Can I draw custom blackout boxes over specific words or does it cover the whole page?

The tool covers the entire surface of each selected page with an opaque solid rectangle. It does not provide freeform coordinate drawing or partial-paragraph selection boxes.

Does this tool strip underlying text from the PDF file?

No. The tool draws a solid color rectangle on top of the page layer. The underlying text remains in the document content stream and can be extracted with PDF inspection tools. For true text removal, convert pages to images using PDF to JPG.

How can I completely remove sensitive text so it cannot be extracted?

To permanently eliminate text data, convert the PDF pages into flat JPG images using our PDF to JPG tool. Once rasterized into pixels, no text stream remains, and any blocked-out pixels contain only flat color data.

Is my PDF sent anywhere when I draw cover boxes?

No. The entire process runs in your browser memory using client-side JavaScript. Your files remain on your device.

Why does the output file size increase after applying a blackout block?

Adding rectangle coordinates and text stamp instructions appends new drawing operations to each page stream. In benchmark testing on sample-doc-a.pdf (968 bytes), the output measured 1,433 bytes.

Free & Private Online Browser Utility

Cover Full PDF Pages with Black Boxes

Add visual blackout rectangles and status stamps over entire selected PDF pages directly in your web browser without sending files to any server. Note that users do not draw custom regions; the tool covers the full surface area of each selected page using pdf-lib. This applies an opaque vector layer over the rendered page content; it does not sanitize or strip underlying font streams. If your source document contains selectable vector text, that text remains present in the PDF file stream beneath the rectangle and can be extracted with PDF analysis utilities. To achieve complete removal of text from a sensitive document, convert the PDF pages to raster images using our PDF to JPG tool, black out the image pixels, and reassemble them into a new document. In a benchmark on sample-doc-a.pdf (968 bytes, 1 page), drawing a blackout block produced a 1,433 byte PDF.

How to use

Step 1: Upload Your PDF

Select your PDF file from your device. The document is read into browser memory without any network transmission.
Step 2: Select Pages and Stamp Label

Choose which pages to cover completely and pick an optional stamp label such as REDACTED or CONFIDENTIAL.
Step 3: Download Covered PDF

Click Blackout Pages to export the document with full-page visual rectangles placed over the designated pages.

Options explained

Page Selection

Specify which page numbers or page ranges receive visual blackout rectangles.

When to use: Use when only certain pages need visual covering while remaining pages stay untouched.

Cover Color & Stamp

Select the rectangle fill color (black or custom) and choose a status label centered on the covered page.

When to use: Blackout blocks provide visual obscuration for printouts or on-screen review.

In-Browser Execution

All page rendering and overlay drawing execute locally in browser memory using pdfjs-dist and pdf-lib.

When to use: Keeps document files strictly on your local device.

Worked example

Input: docs/samples/sample-doc-a.pdf — 968-byte single-page document

Output: Applied visual blackout rectangle over page 1 of sample-doc-a.pdf (968 bytes), producing a 1,433 byte PDF

Visual overlay only; underlying text remains extractable in the PDF stream. For true sanitization, convert pages to raster images.

Tips & limits

Because the overlay is drawn as an added layer, any digital text present in the original document can still be selected or extracted with software.
For true text removal, convert the document to images with the PDF to JPG tool, redact the resulting image pixels, and reconvert to PDF.
Verify the output by opening it in a viewer to ensure the visual placement covers the intended areas.
Adding visual blocks increases document byte count slightly because drawing commands are appended to the page stream.

Common problems

Text can still be searched or highlighted under the black box: This tool draws a visual rectangle over the page but does not delete underlying text objects. Use our PDF to JPG converter to rasterize the page so no extractable text layer exists.
Password-protected PDF cannot be opened: Encrypted documents cannot be modified in browser memory. Remove the password before loading the file.
Output file size increased slightly: Drawing commands and font descriptors for the status stamp are added to the PDF dictionary, increasing file size. In benchmark testing, a 968 byte input produced a 1,433 byte output.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I draw custom blackout boxes over specific words or does it cover the whole page?: The tool covers the entire surface of each selected page with an opaque solid rectangle. It does not provide freeform coordinate drawing or partial-paragraph selection boxes.
Does this tool strip underlying text from the PDF file?: No. The tool draws a solid color rectangle on top of the page layer. The underlying text remains in the document content stream and can be extracted with PDF inspection tools. For true text removal, convert pages to images using PDF to JPG.
How can I completely remove sensitive text so it cannot be extracted?: To permanently eliminate text data, convert the PDF pages into flat JPG images using our PDF to JPG tool. Once rasterized into pixels, no text stream remains, and any blocked-out pixels contain only flat color data.
Is my PDF sent anywhere when I draw cover boxes?: No. The entire process runs in your browser memory using client-side JavaScript. Your files remain on your device.
Why does the output file size increase after applying a blackout block?: Adding rectangle coordinates and text stamp instructions appends new drawing operations to each page stream. In benchmark testing on sample-doc-a.pdf (968 bytes), the output measured 1,433 bytes.

Guides that cover this tool

Client-Side Web Privacy: In-Browser Tools & Zero Server Uploads — Learn how client-side JavaScript and the HTML5 File API keep confidential files in browser RAM instead of transmitting them to remote servers.

Legal & Compliance Mandates for Document Redaction

In legal discovery, healthcare compliance, and financial documentation, sharing documents with unredacted Personally Identifiable Information (PII) carries severe legal liabilities. Proper redaction is mandatory for:

Personal Identifiers: Social Security Numbers (SSN), taxpayer identification numbers, passport numbers, and dates of birth.
Banking & Financial Data: Credit card numbers, bank account IBANs, wire routing numbers, and proprietary client fee schedules.
Attorney-Client Privilege: Work-product doctrine memos, trade secrets, and non-discoverable internal corporate deliberations.

Forensic Blackout vs. Opaque Whiteout Methods

Traditional black marker redactions on physical paper can often be penetrated by scanning with high-intensity backlighting. Digital vector cover blocks eliminate this vulnerability by embedding solid opaque color fills directly into the page media box.

sector Use Cases & Professional Applications

Legal Discovery & Court Filing Privacy Compliance

Paralegals and attorneys sanitize confidential litigation exhibits, redacting Social Security Numbers, minor names, trade secrets, and financial account numbers to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2 prior to public electronic court filing.

Healthcare Patient Record De-Identification

Medical billing specialists and healthcare researchers redact 18 distinct direct identifiers—including patient names, admission dates, and medical record numbers (MRNs)—before sharing medical charts for clinical research or peer review.

Corporate Mergers, Acquisitions & Vendor Due Diligence

Business development teams sanitize proprietary contract margins, supplier pricing schedules, and executive compensation terms before distributing confidential business disclosure agreements to prospective investors.