How to Darken a PDF for Free

Darkening a PDF can be particularly useful when the original document has low contrast or has been scanned with light text or images that are difficult to see. It makes them more visible or easier to read.

Learn how to use PDFgear’s free tools to darken PDF files. There’s also a great solution for scanned PDFs.

Darken a PDF Online for Free

PDFgear online PDF editor provides a free and convenient method to instantly darken any PDF file in a web browser.

It works by printing the PDF (whether it’s scanned) into a black and white copy, increasing the contrast and the readability of the text.

PDFgear is free to use, there’s no signup, and there’s no watermark.

Step 1. Go to PDFgear online PDF editor, click Select PDF File to open the PDF you need to darken.

Step 2. When the PDF is opened, click the Print file button in the top-right corner.

Step 3. In the printer settings window, set the Destination as Microsoft Print to PDF, and set Color as Black and white.

Then click Print below.

Step 4. This is how the darkened PDF looks. As you can see, the contrast level increased and the text becomes easier to read.

Convert PDF to a Fully Readable Copy Using OCR

For some poorly scanned documents with barely invisible text, you can’t seem to improve the readability by darkening them whatsoever.

In that case, the PDFgear software’s OCR converter helps you transform scanned PDFs into fully readable Word documents, which can be further saved as PDF if needed.

Compared with the online method, this conversion method is more recommended for its impeccable result, the only downside is the software installation.

Step 1. Download and install PDFgear, open it on your computer, and click PDF to Word from the Hot Tools.

Step 2. Click Add File to add the PDF you need to darken.

Step 3. Tick on the OCR feature below, select the document language, and click OK. Then click OK to start the conversion.

Step 4. You’ll be led to the output file folder when the conversion is done.

As you can see, using the same scanned PDF for demonstration, the output document this time is much clearer.

Step 5. If you intend to save the document back to PDF file format, go to File > Save as > Browse, and set the File Type as .pdf.

Step 6. Here’s the readable version of your PDF!

Darken PDF via Grayscale Printing

The PDFgear software also provides a printing feature for you to print the PDF into a grayscale copy.

This adjusts the contrast, brightness, or gamma of the document to achieve the desired level of darkness.

The feature-rich virtual printer in PDFgear also allows you to print PDFs with various customizable options, such as paper sizes.

Step 1. Download and install PDFgear, open it on your computer, and click Open File to open the PDF you want.

Step 2. When the PDF is loaded in the PDF editor screen, click the upper-left Print button.

Step 3. In the Printer settings window, select a preferred printer like Microsoft Print to PDF, and tick on the Grayscale option.

Step 4. For your reference, this is the result of grayscale printing.

FAQs

How can I ensure that text remains selectable and searchable after darkening a PDF?

It’s not an easy task to darken a PDF while retaining its editability/searchability. In that case, it’s recommended to use PDFgear to convert the scanned PDF to an editable Microsoft Word document OCR, this will ensure both the readability and searchability.

Why would I need to darken a PDF?

Darkening a PDF can be useful for various reasons, such as improving readability, enhancing the contrast of scanned documents, or preparing documents for printing.

Will darkening a PDF increase its file size?

Darkening a PDF may slightly increase its file size, particularly if the changes result in more complex images or additional layers. However, the increase is generally minimal and should not significantly impact the overall file size.

Can I undo the darkening if I’m not satisfied with the result?

When darkening PDFs with PDFgear, your original document will stay intact, allowing you to revert to the original version if needed.

Moreover, it’s always a good idea to keep a backup copy of your original PDF before making any modifications.

Are there any potential issues with darkening a PDF?

Darkening a PDF may cause some issues, such as reduced readability if the text becomes too dark, loss of detail in images, or increased printing costs due to higher ink usage. It’s essential to carefully review the darkened PDF to ensure that it meets your requirements and make adjustments as needed.