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How do you add a layer to existing PDFs?

Forum Index > General Acrobat Topics > How do you add a layer to existing PDFs?
2007-06-18 11:59:15
mharsen
Registered: Jun 15 2007
Posts: 2

I'm VERY new to Acrobat Pro and I have some floor plans in PDF format created by someone else. They are small files (120-160K) and retain great detail. We want to add various information to the floor plans and it would be much easier if I could add it behind the floor plan itself with "white" being the transparent color. Naturally I thought of layers, but the help files say I can’t author layers with Acrobat. How can I take the existing PDF files, make "white" transparent, and add objects to a second layer behind the original? Alternately, how can I add objects that are on the same layer, yet behind all but "white". We don't know how the original PDF files were created. PDF file available upon request. Thanks! -Mark

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 8, Windows
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2007-06-24 16:04:56
#1
tedpadova
ExpertTeam
Registered: Dec 31 2005
Posts: 848
You're only hope is to open the PDF file in Adobe Illustrator if you can't get hold of the original authoring document. As you found out in the Help file, you cannot add layers to a PDF in Acrobat.

In Illustrator you might be able to remove the white background (I say MIGHT because it depends on the design and what program originally authored the file). Add a layer in Illustrator and add all your objects/images to the second layer. You can organize the layer positions in the Layers panel in Illustrator.

You can then save as PDF from Illustrator and preserve the layers if so desired.

ted

The author of numerous books on Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator and the Adobe Creative Suite, and an international speaker on Adobe Acrobat, Ted Padova is a well-known PDF guru.

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