Create Non-Searchable PDF Files
Non-searchable PDF files are Adobe PDF files created from scanned documents or image files. Each page in the file is an image or a picture of the page. These files dos not store any textual data in the file. You cannot select, copy, or search for words and phrases in the document.
With our PDF Image Printer or Raster Image Printer, you can create non-searchable PDF files simply by printing any document to our printers.
Why Create a Non-Searchable PDF
To preserve older or historical documents for archival purposes, creating a non-searchable PDF can help to maintain the original visual appearance.
When dealing with legal documents or documents with sensitive data, this type of PDF makes it more challenging to extract the text. While not foolproof and not a replacement for PDF security, image-only PDF files add a layer of protection to your documents.
Suppose you need to focus on long-term preservation and require visual consistency. In that case, non-searchable PDF documents are often a requirement. A specific format of PDF, PDF/A files are non-searchable PDF files that conform to ISO standards for archiving digital content.
How to Create a Non-Searchable PDF from Any Document
If you can open and print your file, you can create a PDF with our PDF Image Printer or our Raster Image Printer.
For example, you need Microsoft Word (or a comparable application) to open and print Word documents installed on your computer to create a PDF image using our Image Printers.
Setting the Printer Profile
Our image printers use profiles, a collection of settings, to control the printer’s output. We include profiles for common types of PDF output, including one for creating non-searchable PDF files. Below, we demonstrate selecting and using this with our PDF Image Printer. The steps are the same if you have our Raster Image Printer instead.
To begin, open the Dashboard from the desktop shortcut for your printer.
The Dashboard gives you quick access to the printer to select which profile it will use. You can also create and edit profiles, find help resources, and check licensing information from here.
Select Manage Printer from the Dashboard tiles to open Printer Management.
This screen lists all your image printers and the profiles they use to create files. To change which profile a printer will use, select a different one in the profile drop box next to the printer name. Here, we have chosen the Non-Searchable PDF profile, as that is the type of PDF we want to create.
With our changes made, click the Save icon next to the list of profiles to save the changes to your printer.
We are now creating non-searchable PDF files. We can close first Print Management and then the Dashboard.
Creating the Non-Searchable PDF File
Now, open the document you want to turn into a PDF file. Here, we are using a Word document, but you can use any document you can print.
Once opened, go to File – Print in your application. Choose PDF Image Printer (or Raster Image Printer) from your list of printers, then click Print.
The default save location in the Save File prompt is your My Documents folder. The Filename field will show the original document name when possible. Change both the output location and file name as needed.
The Save as type drop box will already have the Non-Searchable PDF profile selected from our changes in Print Management above.
After making any name and location changes that you want, select Save to create your new PDF file.
