Searchable after flattening?

[joxeme]

Hi,

I used the Selection > Duplicate option to overlap a tiny image (with the text "APRIL 2025") on top of the original text (with the text "DEC 2023") , covering all parts of it, even after flattening all the stamps the text "DEC 2023" is still searchable...!!?? I can't use "Replace" because the format is lost...)

DUDA_FORO.jpg

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello, joxeme,

May I ask you to send us the file you have this issue with, to our support email: support@pdf-xchange.com.

I ask for the a copy of that file, because it is quite difficult to analyze what the problem is, based only the screenshot.

Regards.

[joxeme]

Maybe i was not clear enough In short: when you put an image on top of some text and then flatten the image, the text underneath remains searchable...?? i would think that the text would "disappear" for the eyes of the search

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Hello,

In a PDF, base content can overlap with other base content, comments can overlap with other comments, and comments can overlap with base content. As long as you not explicitly replace or delete such items, they remain, and in case of text they remain searchable.

Kind regards.

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

[PHK]

I am glad it works the way Willy describes it but if it is essential to make the underlying text invisible and unsearchable, probably the best way is to Redact the unwanted region of the base.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello,

PHK is correct, if you do need to remove content, the redaction tool will ensure that it is fully deleted from the file. Alternatively, you can manually select those items with the respective tool ("Select comments", or "edit objects"), and push the delete key on your keyboard to remove them (this method is handy when you want to remove a specific item, and not everything else behind it).

If you do not use one of these two methods specifically, all you are doing is obscuring the content, as Willy said initially.

Kind regards,

[joxeme]

Thank you very much, the Redaction tool is working perfect since i need to "delete/hide" so i use Duplicate Selection in every page.

Well, i found another nice tool: Sanitize Document, this is working just fine too, after applying it removes the text below my image so it is not searchable anymore!!

Best regards,

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello joxeme,

Glad to hear that you found two different approaches to achieve your goal!

Kind regards,
Stefan