Tool to change colors in document content

[Mathew]

It would be really useful to be able to selectively change colors in the document content based on the current color of the elements. What I'm looking for is for the tool to scan the document (or selected elements) and give me the option to select any of the colors it finds in the document content and change that color (similar to this javascript tool that only works on annotations viewtopic.php?t=40404).

For me the use case is to be able to make linework and text a different color for overlays. But it would also be useful to convert documents to pure black and white (no grayscale).

The problem with selecting content and changing colors is that on some elements you want to change the fill, on others the outline, and if it's a mask (ie white) then changing it to a color is a problem (I'd want to change that to transparent for my cases).

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

Hi, Mathew

I was going to suggest changing the properties using the Properties Pane after selecting the objects in the Content Pane, but I assume that suffers the same issue yo said here:

The problem with selecting content and changing colors is that on some elements you want to change the fill, on others the outline, and if it's a mask (ie white) then changing it to a color is a problem (I'd want to change that to transparent for my cases).

As you point out, what is to be done when the objects have different properties? One would need to come up with a policy or plan on how to deal with the situation before we can even think of a tool. I am at a loss to think how one might do that.

How would you imagine that decision process looking like?

[Mathew]

I would see the decision process as a filter on all objects (or selected objects). Very similar to the Replace Fonts tool, but instead it's "Replace Colors".

- Search all objects and make a list of colors in the objects
- In the dialog, allow user to pick any number of these colors, and choose a new color for that (ie if the list of colors are black, yellow, green, orange,... and I pick green and choose orange for the new color)
- Step through all the objects, and if a property (ie fill or outline or text) is green, change it to orange. Don't change any of the other properties.

This is what the javascript tool I linked above does with annotations.

Picking color green to change to orange:

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

Hi, Mathew

the devs agree it would be useful. It has been added to the formal "ToDo" list with ticket RT#6987: Feature Request :: Editor :: Tool to change colors in document content

There is much to do ahead of this, but we are committed now, it will happen as time permits.

Thanks for the great suggestion.

[Mathew]

thank you.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

[Johanmartin]

I totally see your point! A tool like Adobe or Supertool that lets you change colors based on what’s already in the document would be a game-changer, especially for overlays or converting to black and white. It would be really useful if it could handle fills, outlines, and masks intelligently, saving a lot of time on complex documents. Hopefully, this feature can be added in the future!

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hello, Johanmartin

Indeed, we don't have a timeline, but we do have the ticket mentioned above open and waiting for the dev's to find the time.

Kind regards,

[xpdf29349521]

Not sure if this is related, but I d'accord with the request. I currently have a PDF with several pages in black background and white font and would like to reverse this.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hello, xpdf29349521

Thank you for the support, I have added you to the ticket in hopes this leads to in increase in priority.

Kind regards,