How to edit a photo in PDF

Have you finally made a photo to upload to a web portal, but need to turn it into a PDF file since it is the only format accepted by the platform you are using? And, among other things, do you also need to add other elements to it (such as arrows, squares, annotations and so on), before even uploading it? Then fear not, I can help you complete this feat easily and without spending a single euro.

In the course of this tutorial, in fact, I will explain to you in detail how to edit a photo in PDF, going to convert the image into a document in the aforementioned format and, subsequently, using a series of free tools to make any changes to the contents graphs of the latter.

So what are you waiting for to start? Carve out some free time for yourself, make yourself comfortable and carefully read everything I have to explain to you on the subject: I guarantee you that, in a flash, you will be able to get the result you want. Seeing is believing!

Index

• Preliminary information
• How to edit a photo in PDF for free
  • How to edit a photo in PDF on Windows
  • How to edit a photo in PDF on macOS
  • How to edit a photo in PDF on Android
  • How to edit a PDF photo on iPhone

Preliminary information

Before explaining how to edit a photo in PDF, let me give you some more information on the result you could obtain: images, generally, are saved using a compression algorithm designed to “lighten” their weight (without however modifying the integrity general photo).

Generally, the “consequences” of a compression with loss of quality are only visible if the photo is significantly enlarged, but I feel it necessary to clarify that any problems due to the poor quality of the original photo will be reflected in the resulting PDF document (which it is nothing more than a “virtual print” of the image displayed on the screen): it seemed only right to let you know.

How to edit a photo in PDF for free

Having made the necessary clarifications above, the time has come to get to the heart of this guide and to explain, in practice, how to edit a photo in PDF for free on the most popular platforms: Windows and macOS for the computer and Android and iOS / iPadOS for the mobile sector.

How to edit a photo in PDF on Windows

Let’s start with the most popular operating system in the PC field. To edit a photo in PDF on Windows, you must first convert the desired image (or desired images) into PDF format: in this case, the Photo application, installed “standard” in Windows 10, may be useful.

So, if you intend to create a PDF document containing only one photo, open the folder that contains it, right-click on its icon and select the items Open with> Photos from the menu that is proposed to you. Now, click on the printer symbol located at the top right and set the Printer drop-down menu, located in the new window that appears, on the Microsoft print to PDF item.

Finally, using the drop-down menus that appear on the screen, specify the orientation and format of the virtual sheet, then indicate the size of the photo, the margins and the page adaptation style and, when you are finished, click on the Print button and specify the path to save the PDF document.

If, on the other hand, you need to merge several photos into a single PDF file, do this: enclose all the images in a new folder to use for the purpose, start the Photos application (calling it from the Start menu ), click on the Folders tab, then on the Add a folder button and select the directory containing the images to convert to PDF.

Now, click on the newly added folder, select the images to convert, placing a checkmark next to their previews, and click on the printer symbol at the top right. Finally, adjust the virtual print settings as I showed you a little while ago and click on the Print button to create the PDF document. It was very simple, wasn’t it?

If, for some reason, you are unable to put into practice the steps I have listed above, take a look at my guide on how to convert images to PDF, in which I have listed alternative conversion methods that are equally effective.

At this point, if you wish to proceed with the modification of the photo just converted into PDF or, in any case, you need to modify the photos contained in a pre-existing PDF, you can use the Microsoft Edge browser, also installed “as standard” in Windows 10: therefore, locate the icon of the document converted just now, right-click on it and choose the item Open with> Microsoft Edge from the proposed context menu.

Once the PDF document is open, you can modify the photo contained within it using the tools located in the upper bar of the program: by clicking on the Drawing button, you can draw freehand strokes on the document (to choose color and thickness of the brush, click again on the same item); by clicking on the Delete button, you can remove the various designs added. When finished, you can save the changes made by clicking on the disk icon, also resident in the toolbar.

If you feel that Microsoft Edge is a little too limited for your needs, I recommend that you take a look at my guide to programs to edit PDF for free, in which I have suggested some valid alternatives to Microsoft’s browser.

How to edit a photo in PDF on macOS

To edit a photo in PDF on macOS, in the sense of converting the image to PDF, you can find Preview: the default software for viewing images and PDF files pre-installed on all Macs.

So, if the image to be transformed is present in the Photos application, you must first export it to a local folder: to do this, start the aforementioned program, go to the Photo library using the side menu and locate the image or images you want to export.

Once this is done, choose the photo of your interest (if you need to create a PDF with multiple images, click on the thumbnails of the photos to include by holding down the cmd key on the keyboard) and use the File menu > Export> Export X photos located in the top bar to “transfer” the images to the chosen folder.

We are almost there: when the operation is complete, go to the folder in which you saved the exported photo and open it by double-clicking on its icon (otherwise right-click and select the items Open with> Preview from the context menu).

If you are going to create a PDF composed of several images, select them all with the mouse (or by pressing the combination of keys cmd + a ) and open any of them with Preview (as explained above), then arrange the thumbnails in the order you want it to be kept in the PDF, using the Preview left sidebar.

When you’re done, you went in the menu File> Print (top left), sets the drop-down menu PDF of Save as PDF, select the folder in which to save the final document and click Save to complete the conversion phase.

Note: to convert a single photo into PDF, you can also use the File> Export as PDF… menu of Preview: the result is almost identical.

Also through Preview, you can make changes to the images contained in a PDF: therefore, open the PDF to be edited and click on the icon depicting a pencil enclosed in a circle located at the top right, so as to activate the display of the bar with editing tools.

Now, using the buttons that appear on the screen, you can draw freehand lines and strokes, add geometric shapes, texts, signatures and so on; each added element can in turn be distorted, so as to eventually adapt it to the photo, “grabbing” it by the squares that appear on the edges.

Once the work is finished, click on the (x) located at the top left, in order to automatically save the changes made and close the program.

How to edit a photo in PDF on Android

If you are using an Android device, you can convert your photo into a PDF document using the virtual printer included with the operating system. To proceed, open the photo you are interested in (the one you may have previously edited), tap the button to access the menu of the app in use (e.g. (⋮) ) and select the Print item from the panel that appears on the screen.

Now, select the item Save to PDF from the drop-down menu located at the top and press the PDF symbol, located immediately below the control bar, to export the image in the chosen format.

If, on the other hand, you need to export multiple photos to the same PDF document, you can use an app like Image to PDF Converter, which can be downloaded for free from the Play Store or from alternative stores.

After obtaining the app, start it (it is identified by the name IMG2PDF ) and tap the (+) button located at the bottom right to select the photos to add to the PDF file. If necessary, tap the Allow button to allow the app to access the memory.

When you are done, tap on the resident PDF icon at the top right to proceed with saving the document: enter the name to assign to the file in the Enter PDF FileName text field, make sure the Apply Greyscale box is not selected (otherwise the file will be generated in grayscale), choose the compression level to apply to the images and tap the OK button to proceed with saving.

Basically, the document is saved in an app-generated folder, however you can share it via the system menu by tapping the share button next to its name. As needed, you can view all the converted documents by tapping the icon of the two overlapping sheets located on the home screen of the app.

If, on the other hand, you need to edit an image contained in a PDF, you can take advantage of Xodo PDF: one of the best free solutions for editing files in the aforementioned format; the app is available for free on the Play Store and alternative stores.

After installing it, tap on the item Avoid located at the bottom left (to skip the first use tutorial), then tap the Grant button and answer affirmatively on the next screen, in order to give Xodo the possibility to access all documents present in memory.

At this point, locate the file to be modified from the proposed list (or, if you want to manually recall it from a given folder, tap the ☰ button at the top left and tap the most appropriate item from the menu that is shown), tap on the its preview and then on the symbol of the sheet with pencil located at the top right. If you don’t see it, tap the screen to bring up the app toolbar.

Now, you just have to use the proposed buttons to add notes, text or freehand drawings and, when requested, choose whether to save on the current document, or create a copy; at the end of any modification, remember to confirm it by clicking on the tick symbol at the top. Once the changes are complete, tap the Android Back button several times, in order to return to the main screen and automatically save the document.

If you are interested in learning more about the topic and want to know more about PDF editing apps, take a look at the specific guide I have dedicated to the topic.

How to edit a PDF photo on iPhone

If you work from an iPhone (or even an iPad), you can easily convert the photo to PDF using the PDF printer included in iOS.

First, open the photo to convert to PDF; if you want to select multiple images at the same time (perhaps from the Photo application ) tap on the item to select multiple items and check the thumbnails of the files of your interest. Then press the share button (the square with the arrow inside) and select the Print item from the panel that appears on the screen.

Now, enlarge the preview of the document displayed on the screen with a “pinch” from the center outwards, in order to automatically generate a PDF file containing the photo/photos chosen.

To conclude, press the share button located at the top right, tap the Save to File option and choose the path to save the PDF document, in the iPhone memory or on iCloud. That’s all!

If the conversion tools I mentioned in this guide do not perfectly meet your needs, I suggest you take a look at my guide on how to transform photos into PDF, in which I told you about alternative solutions designed for that very purpose. I am sure you will find what you need.

If you need to edit the images contained in a PDF, you can use the Books app included “standard” on iPhone and iPad. First, therefore, open the PDF document of your interest, tap the sharing button and choose the Open on Books item, in order to open the file in Books.

After opening the file, tap on the screen, to bring up the upper toolbar, and tap the icon depicting a pencil enclosed in a circle, in order to access the editing tools. You will be able to add freehand strokes with different brushes and in different colors, text, signatures and geometric shapes of various types.

You can call up the additional functions by touching the (+) symbol located in the lower toolbar and customize the drawing options for each tool, by tapping it again, after selecting it. The changes made are automatically saved.

To know more useful resources in this regard, I refer you to reading my tutorial on how to edit PDF for free.