How to remove image backgrounds in a PDF file

It’s a huge time saver when you know how to remove image backgrounds in a PDF file. There may be irrelevant text that you want removed, or perhaps the background doesn’t match your document’s color scheme. Learning how to make quick changes to the visuals in your PDFs will help you avoid endless communication with your graphic designer.

You don’t need complicated image editing software to accomplish your goal. When you understand how to remove image backgrounds in a PDF file, you’ll be able to impress your boss or friends by creating stunning documents that leave them astounded with your abilities. The best part is, you can get started right away.

You’ll need a PDF editor that has OCR technology built into it, a great example is Soda PDF. This will help you remove text from your images. You can also move and resize your image. You’ll also want to use Microsoft Word to help you with removing anything messy in the background.

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For this article, we’ll remove the text from the image below and then remove the color from the background.

Removing Text from images

Open the PDF file containing your image using Soda PDF.

When you remove image backgrounds in a PDF file, the first step is to get rid of any unnecessary text. You’ll use the OCR engine to scan the image and make the text editable and then delete it.

1. Open the OCR tab.

Instead of scanning your entire document, you’ll use the OCR engine to scan only the image you are working with.

1. Click into Edit Mode.
2. Select your image.
   1. All images have a red border surrounding them.
3. Choose Manual.

The video below will explain how to use the Manual OCR feature.

The OCR manual recognition window will open. You can configure what parts of your image you want to be scanned.

There will be a red border surrounding any text. When the OCR engine scans the document, it will make sure to make this text editable. You may see blue boxes around any sections deemed as an image. We recommend deleting any visible boxes except for what surrounds the text you want to remove.

1. Choose Delete Block.
2. Click on any section to remove it.

1. Click Recognize to continue.

Now that the text has been recognized, you can easily remove it from the document. Each line of text will be in its own blue bordered text box.

1. Select Edit Mode.
2. Click on the text.
3. While the cursor is in the text box, hold down the left mouse button and drag the cursor to select additional text.
   1. You can select the text in multiple text boxes at once.

Press the Delete key to remove the text.

Remove image backgrounds in a PDF file

The next task when you edit your image file is to remove the background. This task will be handled in Microsoft Word. You’ll need to move the image from your PDF to a Word file.

1. Select Edit Mode.
2. Right-click your image.
3. Choose Cut.

1. Open a new Microsoft Word document.
2. Right-Click on the page.
3. Choose the Paste

1. Click on your image again.
2. You can now select the Format
3. Choose Remove Background.
   1. Click here to learn more about this feature.

Word will now do its best to figure out what portion of the image is part of the background and will mark it in purple.

You can use the Mark Areas to Keep or Mark Areas to Remove features to make any adjustments.

1. Click the option you want to use.
2. Hold down the left mouse button and mark the area you want to update.

1. Release your mouse button to see an updated version.
2. Click on Keep Changes to accept it.

You will now see your image without the background. You’ll need to move it back into your PDF file.

1. Right-click on your image
2. Choose Cut.

1. Go back to your PDF file.
2. Right-click on your document and choose Paste.

You can now resize and place your image anywhere in your PDF.