including those containing metadata and image files. The editor also has an inbuilt security feature wherein PDFs can be protected by converting them to read-only mode. Once you're convinced Preview is the right internal tool for you to edit PDF files on a Mac computer, it's quite simple completing inbuilt edit functions easily and quickly. Now let's learn how to edit PDF with Preview on Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
110 Steps to Edit PDF with Preview on Mac OS X El Capitan
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The Preview icon can be easily located via the docking station Dock or Finder. Click on the icon to load a PDF file to be edited. Just drag and drop the file and open it with the app.
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Different edit functions can now be completed. To copy any text from PDF file:
Click within the PDF and select the text. Use "CTRL + Click" or "Command + C" to copy text and transfer it to the clipboard.
Alternatively, you can also select the texts and click "Copy" under the "Edit" menu.
Simply paste to another document as required.
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The text tool (The "T" button) enables you to drag the pointer to a suitable location on the document and create a text box. Select the "A" button to open the font options.
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Auto edit functions are enabled with graphics. For example, rotation issues are automatically resolved in Mac versions like Yosemite 10.10.5. To rotate an image on PDF, you can also choose "Rotate Left" or "Rotate Right" Under the "Tools" menu.
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Annotations are created within the PDF with the help of Notes.
Click the "Notes" button.
Click on the location within the PDF where a note must appear. You can also drag your mouse to create the required annotation.
Click on annotations to maximize them.
To view all created annotations, click on "View > Highlights and Notes". All the annotations are now visible within a Preview window.
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Use the "Shape" tool to insert an oval shape, box, or simply a line within the document. Tools appear on the right allowing you to change and fill color and vary thickness.
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The "Text Selection" option under the "Tools" menu allows you to select objects and images other than text including annotations and shapes included within the PDF.
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In case forms are created in PDF format, simply double-click the required form field and enter data. An alternative is to add an editable text box over the field.
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A valuable feature is the option to create a digital image as signature on the PDF document. Simple process to create a signature:
Click the "Signature" button on the toolbar and choose "Create Signature".
Sign on a clear sheet of paper and position it in front of your Mac camera.
Keep shifting until the signature appears at the desired location on the screen.
Click "Accept". Your signature is created and saved.
Click "Edit" again within Preview.
Click Signature and select the signature image.
Drag the pointer to the desired position and drop it. Size and location can be modified as needed.
To manage signatures, you can go to "Tools > Annotate > Signature > Manage Signature".
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After editing, select "Export" to save a file in the desired format at other locations. For instance, export the PDF as a .PNG file to the desktop.
Part 2Best Preview for Mac OS x 10.11 Alternative
Wondershare PDFelement for Mac is an all-in-one PDF editor and the best alternative for Preview on a Mac OS X 10.11 system. The main features of the versatile editor are:
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Edit texts, images and pages on PDF to make changes as you want.
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Introduce annotations over any part of PDF including highlights, freehand drawing, sticky notes, shapes, text boxes, and stamps.
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Convert and create from or to PDF without losing the original layouts.
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The OCR allows you to convert scanned PDF into editable text. Work with multiple languages within the scanned PDF.
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Protect PDFs with passwords and grant permissions for different functions including Edit, Print, Extract, and Copy.
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Ready-made PDF form templates are available that can be easily edited to create customized PDF forms.
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Digital signatures are encrypted as per industry standard.
Find the differences between Preview and Preview alternative
