Mac has a built-in feature that lets you fill in, edit and sign a PDF easily, depending on the macOS you’re using. The PDF markup tools are either built-in to Quick Look that shows you a preview of the document when you press the spacebar or access the tools by opening the PDF in the Preview application on Mac.
Although you cannot edit the existing text on a PDF in Preview, you can use the markup tools to add text, shapes, highlight, underline or strikethrough text, add or remove PDF pages, rotate pages, add comments and so on.
However, if you’re looking to have more flexibility in editing a PDF, including editing existing text, there are several apps and websites online that’ll help you.
Here we’ve discussed how to edit a PDF on Mac using the Preview and Quick Look tools.
Also read: How to save an email as a PDF on Gmail?
How to edit PDF using Preview?
You’ve got several options for editing a PDF using the markup tools in the Preview app on Mac.
Open the PDF document you want to edit in a Preview app on your Mac. Click on the Markup Tool icon, which looks like a pencil; use the tools in the toolbar to edit the PDF. Follow the list below to know each of these icons and what they can do.
- Text Selection: The text selection tool helps you select a text to copy or delete. Click on the text selection tool, then drag over the text you want to select and right-click; then select Copy or press Delete to delete a text you’ve added.
- Rectangular Selection: It lets you select a rectangular area in an image to copy or delete.
- Sketch: Sketch lets you draw a shape using a single stroke. If your drawing is universally recognised as a standard shape, it will automatically convert it into that shape. You can also keep your drawing by using it from the palette shown on the side.
- Shapes: You can add shapes to your PDF with the help of this tool. Click on the shape icon, then select the shape. Click on the shape and drag it to the place you want to add. To resize the shape size or alter the shape, click on the blue handles and drag accordingly.
- Text: You can add text anywhere on the PDF. Click on the text icon, then type your text. Drag and place the text box wherever you want to add.
- Sign: If you have signatures listed, click and drag the one you want to place on the PDF. You can resize it using the blue handles. You can create a new signature using the trackpad, Mac’s built-in camera or iOS/iPadOS device.
- Note: With the Note tool, you can add a note anywhere on the PDF. Click on the Note symbol and start typing. You can also change the colour of the note by pressing Control+click, select Font, then Show Colour. To place the note in a different location, click on it and drag anywhere in the PDF.
- Shape Style: With this tool, you can add shadow or thickness to the lines used in any shape.
- Border Colour: You can change the colour of the lines used in shape with the help of this tool.
- Fill Colour: Fill colour lets you fill the colour of your choice inside a shape.
- Text Style: You can change the font, font style or colour using this tool.
Also read: How to make a cover page in Google Docs?
How to edit PDF using Quick Look?
If you’re using macOS Mojave or later, you can edit a PDF using Quick Look that previews a document by selecting it and pressing a spacebar without opening the preview application software.
In order to edit a PDF in Quick Look, follow the steps mentioned below.
Step 1: Find and select the PDF you want to edit by clicking on it.
Step 2: Press Spacebar. A preview of the document will appear of the screen.
Step 3: Click on the Markup Tool icon, located on the top-right corner of the screen.
Step 4: A markup toolbar will appear below the icon. As mentioned above, you can use these tools to perform different actions on the selected PDF — click on Done to save.
Also read: How to convert PDF to PPT?
