Comprehensive PDF flattening: pick what to flatten (form fields, annotations, signatures, watermarks) and apply. Output is a PDF with the selected layers merged into the page content - unremovable without re-creating the PDF.
When to use this
Use to: prep a PDF for distribution where you want everything locked in (no edits, no field changes, no annotation removal), archive PDFs in their final viewed-state, ensure consistent rendering across all PDF readers (some readers display flattened content differently from annotations).
Frequently Asked Questions
How is flattening different from converting to image PDF?
Flattening keeps the text layer (searchable, copy-pasteable) but merges form fields / annotations into the page content. Converting to image PDF rasterizes everything - the result is just images, no searchable text. Flatten when you want both: lock layers but keep searchability.
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