GIMP Version: 2.8.14
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP Pro
GIMP Experience: New User

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Hi,

I have a pdf file in which I wish to remove/cut/delete *some* but not all the contents in that page.

I chose Tools>Selection Tools>Rectangular and I used that tool to create a box around the unwanted content.

I then right-clicked within that rectangular box (selected to delete the contents) and in the drop-down menu chose Edit>Cut and it removed all the contents.

I then saved that page as its own PDF by choosing File>Export and chose pdf as the format and named this page its own name and it exported/saved just that page as its own file edited with the chosen contents removed.

**Issue - when I open that one page newly created/exported/saved pdf file in my pdf reader it displays both a horizontal line across the entire page directly under the end of my wanted content and also vertically down along the left side of the page.

Those lines do NOT appear when I open that pdf page in GIMP so I can’t use the selection tool to delete the lines out.

Thus, I need to figure out how to cut/delete/remove those horizontal and vertical lines left after GIMP removes the unwanted content.

TIA.

Can you edit the pdf with your pdf reader, or is it only a pdf reader and not an editor?

I just tried deleting parts of an image and then exported to .pdf and opened .pdf with Microsoft Edge and it looks just like what i have when view in GIMP.
Before exporting i did check/tick the box that says "Convert to bitmaps to vector graphics where possible" it's the 2nd option out of 3 options that's shown just before it tries to save the exported file.
This was done in GIMP 2.8 btw.

I did have to select None before exporting, otherwise i'd get a blank white .pdf

Hi trandoductin,

Thank you for taking time to work on this and for sharing your insight.

I guess I’m missing a step or 2?.

Once I’ve cut the pdf page contents out I don’t want and I’m left with the checkerboard graphics in its place I then choose File>Export and I placed a check-mark next to "Convert to bitmaps to vector graphics where possible" and then named the file as a pdf.

I then exited GIMP version 2.8.2 and opened that one page newly created pdf in my pdf reader (only) and the whole page is now a blank white - it didn’t save the contents of the page I wanted.

I’m not sure where you found the “none” before exporting either - maybe that’s what affecting my result?

Thanks so much.

by select None
I mean Menu Select then None. so that you don't have just the deleted area selected.

Gimp is not a PDF editor but Gimp can manipulate a PDF. Gimp cannot change the original text or structure because a PDF is a compiled document but Gimp can easily remove an area by applying a fill. Without the original PDF source code you need to cover not cut. A fill will cover original content with a background color and if need be used as a base for new text.

Basic instructions to remove PDF content

• Open a PDF page.
• Use the Color Picker to select the background of the area to be removed.
• Make a selection around the content to be removed (use as large a feather as possible if the background is not consistent).
• Fill the selection with the (new) foreground color.
• Select none, Export (bitmap to vector).

Hi trandoductin,

Thank you so much for sharing that graphic to clarify.

When I first open the document/graphic, under the Select tab my None is all grayed out with a red X next to it. I held down the Shift+Ctrl+A but it dint change anything.

Might you have any suggestions about how I can change the None from gray to black so I can choose that?

You don't need to select None if you just opened the graphic brand new.
only after you select a rectangle and delete because if you don't, it'll have your rectangle as the selected area.

Starting over...

I chose Tools>Selection Tools>Rectangular and I used that tool to create a box around the unwanted content.

I then right-clicked within that rectangular box (selected to delete the contents) and in the drop-down menu chose Edit>Cut and it removed all the contents.

I then choose the Select tab and choose None.

I then choose File>Export and I place a check-mark next to "Convert to bitmaps to vector graphics where possible" (the 2nd option) and then click Export and name the file as a pdf.

However, as before, when I open the newly created pdf it still displays that line horizontally across the page and the vertical one going down the left side of the page.

I'd like to replace both those lines with just white blank background that's not happening.

I'm not sure what other step(s) I can take to keep about 1/4 of the page with the content I wish to retain but move the other 3/4 of the content without leaving those 2 lines (horizontal and vertical)?

Thanks for all your help.

try filling in the deleted rectangle with background color.
Other than that I don't know what else to try...
is it possible for you share your .pdf or .xcf or (if it's not sensitive information).

Rectangular select the area you want to remove, then drag the color you want into the selected area.