Redaction is not the same as covering text
Why black rectangles and cropping are not secure deletion.
VertexFiles editorial · Updated 6 September 2026
An overlay can leave the original underneath
Adding a rectangle in the ordinary PDF editor changes the appearance of a page. It does not delete the text or image beneath it. Copying, searching or removing the overlay in another editor can reveal underlying material. Cropping also changes the visible boundary without securely erasing the hidden area.
How this redaction tool works
Redact PDF renders every page, paints the marked areas into the rendered images and creates a new PDF containing only those images. Original text layers, forms, attachments and metadata are not copied into that new file. This is a destructive workflow: searchable text and interactive features are lost on every page.
Mark a generous boundary
Cover the full sensitive value, including punctuation and the edges of letters. Review every page, repeated header and visible reference to the same information. The tool does not automatically discover private information. Selecting the right areas remains your responsibility.
Verify independently before sharing
Open the exported copy in another viewer. Zoom in around each redaction and attempt text selection and search. Make sure you are sharing the new output rather than the original. This implementation is not a certified legal redaction service; high-risk documents warrant specialist review.