Coverton BlogReview metadata, annotations and PDF changes before sharing
Visible content and embedded file information need separate checks. Metadata removal handles information such as an author field, while annotation export collects supported PDF annotations. Text comparison and watermarks do not find and securely remove private content.
Use the free tool →Metadata and annotations are separate
Choose the metadata tool for PDFs or images. Removing metadata does not remove body text, information visible in pictures or every annotation. Annotation export saves supported author, content and page fields as CSV; it cannot recognize handwriting flattened into an image.
Compare text and manage bookmarks
PDF text comparison reports differences in extracted text page by page. It does not prove matching layouts or images, so visually inspect both files. Bookmark editing uses page numbers starting at one and creates a flat outline that replaces the existing outline.
Reopen the file you will share
Inspect page dimensions for printing and check that watermarks do not obscure content. A watermark is not access control or copy protection. Sensitive content requiring irreversible removal needs a separate, validated redaction process.
Choose the right tool
Example inputs illustrate the workflow; they do not promise a particular file size, recognition accuracy or compatibility.
Remove PDF metadata
Clear common properties such as author and title. This does not remove all information in body text or annotations.
Example
PDF properties → cleared common properties- Choose files in PDF format. Maximum files per batch: 1.
- Check the input format and file order, then start processing.
- Download the PDF result and check its content and quality.
What to check
This does not remove visible text, attachments or all hidden information and is not a redaction tool.
Add a text watermark to PDF
Label a review PDF as a draft. A watermark does not restrict access or prevent copying.
Example
PDF + DRAFT text → stamped PDF copy- Choose files in PDF format. Maximum files per batch: 1.
- Review Watermark text, Font size, Opacity (%), then start processing.
- Download the PDF result and check its content and quality.
What to check
A watermark is not copy protection. Text must be supported by the embedded font.
Check PDF page sizes
Check page dimensions and orientation before printing. Save the per-page size report as CSV.
Example
PDF pages → width/height/orientation report.csv- Choose files in PDF format. Maximum files per batch: 1.
- Review Report format, then start processing.
- Download the CSVTXT result and check its content and quality.
What to check
The report measures PDF page geometry, not the physical size of a printer's output.
PDF bookmarks
Create page-targeted bookmarks for a long PDF. A flat outline replaces the existing bookmarks.
Example
title/page entries → bookmarked PDFOpen the tool →Export PDF annotations
Collect supported reviewer annotations in a table. Handwriting flattened into page images is not annotation data.
Example
annotated PDF → author/content/page CSVOpen the tool →Compare text in two PDFs
Compare wording in text-bearing PDF revisions by page. Images, layout and signature changes are not compared.
Example
old/new text PDFs → page text comparison reportOpen the tool →Remove image metadata
Re-encode a photo before sharing common camera metadata. Personal information visible in the picture must be handled separately.
Example
camera photo → re-encoded image copy- Choose files in JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP format. Maximum files per batch: 100.
- Review Output quality (%), Output format, then start processing.
- Download the Image result and check its content and quality.
What to check
Re-encoding is not forensic anonymization. Visible names, faces and embedded marks remain in the pixels.
This guide describes the public web tools and their support limits. Keep your original and check the downloaded result. Coverton · Corrections and contact