Note: In PDFelement for Mac, click 'File' → 'Save as Other' → 'Save as Flatten…' to see the flatten PDF options. To make flattening PDFs simpler, this software offers an option right on the home page for quick action. PDFelement is an affordable PDF editor that rivals the functionality and performance of premium PDF apps like Adobe Acrobat DC and Nitro Pro. How to Flatten PDF with a Bluebeam Alternative For that reason, we've showcased another utility to flatten PDF files without the expensive Bluebeam application.

The license is perpetual but the initial cost can be quite prohibitive for smaller businesses struggling to balance their books. A standard license costs about $349 per seat, and there are add-ons for maintenance and training that can set you back a total of $547 per user. Revu is a comprehensive PDF markup and collaboration utility, but it doesn't come cheap. Select the layers to be unflattened and hit the Unflatten button on the bottom right of the window. Go to 'File' → 'Unflatten…' to open the settings window for flattening PDFs. Open a previously flattened PDF in Bluebeam Revu If that box is checked, the PDF can be unflattened in Bluebeam Revu at a later time.

Save the modified document with a different file name to keep it separate from the original.ĭuring the flattening process, you'll see an option in the Flatten Markups popup window to 'Allow Markup Recovery (Unflatten)'. To flatten an entire document, choose Document from the top menu and then Flatten in the menu options below it.ģ. To flatten a single annotation or markup, right-click on it and select Flatten from the contextual menu. Open a layered PDF with markups and other annotations in Bluebeam Revu.

Bluebeam revu alternative for mac