How to Edit a Scanned PDF File using PDF.co and Make

6 Minutes Read

In this tutorial, you’ll use PDF.co and Make to add a note, company logo, clickable website link, and signature image to a scanned PDF.

Note: This workflow adds new content over the existing PDF. It does not directly modify or remove text embedded in the scanned image.

IN THIS TUTORIAL

Create a Make Scenario

Select Add Text and Images To a PDF Module

Add Input File

Add Text and Links

Add Images

Choose the Output and Test the Scenario

Verify the PDF

Step 1: Create a Make Scenario

Sign in to Make and create a new scenario. Add PDF.co as the first module and connect your PDF.co account using your API key.

Step 2: Select Add Text and Images To a PDF Module

Next, choose the Add Text and Images To a PDF module.

Step 3: Add Input File

Under Import Options, choose one of the following:

Import PDF from URL: Enter a public URL or a PDF.co filetoken:// link. Links from services such as Google Drive or Dropbox must be publicly accessible.
Upload a File: Map the PDF’s binary data from an earlier Make module.

Optionally, enter a name for the output PDF.

Step 4: Add Text and Links

Under Parameters → Text Annotations, click Add item for each text object you want to place on the PDF.

Configure the following fields:

Text: Enter the note or other text to add.
Pages: Enter 0 for the first page. PDF.co uses zero-based page numbering.
X and Y: Enter the coordinates where the text should appear.
Font settings: Optionally specify the font, size, color, and style.
Link: To make the text clickable, enter a URL beginning with https://, http://, or another supported link format.

Repeat this process for every text object.

Use PDF Inspector to determine the appropriate coordinates. Coordinates begin at the upper-left corner of the page.

Step 5: Add Images

Under Parameters → Images, click Add item for each image, such as a logo or signature.

Configure the following fields:

URL to the source image: Enter a public image URL, base64-encoded image, or PDF.co filetoken:// link.
Pages or pages range: Enter 0 for the first page.
X and Y: Enter the image-placement coordinates.
Width and Height: Optionally specify the image dimensions. Leave these fields empty to use automatic sizing.
Link: Optionally enter a URL that should open when the image is clicked.

Add separate image items for the logo and signature.

Step 6: Choose the Output and Test the Scenario

Select the appropriate Export Type:

Download a File returns the completed PDF as binary data for use in another Make module.
JSON Output returns information about the completed job, including a temporary PDF URL.

Run the scenario and confirm that the module completes successfully.

If you use the returned URL, note that it is temporary. Save the PDF to permanent storage if it must remain available.

Step 7: Verify the PDF

Open or download the completed PDF and confirm that:

The note appears in the correct position.
The website text or image opens the correct link.
The logo and signature have the correct size and placement.
No added object obscures important content in the original scan.

Adjust the coordinates or dimensions and run the scenario again if necessary.

You have now added text, links, a logo, and a signature image to a scanned PDF using PDF.co and Make.

In this tutorial, you learned how to add ordinary text and clickable text to a scanned PDF document. You also learned how to add images such as a company logo and affix your signature to a scanned PDF file.

If you need to remove text in a scanned PDF file, you can use our Search and Remove Text module. Some of our customers delete text in their PDF documents and add formatted text using the steps in this tutorial.

For more editing options, visit our PDF Editor API page, or follow this tutorial to learn how to edit PDF in PHP.