how can I merge a stamp into a pdf file

You and use JavaScript to flatten the PDF. You can obtain a free automation tool to do this at [url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/65.cfm]PDF Scripting - Free Acrobat Automation Tools[/url].

Thanks for your suggestion. I downloaded the JavaScript, installed it and it did flatten out the form fields in the document. Unfortunately it did not flatten the stamp image. Any other thoughts?

Hi John D-H,

I just tested this by adding fields and a custom dynamic stamp to a PDF, and all were flattened using the Flatten Page Content tool from pdfscripting.com. Not sure what is going on with yours- maybe you should share the problem file with stamp applied.

Hope this helps,

Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.windjack.com
www.pdfscripting.com

Thanks for your assistance.
I've tried it again with the same results.
When you do it, after you flatten the document, can you still click on the stamp and does it highlight as an item in the document? If so, that is what I am concerned about. BTW, the "stamp" that I created is a signature so I do not want it to be liftable from the document.

Thanks for your help.

John D-H

Even if you flatten the signature it's always possible to take a screen capture and save it as a separate image. There's nothing you can do about that.

Hi John D-H,

I do that all the time- it is one of my favorite Acrobat tips. Yes, when I flatten my custom ink signature stamp it is flattened into the content and no longer accessible. I have no idea why that is not working for you. As I mentioned before, you should share a test PDF with that stamp so we can examine it and maybe determine what the problem is with it.

Hope this helps,

Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.pdfscriptingcom
www.windjack.com

You could lift an image of a signature off a piece of paper too, but that's not really on point for this discussion, is it?

Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.pdfscripting.com
www.windjack.com

It is, Dimitri, because John said "BTW, the "stamp" that I created is a signature so I do not want it to be liftable from the document. "
I just wanted to let him know that that can't be achieved.

OK, I must be doing something wrong.
I created a file, I created a stamp, I stamped the document, then flattened it, and then saved it.
When I open the PDF document, in either Adobe Reader 9 or Adobe 9 you can still right click the graphic and get the option to save it.
How can I share the test pdf file here?
Thanks for the help.
John D-H

To share files - go to [url=http://www.acrobat.com]Acrobat.com[/url]
Click "MyFiles" then "Begin" - Click Sign Up to obtain the Adobe ID.
Prior to use you may want to read through the "user guide" at:
[url]http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Acrobat.com[/url]
You can download the PDF Help file (link in upper left) from this page.
Once a file is uploaded you can obtain a URL link that can be placed in a post to AUC.
The service is free.

Be well...

OK, here is the document's URL.
https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=ba8d3fa3-2c94-491b-96e2-c161066013cf
I appreciate the help with this.

John D-H

Hi John D-H,

Thanks for sharing the file. try67 is correct that it is not possible to prevent lifting the signature from the file using the flatten tool. While flattening does prevent the stamp from begin removed because it is baked into the PDF content, it will still be selectable, even with Adobe Reader. To prevent someone from selecting and copying it you will need to add security to the PDF, selecting Advanced ->Security ->Password Encrypt, then under Permissions choose what settings you want to allow. The Change Permissions Password is yours and is not needed by viewers of the PDF to open or view it in Adobe Reader or Acrobat.When you apply security you will see a dialog that tells you that the security settings may not be respected by other 3rd party PDF viewers but is by Adobe Reader. If you really need tight security the best method is to use digital signatures or advanced security policies.
Hope this helps,

Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.windjack.com
www.pdfscripting.com

Aaaaahh, mystery solved.
I'll use the security feature.
Thanks for all your help.
John D-H

If the main purpose is to flatten the stamps, you can just use the "preflight" tool within the Acrobat. So the stamps will be the part of the document permanently.

"Advanced" menu --> Preflight --> "PDF Fixups" --> "Flatten Annotations" or "Flatten Annotations and Form Fields"Kazzy

Also haven't managed to really embed Stamps, to embed my signature in documents on Acrobat Pro V9 I use Watermarks instead :
1. Menu Document / Watermark / Add : Insert image of signature, adjust scale and position.
2. Menu Advanced / PDF Optimizer / Tab Discard Objects & Tab Discard User Data : Tick all, but you can be more selective and find which option needs to be ticked to embed Watermarks.

The easy way to "flatten" or otherwise merge a signature into the pdf is to "re-fry" or re-print the pdf. That is: Print the pdf to a pdf.

I think this is only possible in from version 9 forward, but I could be wrong.

While in acrobat print the file to a new pdf file.

--Dan