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General Category => Tips & Tricks => Topic started by: Possum on November 12, 2008, 01:24:32 PM

Title: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Possum on November 12, 2008, 01:24:32 PM
I get a weird locked PDF sometimes. When I open in in Acrobat (6), the screen goes dark, then nothing but the PDF on a black screen. Have to press Escape to get out of it. This time I pressed Command Escape, and the thing went back to a normal display with a PDF I could do whatever with.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: DigitalCrapShoveler on November 12, 2008, 01:29:27 PM
Trick I actually learned here... Open the locked PDF in your OS X ColorSync Utility, found in your /apps/utilities folder. Save as out of Colorsync... whallah! No locked PDF, works everytime... so far.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: David on November 12, 2008, 03:24:36 PM
stupid locked pdfs...

why why why?
They think they can stop us from messing with them if they lock them?
gez, I can rip one over, unlock it change all kinds of crap, send it back, just to show them it's a waste of time and effort.

but, they think they're making a "bullet proof" file...

whatever.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: tapdn on November 12, 2008, 03:28:02 PM
Gotta love that word "whatever" David. Saves me from tons of stress in this crazy business. :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Joe on November 12, 2008, 04:59:19 PM
Doesn't really sound like a locked PDF. Just one that is set to open in full screen view. Command + L should make it view normal. (Acrobat 9 here though. Other versions may vary)
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Possum on November 13, 2008, 10:12:26 AM
I'll try that Command L next time, although I'll bet it's locked also, knowing the source.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Jon Morgan on January 02, 2009, 08:39:14 AM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on November 12, 2008, 01:29:27 PMTrick I actually learned here... Open the locked PDF in your OS X ColorSync Utility, found in your /apps/utilities folder. Save as out of Colorsync... whallah! No locked PDF, works everytime... so far.
DigitalCrapShoveler is correct (love that screen name by the way), you can use the OS X ColorSync utility to remove a password from a PDF.  One thing I will mention though is I believe they have closed that hole in the Leopard ColorSync utility...I think.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Joe on January 02, 2009, 09:42:33 AM
Quote from: Jon Morgan on January 02, 2009, 08:39:14 AM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on November 12, 2008, 01:29:27 PMTrick I actually learned here... Open the locked PDF in your OS X ColorSync Utility, found in your /apps/utilities folder. Save as out of Colorsync... whallah! No locked PDF, works everytime... so far.
DigitalCrapShoveler is correct (love that screen name by the way), you can use the OS X ColorSync utility to remove a password from a PDF.  One thing I will mention though is I believe they have closed that hole in the Leopard ColorSync utility...I think.

Yes, you would be correct.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: hotmetal on January 05, 2009, 07:17:48 PM
Quote from: Joe on January 02, 2009, 09:42:33 AM
Quote from: Jon Morgan on January 02, 2009, 08:39:14 AM
Quote from: DigitalCrapShoveler on November 12, 2008, 01:29:27 PMTrick I actually learned here... Open the locked PDF in your OS X ColorSync Utility, found in your /apps/utilities folder. Save as out of Colorsync... whallah! No locked PDF, works everytime... so far.
DigitalCrapShoveler is correct (love that screen name by the way), you can use the OS X ColorSync utility to remove a password from a PDF.  One thing I will mention though is I believe they have closed that hole in the Leopard ColorSync utility...I think.

Yes, you would be correct.

Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: wagsgraphx on August 20, 2009, 11:47:23 AM
Thanks for the work around, just used it.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: frailer on August 20, 2009, 05:04:22 PM


Quote from: wagsgraphx on August 20, 2009, 11:47:23 AMThanks for the work around, just used it.

"It's all free, folks..."   (Spike Milligan, when he cracked up at the antics of Secombe in Goon Show).    :cheesy:

Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: StudioMonkey on July 03, 2018, 06:47:46 AM
I learned of a new way around a locked PDF and it's too good to keep to myself. 

I used to use a website that would take your PDF and email you back an unlocked one.  I had lost the link so I googled it and found this instead;

1) Open a new tab in Chrome browser (not sure if it works with other browsers)
2) Drag and drop the locked PDF into the browser window - it uploads and displays the PDF
3) instead of Downloading it again go to Print and select Save as PDF
4) This saves an UNLOCKED version of the PDF to your Desktop (or wherever)

You're welcome.

 :cheesy:
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Tracy on July 03, 2018, 06:49:09 AM
can't wait to get a locked pdf to try it! :laugh:
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on July 03, 2018, 07:22:02 AM
Hey, tried it and it works!

Took a password protected pdf and made it available for editing..... this could really come in handy when we get a secure pdf. Trying to get a password for them is sometimes next to impossible.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Joe on July 03, 2018, 08:16:51 AM
It doesn't work if the the security is set to make you supply the password to open the PDF. Chrome just asks you for the password.

If the password is set to be required to 'Print' then 'Print' is disabled in Chrome.

So if it is only password protected to prevent editing it works but...

It does change the document type as shown below which is notorious for not working well with PDF's that contain transparency so I would be careful of this.

Original:

[attach width=400]18786[/attach]

Re-saved from Chrome:

[attach width=400]18788[/attach]
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on July 03, 2018, 09:49:27 AM
The one I used has password security for everything but printing. It was allowed. And this method took off security on everything.


However, I was using chrome on a PC and printing through PDF writer. I could see how the transparency thing could be an issue.

Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Joe on July 03, 2018, 10:37:20 AM
Even for opening? Because on my test file Chrome (on a mac) asked for the password before it would open it.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on July 03, 2018, 10:56:49 AM
Yes, but like I said, it was on the PC, I don't have chrome on my Mac, only Firefox, and it wouldn't even load on Firefox, just remained a blank page.


Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Possum on July 03, 2018, 03:03:44 PM
Let's not get too successful. Don't want the custy's to get bright ideas about the locked proofs WE send THEM. You guys at big shops prolly don't have the problem of people trying to take proof files to other printers, but the smaller guys do.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: DigiCorn on July 03, 2018, 03:04:33 PM
I still just use freemypdf.com
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Fat Boy Tim on July 04, 2018, 03:37:18 PM
Quote from: DigiCorn on July 03, 2018, 03:04:33 PMI still just use freemypdf.com

Thanks for the tip!

For years I have used PDFKEY.

  -     https://pdfkey.com/en/

The free version does a page 1 of a PDF of any file size. The full version unlocks the whole lot and has Automator Actions to lock and unlock.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Fat Boy Tim on July 04, 2018, 03:45:13 PM
hotdog!

I went back to the PDFKEY site to see if they had any new features and found their sister product...

https://pdfextractor-app.com/en/

Now that's a utility!
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: StudioMonkey on July 05, 2018, 03:13:49 AM
Quote from: Fat Boy Tim on July 04, 2018, 03:45:13 PMhotdog!

I went back to the PDFKEY site to see if they had any new features and found their sister product...

https://pdfextractor-app.com/en/

Now that's a utility!

Very nice  :smiley:

Was fantasising about this being built in to InDesign only last week.  Make it happen Adobe !
Right now I do this by stripping out the pics with PhotoShop, Copy + Pasting the text in Acrobat which also identifies the fonts, and using Illustrator to isolate any vector items I might need.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on July 06, 2018, 07:57:10 AM
Quote from: StudioMonkey on July 05, 2018, 03:13:49 AM
Quote from: Fat Boy Tim on July 04, 2018, 03:45:13 PMhotdog!

I went back to the PDFKEY site to see if they had any new features and found their sister product...

https://pdfextractor-app.com/en/

Now that's a utility!

Very nice  :smiley:

Was fantasising about this being built in to InDesign only last week.  Make it happen Adobe !
Right now I do this by stripping out the pics with PhotoShop, Copy + Pasting the text in Acrobat which also identifies the fonts, and using Illustrator to isolate any vector items I might need.

Wow, you really are a Studio Monkey!
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: wonderings on July 06, 2018, 08:31:42 AM
On a Mac I just open the PDF with preview then export as PDF. I get an unlocked PDF, never had it not work but it is not something I am dealing with every day.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: pspdfppdfxhd on July 06, 2018, 08:46:07 AM
So in other words, Adobe's pdf security is not very secure at all.....
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: born2print on July 06, 2018, 10:06:11 AM
Nope.
Besides the websites, we have a free app called pdf unlock that works too.

I once freaked a bank dude out because I unlocked a contract pdf and added to it. He was blown away!
BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT!!!  :rotf:
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Fat Boy Tim on July 07, 2018, 01:06:55 AM
Quote from: wonderings on July 06, 2018, 08:31:42 AMOn a Mac I just open the PDF with preview then export as PDF. I get an unlocked PDF, never had it not work but it is not something I am dealing with every day.

Yes... We did the same for years. It's an OSX bug from a while ago. Then they fixed it. Maybe it's come back.
Title: Re: Locked PDF - for what it's worth
Post by: Joe on July 07, 2018, 07:20:09 AM
Just be careful. OSX/Preview can butcher a PDF with transparency.