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By Jenefey Aaron

Updated on 2025-09-05

100 % Helpful

Edit PDF in Photoshop: How to Do it Right (Easy Guide)

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By Jenefey Aaron

2025-09-05 / Edit PDF

PDFs are one of the most common file formats for sharing documents, designs, and forms. The problem many people face is editing them without losing formatting or quality. While most users think of using a standard PDF editor, many are surprised to learn that you can edit PDF in Photoshop too.

Photoshop is not a traditional PDF tool, but it can handle certain editing tasks when used correctly. This guide explains how to edit PDF file in Photoshop, when it works best, and the limitations you should know.

Part 1. Can You Edit PDFs in Photoshop?

So, the big question: Can you edit PDF in Photoshop? The answer is yes, but with some limits. Photoshop is mainly designed for images, not documents. When you open PDF in Photoshop, it converts each page into a raster image. This means text will not remain editable as text it becomes part of the image.

When to Use Photoshop for PDFs

  • When you need to fix images, graphics, or design elements in a PDF.
  • When you want to edit layouts, adjust colors, or retouch graphics.
  • When your PDF has simple single-page files.

When to Avoid Photoshop

  • When you need to edit text easily.
  • When your PDF has many pages.
  • When you want to keep an editable PDF in Photoshop format with live text.

For text-heavy files, a professional PDF editor is the better choice. One example is Tenorshare PDNob, which provides the comprehensive and user-friendly tools for editing, converting, and organizing your documents with exceptional precision.

Part 2. How to Edit PDF File in Photoshop Without Losing Quality

Editing a PDF in Photoshop is possible if you know the right steps. Below is a guide on how to do it properly:

  • Import the PDF into Photoshop

    To begin, go to File > Open in Photoshop. Find the PDF file you want to work with and click Open.

    https://images.tenorshare.com/article/pdnob-pdf-editor/import-the-pdf-into-photoshop.webp?w=800&h=325
  • Choose Pages or Images

    In the import dialog box in Photoshop, you will see "Pages"and "Images". Choose "Pages" to open and edit individual or multiple pages (using Ctrl/Cmd), or select "Images" to edit only pictures without text.

    choose pages or images of photoshop
  • Start Editing the PDF

    Photoshop opens the choosen page or image for editing. You can add shapes, images, and adjustment layers. Note that content cannot be directly deleted-to hide something, cover it with a white shape and overlay new text or graphics.

    edit pdf in photoshhop
  • Save the Edited PDF

    Go to File > Automate > PDF Presentation, then check Add Open File. Finally, click Save to export the file .

     save the edited pdf in photshop

How to Edit PDF in Photoshop Online Free

If you don’t want to install Photoshop on your computer, you can try Photoshop Online for basic PDF editing. It doesn’t offer the same advanced tools, but it works for small fixes.

  • Open your browser and go to the Photoshop Online website.
  • Click on Upload and select the PDF file you want to edit.
  •  click on upload file of photoshop
  • Use the available tools to add text, crop, adjust brightness, or make other small changes.
  • use the available tools of  photoshop
  • When finished, click Download and save the edited file as a PDF.
  • click download and save pdf on photoshop

Part 3. Best Alternative to Photoshop for PDF Editing

While you can edit PDF in Photoshop, it is not the best choice for full document editing. Photoshop mainly focuses on images and single-page files, so text-heavy or multi-page PDFs can be difficult to manage.

For a complete solution, a professional tool like Tenorshare PDNob is far more effective. It is designed to handle PDFs smoothly, offering both editing and security features that Photoshop lacks.

Key Features of Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor:

  • Create and manage multi-page PDFs: Combine several files into one, or split a large PDF into smaller sections for easier handling.
  • Advanced OCR technology: Convert scanned PDFs and images into fully editable text while keeping the original formatting intact.
  • 100+ editing tools: Edit text, replace or resize images, add watermarks, insert links, or change backgrounds in just a few clicks.
  • Digital signatures and security: Sign contracts electronically, lock sensitive documents with passwords, and control access rights.
  • Organize and optimize PDFs: Merge, split, compress, or rearrange pages to make documents cleaner and more professional.

How to Edit a PDF in Tenorshare PDNob

  • Open the PDNob PDF Editor,then click on“Open PDF” button to import any PDF file you’ve downloaded.
  • open pdf file via pdnob pdf editor
  • Click the “Edit” button on the top toolbar, then select the text you want to modify. A text box will appear, allowing you to change the text, font, style, size, and color.
  • edit pdf
  • To add new text, click “Add Text” under the “Edit” section and place it where needed.
  • To insert images, click the “Add Image” button and choose the image file to add.
  • add image to pdf with pdnob pdf editor
  • Once you have made all the necessary edits, click on the "Save" button in the top left corner.

Part 4. Photoshop VS. Tenorshare PDNob: Which One is Better?

Here is a direct comparison between the two:

swiper icon Please swipe to view
Feature
Photoshop
Tenorshare PDNob
Price (Monthly/Yearly)
$22.99/mo, $263.88/yr
$14.99/mo, $35.99/3yr
Text Editing
Limited (text becomes image)
Full text editing
Multi-Page PDFs
Not practical
Yes, fully supported
OCR Capability
No
Yes, advanced OCR
PDF Security
No
Yes, with passwords & signatures
AI Assistant
No
Yes
Ease of Use
Medium
Very easy

Who Should Use Photoshop?

  • Designers who only need to fix images in a PDF.
  • Users working with single-page files.

Who Should Use PDNob?

  • Students, professionals, and businesses that need advanced editing.
  • Anyone working with multi-page documents.
  • People who want OCR and PDF security features.

Clearly, while you can edit PDF in Photoshop, Tenorshare PDNob is the more complete solution for document editing.

Part 5. FAQs of Editing PDFs in Photoshop

1. How do I convert a Photoshop file to an editable PDF?

Go to File > Save As and choose Photoshop PDF format. This will allow you to keep an editable PDF in Photoshop, but keep in mind the text will not be fully editable like in a PDF editor.

2. How to make a multi-page PDF in Photoshop?

To make a multi-page PDF in Photoshop, create each page as a separate file. Then go to File > Automate > PDF Presentation, select “Multi-Page Document,” and combine them.

3. How to edit PDF text in Photoshop?

Photoshop cannot edit PDF text directly—it is rasterized into an image. To modify text, erase the original using a brush or shape tool, then add new text with the Type tool.

Conclusion

Editing PDFs without the right tools can be challenging. While you can edit PDF in Photoshop, it's limited—especially with text or multi-page files. It works best for simple image adjustments, but lacks full PDF editing capabilities.

For comprehensive features like OCR, text editing, digital signatures, and smooth multi-page handling, Tenorshare PDNob is a stronger choice. It overcomes Photoshop’s limitations and helps maintain clean, accurate, and professional documents.

The END

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