Redaction

Bluebeam Complete and Max plans include redaction tools that permanently remove sensitive text and images from your PDFs. When you redact content, it's completely deleted from the PDF's content stream.

Redacting a PDF is a two-step process: first mark the areas you want to redact, then apply the redaction to permanently remove that content.

Performing this action on a page containing flattened markups will prevent all markups on the page from being unflattened. You also can't redact PDFs that have been digitally signed or certified.

If you need a less permanent solution, check out the Erase Content feature instead.
  1. Open your PDF.
  2. Go to Edit > PDF Content > Mark for Redaction.
  3. If a warning appears, review it and select OK.
    • To skip this warning in the future, select Do not show this warning again.
  4. Select the content you want to redact:
    • To redact text, click and drag over the words you want to remove.
    • To redact an image, click and drag a box around the area you want to hide.
  5. When you’re ready, go to Edit > PDF Content > Apply Redactions.
  6. In the Apply Redactions dialog, choose which pages to redact:
    • All Pages: Redacts every page.
    • Current: Redacts only the current page.
    • Custom: Enter specific pages or ranges (for example, 1-3, 5, 9).
  7. Select any extra Redaction Options to remove additional data or metadata.
  8. (Optional) For more control, select Advanced to choose whether to redact text, images, or both.
  9. Select OK to apply your redactions.
  10. Save your PDF to make the changes permanent.

You can control how redacted areas look after you apply the redaction, but you need to set this up before running the Apply Redactions process.

Right-click any redaction and select Properties, or select the Properties tab and click your redaction markup.

Appearance options:

  • Color: Sets the outline color for marked areas
  • Redact Color: Sets the fill color that appears after redaction
  • Use Overlay Text: Adds text over redacted areas (like "CONFIDENTIAL" or legal codes)
  • Custom Text: Enter your own text
  • Redaction Code: Choose from preset DOD or FOIA codes
  • Autosize Text: Automatically fits text to the redacted area
  • Repeat Text: Fills the entire redacted area with repeated text

Create reusable redaction tools by saving your settings to the Tool Chest. This is especially helpful if you frequently use the same redaction appearance or overlay text.

Once you've configured a redaction the way you want it, right-click the markup and select Add to Tool Chest. Choose which tool set to save it to, then use that tool for future redactions with the same settings.

Related topics

Redaction Toolbar

Erase Content

Flatten Markups

Working with Digital Signatures