How do you edit PDF drawings and/or plans?
 

As much as I’d like to request the architect to make simple changes to our pdf house plans...add or delete a detail..,is there a FREE program I can use to do the same? Just simple changes that can save me time and money. These will NOT be turned into the county.

I’ve copied and pasted to Paint, but it just doesn’t always work or look clean and crisp when I print it out.

Thanks!

They send them as a pdf so you CAN'T make changes to them.
Move a wall a foot or two, and now you need different spec floor joists or it messes up the roof design.

I went back and forth with my designer enough times that he finally sent them in Softplan format, made life easier, it's not like I was going to go into business selling plans. Still wish we did some things different, didn't know the forms for the basement only came in some sizes, so of course they went a little smaller when setting it up, would have liked a little more room, wish they would have asked first.

You can buy for a month the Acrobat Editor for From $12.99/mo
Not free but this is the best and only tool to reliably edit your pdf files.

The only way to protect your pdf files is if you lock them (also part of the Adobe) and there are other checks to make sure nobody messed up your file(s).

But at the end this file can be falsified like any other online document...

The ability and degree of difficulty to edit a PDF depends on what software the original was created in and the options chosen while generating the PDF.

End of day pretty much every PDF can be edited in Photoshop, unless it was saved with password protection.

If you want to send it to me I can take a look.

What sort of edits?
Just to convey to the architect?
Maybe print the pages in question, edit them,
and then rescan using your phone (scanners have gone the way of the fax machine)

All I want to do is make simple changes, such as removing a false foundation vent or remove shutters off the house. Nothing structural. These changes are for the ARB committee here in the neighborhood.

You can mark the plans with Adobe Acrobat Pro. Just cross stuff out with red-lines and add notes.

That’s all that’s allowed.

I’ve looked at Acrobatic Editor but it doesn’t seem to do what I want with a drawing. It seems to be geared more to word documents. Maybe I’m mistaken?

Inkscape beats hands down most proprietary software.

Have been editing pdf's with it many times, helps if you understand a bit of layers and vector graphics.

Also helps if the pdf is vector format, but raster can be edited too.

If you can't edit the .pdf in PhotoShop, what about taking a high resolution photo and modifying it with Photoshop as a new jpeg. Then print it and scan the printed photo as a pdf?

I use inkscape also.

Thanks guys.

I’m going to give some of the ideas a try tomorrow.

Adobe Illustrator works well.

It’s likely more than you need but I’m a big fan of Bluebeam. There is a free version which will not allow you to save your edits. Instead, you would print them to paper, print them to a pdf or take a screenshot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If your changes are simple... print the drawings and mark them up with a red Sharpie (e.g. DELETE SHUTTERS, TYP.). "Mark-ups" are accepted practice in communicating design changes. In a design office the only time we will "CAD" changes during construction is if the changes are substantial and if "record drawings" are required by the client.

However, if you just want to have some fun - importing into Photoshop or Illustrator will allow you to erase and add information fairly easily (as others have mentioned).

Good luck

Only if it originated from a vector supported app and it was not saved as a raster pdf.

Use photoshop for those.

Whatever you do, make sure you take the design professional's stamp and other identifying marks off.

There are no stamps, etc on these. It’s strictly for the neighborhood ARC and what a PITA they are.

They agreed in an email we don’t have to have the false foundation panels all around the foundation (just at the front and rear porches) and operable shutters on the sides of the house (unless it’s on a corner lot) but they want them removed from the plans. Otherwise, they expect them to be installed. :rolleyes:

This neighborhood is really uptight with old wealthy retired folks. They are stuck in their ways and 10 years behind the times. 🤪

I downloaded the Inkscape but it’s going to take some getting used to.

In the meantime, I used paint again and it actually worked pretty good for simple deletions, text and copy/paste.