Top 12 Ways to Remove Background from PDF Files

Lola Lin

Lola Lin

September 21, 2025

5 min read

Need to remove background from PDF files? This common task can make your documents look cleaner and more professional. Removing background from PDF helps with readability and saves printing costs. Many people need to remove background from PDF for work, school, or personal projects. Learning to remove background from PDF properly can save you time and frustration. In this guide, we'll show you 12 ways to remove background from PDF files using different tools and methods.

No matter if you're a student dealing with lecture slides, a business professional preparing reports, or someone working with scanned documents, these techniques will help. We'll cover online tools, desktop software, manual methods, and even AI solutions. Each method has its own benefits, and we'll help you find the right one for your needs.

Adobe Acrobat PDF editing

1. Use Adobe Acrobat Online Tools

Adobe Acrobat offers one of the most reliable ways to remove background from PDF files. Their online tools provide a smooth experience with professional results.

  • Key steps for Adobe Acrobat:
    1. Open your PDF document in Acrobat
    2. Click the "Edit" option in the top menu
    3. Select "Background" from the Edit PDF tools
    4. Choose which pages to process
    5. Confirm the removal process

For detailed instructions, check out Adobe's guide on removing PDF backgrounds.

DocHub PDF editing interface

2. Try DocHub for Web-Based Editing

DocHub is a powerful online platform that lets you remove background from PDF directly in your web browser. It works on any device with internet access.

  • How DocHub works:
    1. Upload your PDF to DocHub
    2. Access the editing tools
    3. Use the background removal features
    4. Save your cleaned document

Learn more about DocHub's PDF background removal capabilities.

Adobe Express background removal

3. Use Adobe Express for Image Backgrounds

If your PDF contains images with backgrounds, Adobe Express can help. This tool specializes in removing backgrounds from images within your documents.

  • Adobe Express features:
    1. Upload images from your PDF
    2. Automatic background detection
    3. Clean, transparent results
    4. Easy download options

Explore Adobe Express background removal tools.

Manual PDF editing techniques

4. Manual Editing with Affinity Publisher

For more control, you can use desktop publishing software like Affinity Publisher to remove background from PDF files manually.

  • Manual editing process:
    1. Open PDF in Affinity Publisher
    2. Access the Resource Manager
    3. Identify background elements
    4. Replace or remove backgrounds

See how others handle manual PDF background removal in Affinity forums.

Print to PDF without backgrounds

5. Print to PDF Without Backgrounds

Sometimes the easiest way to remove background from PDF is during the creation process. Many programs let you export without backgrounds.

  • Printing without backgrounds:
    1. Open your original file
    2. Go to print settings
    3. Select "Don't print backgrounds"
    4. Choose "Save as PDF"

Read about printing techniques for background removal.

Assembo.ai AI background removal

6. Use Assembo.ai to Create Custom Backgrounds

Assembo.ai offers AI-powered solutions for document editing. You can use it to remove background from PDF and replace with custom backgrounds.

  • Assembo.ai features:
    1. AI-powered background detection
    2. Custom background options
    3. Batch processing capabilities
    4. High-quality results

Try Assembo.ai for AI-powered PDF editing.

CAD software for PDF editing

7. CAD Software for Technical PDFs

For technical drawings and CAD PDFs, specialized software can help remove background from PDF files more effectively.

  • CAD software options:
    1. Import PDF into CAD program
    2. Use vector editing tools
    3. Remove unwanted elements
    4. Export cleaned version

Learn about CAD approaches to PDF background removal.

Fixing scanned document backgrounds

8. Fix Scanning Background Issues

Scanned documents often have background problems. Learning to remove background from PDF scans can improve readability significantly.

  • Scanning solutions:
    1. Adjust scanner settings
    2. Use cleaning filters
    3. Modify contrast levels
    4. Apply background removal

Find solutions for scanning background issues.

Advanced Acrobat Pro techniques

9. Advanced Acrobat Pro Techniques

Adobe Acrobat Pro offers advanced tools to remove background from PDF files with more precision and control.

  • Pro features:
    1. Advanced editing tools
    2. Batch processing
    3. Precision selection
    4. Quality preservation

Discover advanced Acrobat Pro techniques.

Online converter tools

10. Online PDF Converter Tools

Many free online tools can help remove background from PDF files quickly without installing software.

  • Online converter benefits:
    1. No installation required
    2. Quick processing
    3. Multiple format support
    4. Easy to use

Try online PDF conversion tools.

Mobile app solutions

11. Mobile App Solutions

You can remove background from PDF files using mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet.

  • Mobile options:
    1. PDF editing apps
    2. Photo editing tools
    3. Cloud-based services
    4. Quick fixes on the go

Learn about mobile PDF editing options.

Batch processing multiple files

12. Batch Processing Multiple Files

If you need to remove background from multiple PDF files, batch processing tools can save you hours of work.

  • Batch processing benefits:
    1. Process multiple files at once
    2. Consistent results
    3. Time savings
    4. Automated workflow

Explore batch processing solutions for PDFs.

Final Thoughts

Removing background from PDF files doesn't have to be difficult. With these 12 methods, you can choose the approach that works best for your specific needs. From online tools to professional software, there's a solution for every situation. Remember that the best method depends on your document type, the complexity of the background, and your technical comfort level.

Regular practice will make the process faster and easier. Many of these tools offer free trials or basic free versions, so you can test them before committing. Whether you're working with simple documents or complex technical drawings, you now have the knowledge to remove background from PDF files effectively.

See Also