Sometimes you only need a certain image or piece of a page to reuse in other projects. Hence, finding a way how to crop a PDF on Mac is a need. For example, you may want to utilize a header for a brochure or adjust the margins.
In this article, you will learn about 4 ways to crop a PDF on Macbook or iMac with online tools and offline software. Keep on reading to familiarize yourself with various options and pick the one you like the most!
Method 1. PDF Candy
Acquiring the knowledge of cropping PDF files on Mac is an essential skill for those who work with this format on a regular basis. It allows you to resize PDF pages, remove extra space or elements, or add focus to specific parts of the document.
How to crop PDF online and free with PDF Candy
- Open the online PDF cropper in any browser on your Mac.
- Click the "+ Add file" button or drag and drop the input into the working area.
- Move the dots on the vertical and horizontal lines to adjust the area.
- Once satisfied with the result, hit the "Crop PDF" button to apply the changes. Note that it will be applied to all pages.
- In the new window, hit "Download file" to save the result on your computer.
Alternatively to exporting your file, you may choose to further edit a PDF you just created. Your options include compressing, rearranging pages, merging, adding a watermark, etc.
PDF Candy is a free website that can be useful to customize your document before sharing or using it.
Cropping PDFs ability makes a great addition to your skillset of working with this format. It is compatible with all iMac, MacBook Pro and Air, and even iPhones - iPhone Pro, Pro Max, Mini, Plus, and SE.
Overall, utilizing this toolkit is a simple process that requires no resources from your computer. Save everything you create to the cloud via Google Drive or Dropbox, or share via a URL.
If the document is too large, you can reduce the PDF size on Mac in a couple of clicks.
Moreover, other tools of the online PDF editor will help you work on your files without having to download a third-party application. All manipulation can be done within one platform.
Method 2. Adobe Acrobat
This is another way to crop a PDF for Macbook and iMac users. This is a great approach to adjusting PDF documents to fit your needs, whether you are trying to print them or just need to make some quick changes.
How to crop a PDF on a Mac with Adobe Acrobat
- Open the Adobe website and proceed to the tool.
- To upload, hit the "Select a file" button.
- If you do not have an account with Adobe yet, the system will prompt you to create one.
- In the menu on the left, find the "Crop pages" instrument. Adjust the settings to the desired area.
- Click "Crop" to save your changes. Download the file.
Even though you cannot crop your PDF for free with this service is only available with the upgraded account, many people find it worth investing in the advanced access. With Adobe Acrobat, you can convert PDF to Word or some other format, compress your file, and more.
Method 3. Preview
Although more and more people have begun to incorporate cropping PDFs online into their work process, some still prefer desktop software. Mac computers come with the Preview app, which features a built-in PDF cropping tool.
How to crop PDF in Preview on Mac
- Open the PDF with the program.
- Click "Show Markup Toolbar" to see all the instruments offered.
- Pick the "Rectangular Selection" to open the functionality.
- Mark the area of the file you want to keep. Hit the "Crop" button to proceed with changes.
Beware that when you crop a PDF in Preview all the edits are saved automatically. Therefore, if you wish to keep the original, make a copy before you start altering it. Also, this is an inefficient service if you have a PDF with multiple pages. Preview will only allow you to cut one page at a time.
Knowing how to utilize it is a vital competence for those who handle this type regularly. The built-in program is a decent alternative to the online options.
Plus, it offers some other instruments, like highlighting text in PDF or annotation of your paper.
Method 4. PDFSam
If you need more flexibility, there are plenty of third-party apps available to crop a PDF on macOS. These editors usually provide advanced options such as being able to extract images from a PDF or rotate pages, etc. One such option is PDFsam Visual.
How to crop a PDF on Mac with PDFSam
- Download the software from the website and install it on your PC.
- Open the main menu and locate the "Crop" tool.
- Upload the original to the program or drag or drop the file with the mouse.
- Adjust the cropping area manually or enter the specific values for the top, bottom, left and right margins.
- When satisfied with how the new document looks like, hit the "Save" button.
- After processing, you can "View File", "Open Folder", or continue manipulations with the resulting PDF.
PDFsam Visual is the extended version of PDFsam Basic, which is open-source software. On the contrary, the discussed PDF cropper requires paid access as all its features are Pro. However, you can still crop a PDF for free with this method by using a 14-day trial.
Overall, this Mac software for cropping PDF files is an excellent tool for quickly adjusting with extensive borders. Moreover, when exploring other features, such as the ability to extract pages from a PDF or convert images to PDF, you may find yourself ready to commit to a paid subscription.
Online PDF croppers vs software for Mac
Cropping PDFs electronically offers an effective means to delete superfluous components of a document whilst preserving the original quality. However, desktop programs have their own advantages too.
See the comparison below.
Advantages of online instruments:
- Convenience. All you need is an internet connection and a browser. Also, web-based editors do not take up any storage of your device.
- Affordability. Many platforms allow you to crop PDF online for free or are very inexpensive. Most of them offer free accounts with basic features, while premium has additional instruments for a fee.
- Shareability. You can easily send papers directly from the website via a link or cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox, which many PDF croppers are connected to.
Advantages of apps to crop PDF on MacOS:
- Efficiency. Offline PDF cropping allows for quick and easy editing. You can make changes to your PDF without any need to wait for an online tool to process the document.
- Security. By installing an application, you do not have to worry about storing it online. Your information remains secure on your computer and is not accessible by anyone else.
- Accessibility. All the files you are working with are stored within the program, and you can easily retrieve them later. Whereas the websites will generally delete your PDFs within a certain time after you last change them.
Today, both offline and online PDF croppers provide users with an extensive set of instruments. For instance, you can edit PDF text, and add and exchange images.
Above all, developers strive to make their desktop and web-based PDF editors as simple as possible to remain in the competitive market.
FAQ
Is it possible to crop multiple pages of a PDF simultaneously?
Yes, many PDF editors on Mac allow you to crop several pages at once, saving time and effort.
Is there a way to undo the changes if I make a mistake?
Most software offers an undo feature that allows you to revert. However, it's crucial to note that this functionality is only available during the editing process. Once the PDF is saved to your device, the content is locked.
Can I crop a PDF that is password-protected?
In many cases, you may not be able to directly crop an encrypted PDF without entering the correct password first. Some PDF editing tools may require you to unlock the document before making any changes.
Can I crop a scanned PDF?
Yes, scanned papers, often consisting of image-based content, can be cut to remove extraneous white space or adjust the layout.
Will cropping a PDF reduce its size?
In some cases, yes. This process can lower the size if large portions of images or unnecessary margins are removed. However, for text-only documents, the difference is usually minimal.
Conclusion
This article describes 4 various methods of how to crop a PDF on Mac. As you can see, the process, regardless of the method you pick, is not too hard. There are plenty of options for different workflows.
Try the suggested methods and pick what fits your current needs when working with PDFs!
